The daily gazette., 1878-08-24


TRAMP NAMED DENNIS BELoR "PooLs
HIS ISSUES" AND oUTRAGEs A WOMAN
-INFURIATED CITIZENS RISE IN MAssE
AND LYNCH HIM.
NASHVILLE %, 1873.
A Shelbyvllle special to the Nashville
american says Dennis Belor was lynched
near that town last night, hanging from
the same limb from which two negro
ravishers were swung in September, 1871.
Belor bad been living at Thompson
Creek neiehborhood for a year and lat
terly lived with Patrick Williams,
farmer. William Martin, Williams SON
ln-law, lived near the latter. Night be-
fore last Williams and Martin were alb
sent on deer hunt, and their wives
were left at home alone after night.
Belor went to the house of Martin with
pistol he told Mrs. Martin he had come
TO protect her from some rowdies and wo-
men of i'll fame who were prowling in
that vicinity. Mrs. Martin says she was
afraid of Belor, but as he insisted on stay
ing about the premises as a guard, and as
she had no chance of escape to her moth
er's house, she retired to bed with her
young baby. Toward morning Belor
forced entrance into her room to outrage
her person. She pleaded with him and
resisted for along time until she was so
exhausted that she could scarcely lift her
hand.
THE FlEND AT WORK.
Then the inhuman monster accom-
plsned lbs purpose, almost crushing tho
llfe from her Infant, which she had been
frantlcally holding to her breast in the
hope OF deterring the rutish beast from
his work, which he finally accomplished
only half an hour before day light, and
then he threatt ned to kill her if She told
a hf. R.fn
WilliamSs house Belor mounted one of
his best horses and went off to a neigh
bors two miles distant, and was helping
him to saw board timber when he was ar
rested AT nine O'Clock. Mrs. Martin
though nearly dead from the horrors of
the night, WAS able to give the alarm at
an carry hour, and "A crowd of md ignaut
and excited citizens We're quickly on
Belor'S track and soon arrested him.
THE VILLAIN BEFORE A MAGIsTRATE
He was taken before "A magistrate. and
besides Mrs. Martins own Statement the
proof against him was overwhelming -
By this time the excitement was intense
and 1t was with difficulty that cool-head-
ed citizens saved Belor from being lynch
ed at once. Meanwhile Martin, the hus-
band, had returned and was crazen over
the recital Of the outrage upon his wife,
and he was only prevented by force from
killing Belor on the spot. AT six o'clock
Constable Arnold aud five well armed
men started with Belor for the Shelby
vile Jan, twelve miles distant. By ad-
vice of cltizens he avoided all the more
public thorougnfares. After travelling
through the woods he succeeded in get
ting ust inside the corporate limits, near
the railroad depot, when "A large crowd of
men, some of whom were disguised, sud
denly rushed OUT from behind the engine
house AID freight house and freight ears
aud IN twinkling the surprised officers
were overpowered.
THE PRISONER TAKEN BY A MOB.
The mob seized the prisoner and fired
a pistol rs signal, which was answered
by peculiar whistles from all parts of the
town. The clans at once gathered.
Mounted men rode up, Joined the party
and AL hurried away with Belor and
hanged him. All the streets of the town
had been plcketed by strange horsenen.
who allowed none to pass until Belor was
in their custody. The lynchers intended
that Belor should never reach the iail
Large numbers of Citizens from Sheibv-
Vile visited the sceue of the hanging
this morning. The cuprit was hanging
by a small halter rope and was strangled
to death, the rope having nearly buried
itself in one side of his neck.
SCENE AT THE FATAL TREE.
The body presented ghastly and re-
voting sight rs it swung in the morning
sunlight A black and swollen tongue
protruded from the mocking, hldeous
mouth. The deep blue eyes gazed pite-
ously through thin white rims of half
open lashes, while the hands and body
We're black and purple with stagnated
blood.
THE JURY's VERDICT.
Tho verdict ofthe jury was 'apied from
the hands OF persons unknown"
The swift AMI Just, Though lawless.
pu, i,hment of Belor may be charged TO
technlcalities and delay of the law. Belor
came into the Thompson Creek com
munity as tramp. Whence he came no
one ever knew. He refused to give any
INFORMATION about himself. He was five
feet eight inches high, weighed JAG
pounds, had repulsive, sensual face was
thlrty.hVe years old, and had been re.
, garded with suspicion. 1t was believed
, that he had negro blood in his veins
, though he passed as white man