The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-10-05
ID. w. Bliss,
J. X. BARNES,
]. ]. WOODWARD,
ROBERT REYBURN,
n q Lawn
The Recent Lynching at Bloomington,
ILL.

BLooHISGToN, Ill, October 1.
The most bloody and exciting tragedy in the
history of this CMcLean) County occurred here
this evening. About halfpast six O'Clock Ted
Franks, the jailer, was shot and killed by a
prisoner, named Charles Pierce, alias Hewlett,
incarcerated for horsestealinE. The jailer
went into the jail to change the prisoner from
one cell to another. The jailer had a revolver,
se-caliber, In his hip-pocket, and no coat on.
He went to unlock the cell-door, when the
prisoner seized the revolver and shot the jailer
in the back. The jailer then turned around
ana was shot in the shoulder. The prisoner
nrod third rhCr. and the ban pierced Franks
heart, going clear through the body, killing
him instantly. The other prisoners seized
the murderer and prevented him from es-
Gaping, and vrested the revolver from him.
News of the murder spread like wild-fire,
and cries of vengeance were soon heard
from the knots OF men about the streets
By eight the Jail was entirely surrounded
by at least i've thousand men, women and
boys, every one demanding the blood of the
murderer. The Sheriff and police summoned
q strong force to guard the jail. and did
all in their power; but st nine O'Clock . mob
of bowling men gained entrance. after nearly
tearing down the jail. For over an hour the
mob worked enthusiastically and madly, amid
the yells, screams and cheers of the lockers
on When they had forced the inner iron
doors in they put q rope around the murder
CT ucCk. anu oIAHRcQ nlu OuI NuTOuEu Nuc
Wild crowd to locust tree near by, at the
corner of Market and Center streets. In
q few minutes he was dangling in the afr, q
nfeless corpse. The shrieks and groans of the
victim OF mob violence could be heard while
he was being dragged remorselessly to the
tree; but his cries were drowned In loud
cheers and yells OF Hang himP' "Lynch
himl" TIE widest excitement prevailed.
Some of the best citizens were in the front
Business men cheered and encouraged the
lynchers, and women cheered and waved
handkerchief when the hope was strongest
that Patsey Devine, charged with the murder
OF Aaron Goodfellov in 1879, now a prisoner
in jail. would be lynched, too; but the mob
dispersed without touching him. though the
feeling was very strong.
When the murderer was raised the first time
ofiicer Bailey. of the police force, imperiled
his life by running in and cutting the rope,
letting the body fall Attempting to repeat
this act of bravery he came near being killed.
Jailer Franks was q noble man and q good
citizen. liked by all. He had lived here over
twenty years. and his death is universally la
mented throughout the city. Pierce stole a
horse and buggy here few weeks ago, and
was captured 1t Jacksonville, where he is
known as q bad man He was only twenty
years old, of medium size, smooth face and
brown hair, with . bad countenance. After
hanging on the tree thirty minutes, and hav-
ing Deen seen Oy thOuSanus OF people, the
body of the murderer was cut down and taken
possession of by the Coroner.
The decision of the Supreme Court giving
Patsey Devine anew trial was received here
yesterday, and exasperated the people, they
believing he had q fair trial. This certainly
caused intense excitement this evening. Cries
of "Justicc and courts q fsrceI" were fre1uent-
ly heard during the excitcmcut. and IL is gen
orally believed that the decision was partially
the cause of the people taking this matter in
10 their own hands