The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-03-17
HIGHLAND FLING.
How Justice Was Administered to Kline



meted out quick justice to Peter Kline, the
beast who about week ago outraged Mrs.
Carrie Truesdell in her home on the High
lands The details of the crime, the search
after and the arrest OF the fend in tits city
have already been published.
The excitement had been exceedingly
great among the Highlanders and Kentuck-
ians in general, and the officers, who had
Kline locked up in the Newport Jail, knew
well that the prisoner would be lynchcd,
but they did not think that the people
would carry out their purpose so speedily
as they did
Yesterday morning Judge Perkins went
over to Newport to arrange for Kline's re-
moyal TO Covington, and, if necessary, still
farther away. The removal was to take
place about o'clock in the evening.
All afternoon during the binding
snow storm crowds hung around
in the neighborhood of the Jail.
A few minutes before o'clock mes
senger hurriedly reported at Police
headquarters that three hundred horsemen
and larger force on foot we're making their
way to the Jail. They left the horses on
Jefferson street and marched down York,
yNl'ibS uiii SliOutlHb 81 lOuul1 llldJ tut
noise could be heard in Covington. Knives,
guns and pistols were freely brandished
and cries Of We will have him and hang
him rent the air. The ringing OF the
Courthouse bell by one of the officials had
the effect OF increasing the number of the
mobbcrs. Not one OF the men was masked,
but the snow and darkness prevented the
distinguishing OF any of the men. Arlv-
ing at the Courthouse Square the jail was
surrounded, three OF the gates burst open
and the fence on Southsate street torn
down. Mayor liarton attempted argument
but pistol presented to his head closed
his mouth, heavy blow caused deep
cash in his right cheek and the Mayor went
to the ground. Before he could arise the
mob picked him ny and heaved him over
tile fence Captain Link and Officers Mar
tin and nupuy were treated in nearly
similar manner
The signal fol advance was given and the
surging mass swept into the yard. The
Ia!er refused TO give up Kline, but the
mob Insisted on having the keys, and they
got them.
KLINE WAS TAKEN OUT
and the march to the Highlands began,
over 800 persons being behind the doomed
man. The crowd wanted the man hung at
the first convenient place, but the leaders
Insisted ON his being taken to Mr.. TrueS-
dell's home. Arriving here. the crowd
snrgcd into the yard, filling every inch of
space Mrs. Truesdell was in bed, from
which She had been unable to rise since the
outrage on last Friday week ago. Her
husband was sitting near her. Klein was
pushed through the door and into their
presence. The wretch was white with
!rght,and his head dropped upon his breast.
lie was told to hold up his head when he
remarked:
II DID NOT DO IT.
Wait till morning, and you will know l
didn't
oh that's the voice" exclaimed Mrs.
Trucsdell.
One of the men then told her to look
well at the man. The poor lady said it was
he, and the mans fate was sealed. Kline
was taken from the room Immediately to
the road. The mob as if by preconcert,
went back along the Dayton Pike to the in
tersection with the Reservoir Road to Mr..
James Southgate's residence.
| After crossing a hollow some dispute
arose as to what tree the man should be
hung to. One wing OF the crowd, among
whom was Il man carrying the rope, took
across the feld--a pasture--to sycamore
tree. The great bulk of the mob, with
Kline in their possession. had in the mean
| time reached an elm tree, with wide
spreading branches about two hundred
yards from Mr.. SOuthsate's house. While
the crowd were thus divided, the gentle
man owning the field on which the syca-
more tree stands appeared on the scene,
and, stating that he should very much dis
like to have anything so horrible happen
on his premises, requested the men there
gathered to give up their purpose and go
over where the greater part of the crowd
had gathered to do the job.
The request was complied with.
| An old open buggy had been secured,
and from this Kline was to make his exit
out of this world About 5000 men were
soon crowding around the elm tree. One
of the branches of this tree reaches over the
road, and the wagon was driven under this
branch. The mass was pushed back suf-
iiciently to allow space for completion OF
the terrible work, when the doomed nan
was lifted into it.
THE ROPE
was twelve feet long and thrown over the
limb, where it was secured by one Of the
mob On the other end moose was made
and the same adjusted around kline's neck
by a prominent citizen who lives near Day.
ton and whose name is well known.
Kline was asked whether he WAS guilty
and he replied that he was not that he
made the confession as he thought that af
ter being arrested his statement woild pre-.
vent him from being lynched. He claimed
that Mrs Truesdell made mistake, tina
ALBERT Jones did it. lie did not think j
right to punish him this way without law
II THIS Is LAW
, replied the leader and with these words th
? horses were whipped up, the wagon wen
from under kline's feet and the man hun
in the air, swinging to and fro like pendr
: lum. A slight quiver, gurgling sounc
: aud Kentucky justice was satisfied. Dl
Cameron, who had pressed his way to tn
y tree stepped forward to examine the pulls
t. of the dying man. AT that time yioler
I contortion of Kline's features took place
II and DR.. Damcron was struck quite heay
e blow in the stomach by one OF the dyin
!; mans feet. At the end Of three minut,
d the man was dead. This was at o'clocl
IL The crowd dispersed, save about five hui
dred men, who began swinging the lin
body, cracking jokes and fin9ing taunt
and threatening to riddle the body wit
bullets. Finally all left, and at o'clot
the body was still hanging TO the tree.