St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1881-10-15
MOB LAW IN ILLINOIS.
Prisoner in the Bloomington Jail Shoots
and Kills Jailer Franks and is summarily
Hanged by u Mob.

| A Prisoner in the bloomington Jail Shoots
| and Kills Jailer Franks and is summarily
hanged by "a Mob.
Especial to the Chicago Tribune.
BLOOMINGTON, H., Oct. l.
About $50 this evening three discharges
Of a revolver following each other in rapid
succession were heard in the County Jail.
Then the people on the street began to 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 he Sheriff and Jaier, and were maxi
ing their escape The fact was prisoner
named Charles Pierce, a horse-ihicf,
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 Jailer'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 a few moments after this tragedy
had occurred, large number of people had
gathered at the north door of the jail within
stark in death. Wa king among the people,
you could hear men say: "This is too bad |!
This comes from the failure of our courts 10
punish crime. He ought to be hung.'
ssDon'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 QUIT"
AFTER AN HOURS EXCITEMENT,
a rush was made, and the work of breaking
into the Jail was commenced.
For two hours the mob worked at the Jail
with six sledge hammers and batterng-
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 5000 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. At last
the mob gained admittance to the Jail, Sc.
cured the murderer of Franks. took him to
q 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
three or four feet and let it drop.
"Pull him up higherV the crowd would
crv 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. a
spectacle which the maddened crowd
seemed to enjoy. 1t cheered and yelled, and
shouted: 'There's law for you!" g. the
courtsw was cried here and there.
At last the mar on the branch caught the
rope, slipped down it, threw his legs around
the neck of the corpse, and jumped to the
ground. The crowd seemed to be delighted
by this feat. 1t cheered, and yelled, and
shouted.
When the lvnching was imminent the fol-
lowing dispatches were exchanged.
To Coz. Culion,, Springfe1d-Our Jailer was
murdered by prisoner in jail to night. An
immense mob is now tearing down the jail to
kill the murderer and probably Patsy Devlne
The Sheriff is pOwerleSS.
HAMILTON, Lieutenant Governor.
SPRINGFIELD, Oct Ito the Hon. John AZ.
Hnmitton-Tell the Sheriff to call out the mill
tary company there, ii necessary to protect
life and property.
s. NJ. CULLoM, Governor.
SPRINGFIELD, Oct. l. -Trthe Hon. J. AZ. Ham
ihon: hope the Sheriff and the law abiding
citizens will prevent any mob violence. Tel
s. NJ CULLoM, Governor.
BLOOMINGTON, Oct. Ito Cor. S. ~ Cuuom
The mob broke into the jail and got the
murderer OF the Jailer and hung him to tree
near the Jail. The mob did not attempt to
lynch Devine. The mob is now dispensing,
and quiet is being restored. No other, persons
hurt. The murder was dastardly and the ex-
element is intense. The militia can not be
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 battering-ram,
the blows of the heavy AK, the camor OF the
sledge hammers and the click of the 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