Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-09-15
ALABAMA MOB.
Attempt 10 Lynch a Condemned Murder
er,--The Doomed Man Rescued
by a Sherlff's Posse.
Special to Cincinnati Commercial. /

Special to Cincinnati Commercial.
NASHVILLE, September 12.-The
Americans Athens (Ala.) special
says Athens was plunged into the
most intense excitement to-day by a
fourth attempt to lynch John Bales,
who most foully murdered his wife
near Elkton, last May, and who was
sentenced to hang, but who appealed
to the Supreme Court. Three thou
sand people assembled in town, either
to participate in or witness the execu-
tion, which the mob declared should
take place to-day. At 10 am. the
multitude began to surround the jail.
At the announcement that the pris-
oner desired to compose himself that
he might pen a few words to his
mother, the crowd left the jail with
out any active demonstration.
At II am. (the hour fixed for the
execution) the crowd again went to
the Jail and demanded the prisoner.
THE sheriff refused to give up the
keys, when the mob went to work with
picks and hatchets, saws, sledge- ham
mers, and other instruments, and
attempted to force an entrance, which
was done by the removal of portion
of the roof and knocking out win
dow. Having gotten inside the jail
and attempted to demolish the cage
the sheriff, by advice of the officials
gave up the keys. Bales was then
taken from the Jail to a point selected
for the execution, a mile from town
followed by the multitude, which ran
pell nell over each other in then
eagerness to witness the lynching
The wagon containing Bales was
drawn up under tree, stout lotion
rope placed about his neck, and every
thing adjusted for the final swing
The prisoner here requested the pray.
ers of DR.. w. r. McWilliams, a younl
dentist. DR.. Wayne mounted the
wagon, and standing behind the pris
oner, who wore a downcast and de
jected cOuntenance, spoke in his be
half, counseling that the law ought t
be allowed to take its course, and thel
offered short prayer.
The crowd then cried impatiently
Hang him." Special Deputy Mar
shal Collingsworth asked what shoulC
| be done with the prisoner, and wa
feebly answered, Take him back t
ljail." DR.. McWilliams insisted OF
this course. The crowd grew NOR
boisterous in its demonstrations, cry
ing Hang him." Scores of voice
halloed out for John Loveless, tn
murdered woman's brother, to faste
the rope to the limb. Collingsworth
seeing that part of the crowd wer
influenced by the remarks of McWil
liams, said, in determined manner
John Loveless shall not hang thi
mar"
? The sheriff, seeing that the mo
wavered in its purpose, mounted tn
wagon, and was reinforced by fou
others. The crowd now began t
swell and surge, and to close in upo
the wagon. When two men upo
horseback volunteered to make wa
for the crowd to the wagon the officer
drew pistols and commanding tn
situation ordered the wagon to b
! driven back to town. By rapid driy
ing the sheriff reached the Jail wit
the prisoner before the crowd coul
overtake him. Having lodged tn
prisoner in jail the officers prepare
for any emergency, and thus thwarte
the mob which had previously fxe
to-day for Bales execution.
Bales took the appeal to the Su
preme Court on the plea of insanity
He had been married to his wifi
fourteen months, when he shot he
down in the presence of her mother
because she refused to 90 back to
home, from which she had fed, an
live with him.