The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-05-12

suffering from injustice, and to deal out
retribution and punishment in their own
way. This is called Lynch Law. prac-
tice which, although generally harsh and
severe. is seldom, in any great measure,
unjust. There are no technicalities Of
law ever allowed to stand in the way of
Judge Lynch's decisions, but the truth,
and usually fair play and justice, are
sought An offender being once adjudged
guilty of crime, and sentence passed
upon him, there is no delay, but sum
mary punishment is dealt out at once.
California and other mining countries have
furnished striking examples of this prac-
tice, but the Northwest, although less
wild and rough, less given to scenes that
called for these extrepe measures, is not
wanting, in its early history, in examples
Of this kind.
In the Northwestern part Of Wright
county, Minnesota, in the year 40,
think, there occurred an instance of this
kind that will bear relating:
In lovely spot, some distance from
any neighbors, lived an old bachelor
named William Wallace, peaceful, inof.
fensive, and an industrious man, who at
tended to his own business and was gen.
orally well liked Some time in July of
the year Of which write, Wallace was
known to have received a considerable
sum Of money from the East. This money
was known to have been mostly made up
OF two dollar bills on certain New Eng
land bank. No great stress was put up
on these facts at the time, but circum-
stances soon occurred to recall everything
known in connection with this money.
A few weeks after it was received, a
neighbor had occasion to go to the house
of Wallace one morning to see him on
business, and found the house unoccu-
pied and having that deserted look, so
quickly. seen but so hard to describe,
which made it apparent that no one had
been there for some time. II was then
remembered that Wallace had not been
seen for several days. Search was insti-
tuted, and following path down to a
marsh where he had been known to have
been cutting hay. the dead body of Wal
lace was soon discovered lying beside
the path, with the back of his head
crushed in, Us if with a club or some
heavy weapon. Further search was
made, and the club with which the blow
had evidently been struck IA sled stake)
was found not far distant From thence
parties proceeded to the house. Nothing
seemed to have been disturbed, but no
money could be found about the place. A
valuable gold watch, a large and heavy
one of old English manufacture, was also
missing, but there was nothing to give a
clue to the perpetrator of the dark deed.
So the body was decently buried, and the
few friends who had known the man act
ed as mourners.
But the deed was not soon forgotten.
The memory of the cold, stiff form found
lying down there in the wet marsh, half
hidden by the tall grasses, seemed to
haunt the minds of those who saw it,
and every circumstance that could posi-
bly, throw any light on the matter was
brought to mind and talked over.
1t was remembered that man named
Oscar +. jackson, neighbor of Wallace,
had been helping him cut hay, and
upon close investigation he was the
last man known to have been in the COM
pany of Wallace. Suspicion after time
began to point to jackson as the murder
er, but without sufficient grounds on
which to base a legal charge. He was
closely watched, and two dollar bill Of
the denomination known to have been
owned by Wallace was traced to him. |
This was but a small matter, for numer-
ous similar bills were found to be in cir
culation in the country. This was all,
not much to read or to tell, and certainly
not enough to convict man, but a name
less something was afoat that marked |
Jackson as the culprit, ard at last he was
arrested on suspicion of murder.
He procured the ablest counsel to be |
had in that region, and after fair and |
impartial trial, was acquitted.
But the matter did not end here. In |
spite of the decisions of Judge and jury
public opinion was against him, and in
the minds of the people he was adjudged
as guilty of "murder most foul" So |
strong was this prejudice against him,
and so forcibly did it make itself felt,
that on the day after his release from the
county jail Jackson deemed it prudent to
leave the place, and went to st. Paul, where
friends who believed him to be innocent
of the crime of which he was charged,
took care Of him, gave him employment,
apd looked after his personal safety and
comfort. This went on for a month OF
more. Meanwhile, back in Wright coun-
ty, the place of the murder, the memory
Of the deed was not allowed to rest in OBJ
livion, but was kept fresh and new fuel
was constantly added to the flame of pub
lie rage. A desire to avenge the deed
arose in the minds of the people, and, like
q little leaven, it gradually spread until
the idea seemed to take possession Of all
that jackson must suffer death for the