The Leavenworth weekly times., 1879-06-05
THE iNQI EST.
What " as Done by the Coroner and
Jury which sat Upon the Body OF
James Murray. Lynched Near Eas-
ton Las: "Wednesday Night

Coroner Lyuch visited the spot where
James Murray, who was held to answer for
numbering Mrs. Hannah Costello, near Eas-
ton two weeks ago, was hung by lynching
party lasJ Wednesday night, aud, impannel-
ing jury, held an inquest over the remains.
Aside from ply sician's testimony that Muir
raw came to his death by hangins, Mrs MUIR
ray, wife of the deceased, was the only Wit
ness. Her testimony is herewith appended:
am the wife of the deceased he was aged
between forty five and nifty years On " ed
uesday night between Il and O'Clock, l and
my husband were awakened by men calling
IOE MIR. Murray 10 come ami open the Dor:
that they wanted To speak 10 nIIn. got up
and looked out of the window anu saw some
men cut in the peach trees, opposite the
| window, about eight feet in front % the
house, l think from ten To twelve altogether.
My window looked down upon them. one
tail IN came To the door aud Knocked at IL.
| n,. said: ''Open the door, | ASKED: who is
| that lie said: "A friend open the door,
/ Snd at tue same time, others said Where
| - Mr.. Murray: Tell HIM To come down"
/ | said he ~as not at home. Que said
| Where Is he:' 1 answered: "Iu Leaven-
| worth They then said Tor mo 10 come
| GOWN ana open the door and they would
| search the house, and SAID they would not
\ hurt me they wanted To talk To Mr.. Murray
| ami another man said: open the door or
i we " III mash It in. lhen my husband step
i ped 10 the window, and said 'Cieutlemen,
/ / am innocent Of this charge as child un-
i born, and am under bonds and will attend
i To my ulsl, as am innocent sa 81: "NiiI
| you take upon yourselves 10 do this? You
i would not Ike II done to yourselves" Tney
said: ''COme down at once" and kicked the
i door in, one say ing, II Will blow DlaZes out
i OF You" one IN front of the window, with "A
| wnIte handkerchief on the lower part of his
/ face, SAID, Its "a friend that wants you,
/ Murray; 4 want 10 talk with you, and not to
hurt you" They all said, Murray, We want
/ To be friendly To you, come down, We won't
hurt you My poor husband snd came
i in the room, and Others ON TIE door step. He
| had "A white handkerchief ON his face. All
/ had on dark clothes and white .hsndker-
| chiefs yied over their mouths and back of the
| ears sle upper part of the lace not being hlu-
| He grabbed his hand, the other took hold
| of MIN and said: Murray, you are the
| man We want, They AL then surrounded
| nm except three. Murray said II am inno-
| cent Iney took him out of the gate, say
| ing, I'VE are only going Ia talk and reason
| win You stood at Ine door until 1 saw
| them take hun Oui tnc gate, snd then /
\ screamed, aud rushed after, buJ they caught
\ me by the shoulders and held IN. up To the
| gate. The gate - about sixty feet north OF
| the door. 1 again screamed, and they put
| their hsnds over my mouth. Another said,
| "HOld her mouth; don't let her scream -
They ihen threw me down ON my back, and
Two men held me, and two more kept pick
| et, to carry news. one said, "HoId ner by
1 the uO~e, 50 she can't Breathe Another
| said, Iii We do she viii smother" They
| head my hands down, and covered my
mOuth. one cursed me, and said he won Il
| still. 1 said, Il am willing to de-" The
| pIckets then came and said, Let ner go, all
| Il right; run fast" one west, one To
| the timber, north, ana another northeast,
| with heavy built shoulders, and bending
| Gown. he hsd black hair. 1 saw no horses.
| | ran screaming To Mr. Boards and To Charles
| 4 ards, To come To my assistance. l told
| them crowd OF men hBd come To the house
| aad tOOE my husband away. Mr.. Beard
| came out and uicd To .pscIfiy me, and said
| tney only took hIm I'd LeavenwOrth.
| 1 said they took him 10 the timber,
| and he said: "Re patient, Mrs. Murray
| yucy aIc going to take nIm To l.ssvsnworth."
! / said: NO; they viii hurt him. went to
| my brother, Mr.. Boyle, and said: 'fhey have
| murdered my husband ! ran away hOm
| there and came bIck To the house, to see II 1
| could nnd my nephew about ten years OLD L
| went up stairs and could NOT nud nlL, then
| went u the timber ami fOund my husband
. hanging ON "a Tree, and his hands tled be-
| mind his back, with "a white habdkefchlei;
| could not reach Jhc rope and mad TO run To
the house "a quarter of "a mile distant, 70 get
| "A chair and kuIIc To cut INN Down; took
him BY the body and cut the rope. tihe rope
| be. NJ produced before the jury, was idenu-
f-d ~ the witness. held nim ia my arm,
| " hen H- feil, and found ne was dead TINS
| w.,> about h3IG-pasL two IN the morning. 1
| was all aIpu--OIIy God with me; laid him
down, and tTicd To IIfJ him and carry hi a.
| NONE; but my darling WAS too heavy; 1 re-
ma.neI with him. kissing and cry ing, until
dag BTDss aud 4 saw "A co UIed man, with -
| gun aud AuntlHg bag, VINO came over and
dStsr'i me what was Ihe matter / tOid MIN u
{. some Uf tine ne. gibbons To come To me. He
| ~ ked u Mr. Murray was KILLED / saId, yes.
| MI Boyle ana Mr.. Linn and Others had then
| arrived, ana one by Ode they all came
By the turOnbr-DO you know the voice of
the man who Calles! out at your door lOr Mr..
4 Murray To come down Stair;
| les; heard the voice of the person, and
know have heard ~ before; 4 also think
| know the shape of the man vino broke tho
| door; a 50 tue man who held me. TIE man
| VINO broke the dpOT went with my husband :,
| anu three Others held me.
The Coroner here cautioned the witness
| not To give the names OF those sue seemed to
| recognize now, as sne may do 50 az "a IutuTe
day 10 the proper authorities.