The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-03-26
MOB LAW.
The Lynching of John Wallace.
A Terrible Punishment for Terrible
Crimes.

A Terrible Punishment for Terrible
Crimes.
NEW YORK. March 25.-The details of the
lynching of John Wallace at Littleton, w. Va,
state that John made full confession, ex-
onerating his brother George from any know
ledge of the murders, and stating that young
Villars was to have helped him. Villars was
arrested bat discharged yesterday The town
was full of people from the surrounding coun-
try, all excited more than ever at John
Walace's confession. An i'll feeling was fur
Their aroused by the evidence of the physicians,
who swore positively that Mrs. George Wallace
alias Baker and Miss Church had been outraged
and that the outrage had apparently been
repeated several times in the case of the latter,
who was only school girl about IA or 10
years of age.
Ga Saturday fifteen resolute men met IN
building in the outskirts of the town and laid
their plans carefully to take the prisoner from
the house where he was confined and hang
him. They were all armed with revolvers and
were determined to fight if necessary. They
marched silently through the street to the
men, also armed. They approached the first
guard and demanded admission. He refused.
They fired several shots in the air and then ran
off, Entering the front door noisily, they
began knocking off lamp chimneys with their
pistol barrels The lamps were soou extin-
guished and the place in utter-darkness. Then
the mob began firing into the ceiling and
shouting as though they were SO many devils.
They fred about in such reckless manner
that several of their party were slightly
wounded.
The Seizure of Wallace.
When Wallace heard the uproar he began
sobbing and praying, and as the door of his
room opened and the first of the lynchers made
his appearance he sprang behind one of the
guards and screamed, my God, don't kill me!
Same me! Save me!'
The mob laughed at his cries, and after
knocking the guard down and tramping on
him they threw Wallace on his back and
began TO tie his arms. Again he screamed in
agony as great drops OF perspiration rolled
down his face. "Don't murder. Don't kill me.
For Gods sake give me time to pray. l want
= murderer, Miss Church wants TO see you,
and by - she shall.
After placing a rope firmly about his neck
they dragged him down stairs head foremost
and out of the house on the railroad track,
where he uttered the most horrible cries, cur
sing. praying and begging them to let him go.
They paid no attention to him, but began run
ming with him as though he were a log or
barrel. Wallace did not stop begging for
mercy until he had been dragged nearly a
quarter of mile. He vainly tried to regain
his feet and stand up, but when ever he did sc
the mob would pull the rope suddenly and jerk
himson his back.
The Execution.
After going nearly mile below Littleton
| they stopped and hanged the body to a tree.
| At 6 o'clock he was found dangling from the
limb of an apple tree alongside the railroad
his feet about three feet from the ground.
| When the early passenger train on the Balti-
more & Ohio railroad passed the spot there
| was great commotion among those on board
and the train slackened to give the passenger
an opportunity to look at the lynchers' work.
| When the body was examined the spine ani
| neck were found to be broken and the body
horribly mangled and bruised. A coroner's
jury were summoned and returned verdic
that he cane to his death by hanging at the
hands of unknown persons. A letter to his
wife was found on him, in which he says the
stories told against her, aided by Villars ant
whiskey, caused him to commit murder. There
is strong talk of lynching Villars.
WHEELING, w. Va, March q, midnight
The body of John Wallace has Just arrived
here, 1t was sent for by his father, wealthy
aud respected farmer in Washington county
Pa. He is almost insane with grief. George
Wallace came on the same train on the way t,
| Jail, as he is held as accessory to the murder.