The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-07-09
LYNCH LAW In VERMONT.
A mon OF WEALTHY FARMERS LED
By A JU8TICE OF THE PEACE


Hanging q Man Accused Of Assault, and
Giving Him Coat OF Tar and Foathers-
Little Evidence OF tho viotim's Guilt.
RUTLAND, VT, July s.--On Thursday night
at about 10 O'Clock from fifteen to twenty men
surrounded the house OF Timothy Coakley. q
well-to-do Irish farmer In the town Of Shrews-
bury a mountain town a dozen miles east OF
Rutland. The leaders OF the party called at
the door and explained that they wanted Paul
Ellis whose reputation was hot the best. and
whom they charged with attempted criminal
assault on the fourteen year old daughter OF
Charles Gleason. Ellis expected to be-
gin working for Mr.. Coakley the next
day. and had Just arrived there. In
opposition to the wish OF Coakley but on
the assurance OF one OF the leaders. who Is a
Justice OF the Peace. a number Of men crowded
into the house and tied rope around Elis's
waist The entire mob grasped the rope. which
was over thirty feet long. and dragged the man
out Of tho house and down the road to spot
over half mile from the house. Here halt
was ordered. and the victim was told to pre-
pare for death. The rope was shifted from the
thrown over the limb Of tree. Whether Ellis
was, actually hanged or whether he was. SO
pulled up a number Of times and f t&resto med
tempted assault The lynchers. who talk freely
OF their exploit. and seem proud Of #. said they
a. r ct Ellis
dying prayers, and admitted a number Of petty
thefts. all the while begging most piteously for
tar and feathers, and. more dead than alive.
turned loose In the woods. Among the party
were a number of influential and wealthy farm
ers-in fact. every farmer OF wealth within ra.
t dus Of many miles being among them and
actor was Interviewed, Including the yiotim OF
the her
OF the girl Is very poor farmer. owning a
worth on Which precarious living only can be
made; tumble down rookery Of a house shell
ters the father, two. girls. and two boys. The
at her .brother's. in Boston. for they are too
poor at home TO furnish proper food and treat
trict, school with twenty or more pupils and
windows and doors wide opon. The alleged
Ellis was o at house when the atte
left for Rutland; Gleason owes Ellis money.
Snd Ellis says he tried to 69rr9S more but
denies asking Els it, On the e other HAND
% shrf Ss Ae Th ho
commenced con eh9rph,ng and she says that it was
to assault her but that she ran into the house.
Ellis says that she asked him to help her churn,
Three times Gleason visited the house where
Ellis boarded, once meeting him. and each time
threatening ri his life and displaying 8 large
and purchased tar. The lynchiDg was talked
of on Wednesday night, but sufficient crowd
could not be got together, and it was put off
until Thursday night. In the whole town Of
Shrewsbury only two families were met with
who sided with Elis-the Coakleys, where the
ABDUCTION took place. and ono other.
Ellis occasionally gets drunk but Is first
class man on the farm. He gets high wages.
boards a little. and always has money about
him. To-day he turned up in Rutland. and
although somewhat sore from being hauled a
half mile over a rough road is in seemingly
and the two met, High words followed and
Ellis was arrested. charged with drum enness.
His trial occurs on Monday morning. in which
some Of the facts may be brought out
The people OF Rutland. well as Shrews-
bury. uphold tho lynchers, This y on account
Of the poor character of Ellis and the wealth OF
those engaged in the lynching. Ellis has two
brothers here, who have the respect of the
community. The local daily newspaper. after
giving some meagre facts in relation to the
case this morning. came out with q singing
editorial article demanding the punishment Of
those engaged in the outrage.