The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-24
WIN. ALIENS AWFUL FALL.
HANGED FROM a BRIDGE, BUT SAVED
BY THE ROPES SWAPPING.
The Punishment Of ~ Man who Boasted that
he Could Hun GA with All tho Women In
Tswn, and Ran or with n Farmers wiz.

he Could Hun on with All tho Women In
Town, and Ran on with n Farmers wiz.
F5op, n, C,nornan Enqdra
BATAVIA, Ohio, May 2l.-William Story,
aims Allen, is a ST. Louis man, and Mrs. Charles
Atchey il the wife Of Charles Atchley. a well-to-
do and highly respected young farmer, who
lives at Alton, about four miles north OF this
place. on the Williamsburg road Allen elopcd
with Mrs Atchley. Allen is n native Of Brown
County. in this State but since 1870 has been
travelling in the West. making his headquarters
Of st. Louis. which place he now calls his home;
shafYer at the Great western Hotel in Cincin-
natl, whore they had stopped on their way to st.
Louis, their place OF destination, Charles Atch-
ley whose wife is the victim Of Aliens wiles is
young man OF excellent character. and a son
OF David Atchley. Township Trustee. and q
was brought back to this place and lodged in
Jail. open threats OF lynching were made. Dur.
ing his stay in Alton, Allen had made himsel
offensive by his frequent boasts that he could
run of with all the women In town.
The feeling against tho man was intensified
as the facts in his recent eecapade developed,
aud early this morning band Of men. ali
masked went to the hotel and battered down
IN her o. s SOON he PLEADED YHF Tor his N
but no attention WAS paid to his PRAYERS. He
was taken from the hotel aud hurried 70 the
bridge that spans creek close to town. and twas
only by miracle that he escaped hanging. AT the
bridge a rope was tied around his neck. and the
other end was made fast to the timbers and he
was then thrown head first over the bridge. He
uttered a cry. and the next instant fell into the
re is descent the rope S had Wrapped Itself about
his shoulders. and the force OF his fall snapped
the rope. and he fell to the water comparatively
An Enquire reporter found Allen in the
Munson House. lying on lounge, still suffer-
ing from bruises but comfortable. His neck
and shoulder show marks OF the rope. and his
feet are cut severely BY the stones in the bed OF
the creek, IN which he walked considerable
distance before decming 1t safe TO venture
ashore. He says that he heard the
mob approaching the house where he
call any one they had forced their way in,
passed the consia6les and marshal. and entered
the room occupied by Henry Skillinger and an
other boader. He heard them ask for him. and
heard Skillinger say. For Gods sake let me
go;' that he was not the man that they wanted.
There were eight or ten in the room. Skilinger
continued to plead and cry that he was not the
man that they were after, and they told him to
The door OF his room hardly checked them an
instant, and a dozen men were upon him. He
ieSelsd at his head Open 'y Your D mouth 10
make any outcry." the ringleader said. and
I'll blow the top, OF your head of" Another
Of Ihe mob 6raedlShed nd 99s knife
be tried to ' escape he would chop him
e1e Sr" said Allen and asked them hem What had
done to deserve such treatmentl II l have
done wrong am willing 70 make any repara-
is too much" They told him II he opened his
mouth again they would Kill him, and pistols
the corn knife slashed II around close 10 his
head.
luey then made MIN get out OF bed ana tied
his hands behind his bqck and bound his legs.
so he could take only short steps. His hands
were tied with small cord. which cut his
wrists. - We are only going TO duck you"
SAID one But Allen says when he saw the rope
with hangman's knot on the end. he knew
that something great deal worse was coming.
and he was dragged out of the room and down
the street toward the creek. l was in my
my undershirt and drawers. They dragged me
10 the bridge. and when they arrived in the
middle OF II all hands stopped. There were
about fifteen men close around me. but the
whole bridge WIS black with them. The bridge
IL 4 new. uncovered one, and thirty.one feet
above the water. AS | learned to-day. they
made me stand erect with my back to the rail-
ing. The moose was drawn tightly around my
neck. and the other end made fast to an up
right.
aged 10 work my hands loose. hut kept them
behind my back as II tied. and intended to use
them when an opportunity offered; fully ex-
effort to save myself when everything was
ready The man who was boss ng the Job
called out: Now, do your duty With that as
haps." said Allen. covering his eyes
with his hands seemingly 70 shut out the
WAS pleasant. and perhaps It was not Here
endeayored 10 use my hands 10 some purpose.
but before could push the rope II parted with a
snap like the breaking OF a stick and fell head
first into the creek The water was about . TO
my hips. l got on my feet and at first could
barely stand. IL was toeraby dark. but could
see scores Of heads peering down over the
railing Of the bridge above me. Some OF them
cursed their bad luck. and others said hadn't
got away yet by any means; and three pistol
shots were fired. the bullets striking near me
in the water Several OF them ran out on the
and attempted 10 get down. but the bank was
too steep. | moved of up stream as cautiously
as | could. They followed nue. some distance,
and then fed. as II alarmed at the approach OF
Some Ouah