Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-10-13
MOB LAW IN ILLINOIS.

| A PA soner In the Bloominxson Jan Shoots
and Kills Jailer Franks and h sammariiy
Hama BY . Mob.
| Especial to the Chicago TribuneJ
| BLOOMINGTON. H., Oct. I.
| About $50 this evening three discharges
of revolver following each other in rapid
succession were heard In the County jail.
Then the people>on the street began 70 cry:
"Police police !" and run toward the jail
building At the corner Of Center and Market
Streets. Immediately rumor prevailed
that prisoners had obtained pistols, had
killed the Sheriff and Jailer, and were maxi
ing their escape. The fact was prisoner
named Charles Pierce, q horse-thief.
| HAD MURDERED TEDDY FRANKS,
the County Jailer. Franks, while changing
the prisoner, Pierce alias Hewlett, from one
cell to another, was murdered In cold blood
by Pierce, who seized the Jsiler's revolver
from Franks's hip pocket, shooting him
three times and killing him instantly. The
third ball, . large one went clear through
| the body.
Within few moments after this tragedy
had occurred, large number Of people had
gathered at the north door Of the jail within
which the body Of Teddy Franks was lying
stark in death. Waking among the people,
you could hear men say: "This Is too badf
This comes from the failure OF our courts to
punish crime. He ought to be hung"
'Don't stir up mob!" . law and order
man would say. "Let the law take its
| course" .....
"The law be -" was the reply.
"There Is no law against murder and other
crime in Mclean County. He ought TO be
hanged"
Cheers followed this, and other voices
cried: "Take him outw
AFTER AN HOURS EXCITEMENT,
rush was made, and the work Of breaking
into the jail was commenced.
| For two hours the mob worked at the Jail
with six e-hammers and battering-
rams made Of great pieces Of timber. ~
Sheriff Alor and his deputies and the city
police soon ascertained that they could do
nothing to restrain the reckless men and
boys who composed the assaulting crowd.
Fully 5, 900 persons were In the bowling,
yelling multitude. The officers did what
they could to delay the mob's progress.
Several prominent citizens, including
Senator Fifer and others, attempted to get
the ear OF the excited men who were batter
| ing the Jail wall down, but In vain. Al last
! the mob gained admittance to the jail, Sc.
cured the murderer of Franks, took him to
a tree on Market Street, near the northeast
corner Of Centre and Market, put rope
around his neck, threw one end across .
branch, and
PULLED THE CULPRIT UP.
One of the mob climbed up the tree and out
upon the branch to which the murderer was
hanging, and, amid the cheers OF the de-
lighted people, pulled the hanging body up
i a. g., 10 lntt 10
| "Pull him up higherv the crowd would
cry. The man on the branch would comply
with the request and let the body drop with
a dull thud, while the savage crowd would
cheer and laugh. The knot had slipped be-
hind the head Of the corpse, and the head
was thrown forward. The eyes stared and
the pale face turned from side to side, n
spectacle which the maddened crowd
seemed to enjoy. 1t cheered and yelled, and
shouted: "There's law for you'll" &C. the
courts!" was cried here and there.
At last the man on the branch caught tho
rope, slipped down 1t, threw his legs around
the neck OF the corpse, and jumped to the
ground. The crowd seemed to be delighted
by this feat. 1t chcered, and yelled, and
shouted.
| When the lynching was imminent the fol-
lowing dispatches were exchanged.
To Cor. Cniiom, Sprinqfeid-Our Jailcr was
| murdered by prisoner In jail Tonight. An
KIM the mrSersr and psonnby Patsy peSne
HAMILTON, Lieutenant. Governor.
SPRINGFIELD, Oct Ito the Hon. John NJ.
Hamiiton-Teil the Sheriff TO call out tho mini.
| tary company there. II necessary to protect
SIN. CULLoM, Governor.
sPRISGrIELp, Oct. l. To fhe Hon. ,. N; Hap-
aton: hope the Sheriff and the law abiding
citizens win prevent any mob violence. Tel
SIN. CULIoM, Governor.
| BLOOMINGTON. Oct. Ito Cor. s.. NJ Csifous
murderer OF the Jaiier and hung him to n tree
near the Jail. The mob did not attempt to
lynch Devine. The mob Is now , dispersing:
| hurt. The murder was dnstardly and the cx-
element is intense, The militia can not DO
assembled. JOHN NJ. HAMILTON.
| Lieutenant. Governor.
While the work OF breaking the jail was
going on the greatest excitement prevailed.
The Sheriff and his Deputies and several OF
the police force stood in the doors and
pleaded for peace, and ordered and fought
the angry crowd, thirsting for the blood Of
the man who killed the man they all dearly
loved. The banging Of the batterng ram,
the blows OF the heavy nx, the clamor of the
sledge hammers and the click OF tho ham
mer- chisel on the iron doors rang out with
doleful and exciting sound. The yells and
screams of
THE EXCITED MOB
drowned down the shouts OF the officers, and
the thousands Of people In the rear OF
the assailants cheered continuously.
There were great many women in this
vast crowd, who plodded with The rest
through the muddy streets aud Joined In the
cheering, and occasionally handkerchiefs I'm
women's hands would nutter above the
heads Of the mob. After seine time the door
and window opening out Of the Office were
burst in, and, with clubs, the crowd and
officers fought for q considerable length OF
time. When the leaders gained an entrance
to the Office the cheers rang long and loud.
The same dead sounds were then heard on
the massive iron door that led TO the Jail
proper, and, finally, that strong heavy OBJ
stacle fell rs II pine, and the shouts and cries
were indiscribable. The mob being inside,
an officer designated the murderer, who WAS