Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-01-09
smI1cpELL AND kE1cHum's muRoERERs.

MITCHELL AND KETcHUM'S MuRDEReRS.
pcradoes at Plum Creek, Nebraska.
Omaha Bee.
The particulars Of that terrible crime
the hanging. and burning Of Mitchell aud
ketchum in Caster county-are still fresh
10 the minds Of the public 1t created a
sensation in Nebraska, and all over
the country, and coupled with the crimes OF
Richards, which were made public at about
tie same time, aud also the lynching Of the
Two. convicted negroes at Nebraska City for
murder and rape, gave a severe blow TO the j
hitherto air reputation Of Nebraska az a
l%aw-abiding and ~peaceable state. The
burning Of Mitchell and Ketchum created
Intense indignation all over the state, and
the governor was appealed to to make every
effort possible to effect the arrest of the wi.
lains concerned in the brutal outrage. 1t
was suggested that the legislature make an
appropriation of $4,000 as q reward for
their capture, but as the supposed murder
ers are now in custody, such a step will moi
be necessary, but it would probably have
been done had not the arrest been made yes
terday at Plum Greek.
On Sunday morning, December 29th, the
funeral of Ketchum took place at Kearney,
the Presbyterian clergyman officiating. IL
will be remembered that the burned and
mutilated bodies Of both Mitchell and
Ketchum we're brought into Kearney and
placed on exhibition in an undertaker's
room, and the terrible spectacle oaly in.
creased the indignation Of The citizens, many
Of whom suggested that the bodies be taken
to Lincoln and exhibited before the legisla-
ture, in order to induce offer a large
reward for the capture of the barbarians
who perpetrated tue crime.
The llmbs vt the bodies bad been cut
with knives and small pieces hacked gu
where It was necessary to add to the torture
of the victim. Iu many. places the burning
had not reached the point where The skin
was destroyed, making IL evident that the
flames bad heeH only foFthepurpnse of ro
uucing death, and not tomuifiatea or destroy
the rodies. The sight was q dreadful one
The teeth Of each victim were firmly sci.
aud the countenance Of Ketcharn gave the
clearest evidence OF Iherost terrible agony
immediately. after the b~urningTof Mitchell
aud Kelehum tn finKerOf suspicion Was
pointed at l P. Olive and h,ssherders an (,
trends, rs beng The paiti.s ither directly ~
indirectly implicated in the crime. II Will bt
remembered that III. the pievio1s encounter,
between Olives men and Mitchell ard
Ketchum, a brother Of Olive, whose assum
ed name was Stevens. was killed by Ketch
um, 10 self detense as IL claimed and afie.
ne (Ketchum) mad been wounded in the ara.
by one OF Stevens patty. Il WAS Olive wh,,
paid over the reward I'd the SHERIFF. who ar.
rested Mitchell and Ketchum, and turned
them over to Sheriff Barney
Gillian, from whom they were taken
ny a masked mob north of Plum
Greek while en- route to Custer county. Al
fret Gillian reported tina, there were twenty.
i've men, but no m afterward. it was learned
that there we're not more than seven, and
not less Than FIVE. Gillian, has ever sinc.
been trying to explain his part 10 the qnes
Ftionable transactios, but he 6as convinced
verv few, if any,;thsthe was freefrom blame.
Olive, upon learning that he and his
gang we're suspected, has appeared several
times at Plum Creek in q defiant manner,
and tnvited any one to arrest him. H.
swaggered&about the own daring any one
to take him, and swore that he would not
be taken, alive. He played the part Of a
desperado aud . %bull-dozsr, and there is no
doubt that he scared agreat macy men into
keeping silent and maintaining a neutral
attitude. 1t was generally conceded that to
arrest him and his men would be a danger
Gus undertaking, and the only way to do it,
would b. BY a large armed force surround
ing him and bis men at their ranch in Gus
ter county. 1t wa3 also admitted that they
never would be arrested until q large re.
ward was offered. The arrest. therefore. Of
MIN and his men at Plum Creek will prove
quite a surprise-and an agreeable one to
the public. It was accomplished BY 4 we'll
laid strategem. 1t has been customary for
Olive and his men to visit Plum Creek on
Sundays 10 get their mail, transact other
business. and then 60 on . spree and bull
doze the community
It appears that Billy Nichols, ex.Uuion
Pacific agent at Plum creek had been depu.
tiled by Judge Gaslin q . special consta-
BILE to undertake the arrest. and if our in.
formant, who arrived from the vest TO-DAY.
10 correct, Nichols is entitled to great credit
for his nerve and the manner in which he
effected the capture. He vas assisted bv
w. Head, w. n. Almy and . man named
Valentine; also BY Ketchum's three brothers
and Mitchelps step son, all Of WHOM had
been privately waiting for a favarable oppor.
tunity to undertake the job.
1t appears that these men, or most Of them,
armed themselves with ,~shotguns and revolt
yers and secreted themselves in the postof.
fee and when Olives men came in one bv
one, a. they happened to do, to get their
mail. they vert ordered to throw ID fIeir
hands, which theylwere easily persuaded to
do BY the gums and revolvens pointed q them.
As each one surrendered he was diearmed
aud taken to the rear room. They we're ali
captured ID this way, none Of them being
given the least opportunity 70 make my re.
s~istance Whatever.
Xhen Oiiu. aam> &. NIL - .--