The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-05-06
Lynch Law.

Several recent horrible outrages in different
parts of the country upon the persons of little
girls have been summariy avenged by the cit,
liens taking the law into their own hands and
at once effeetIally disposing of the perpetra.
tors of the terrible crimes. A st. Paul Mimi
telegram of the 2Sth ut. gives the following
account of the lynching affair at Minneapolis:
The excitement IN Minneapolis over the out.
rage perpetrated upon little Nina Spear by
tramp yesterday afternoon increased, without
any appearance of concerted action, until
about midnight, when squads OF men began to
assemble on the street corners and gradually
convcrged down Third street and Washington
avenue in the direction of the county jail.
There was no sound heard except the tramp Of
feet, and the attempt, so far as it succeeded,
was conducted with remarkable discretion
The Vigilance Committee, now numbering
about sixty persons, proceeded without
noise by sundry routes to the county
Jail, which they reached shortly before
l;3O There was noiseless consulta-
ton, and, headed by picked men, they
marched to the door of the turnkey S room and
demanded entrance, which was refused by
Sheriff Eustis in person. The demand was re.
peated and refused. A few brawny shoulders
were placed to the door. and it gave way with
crash. The Sheriff still resisted. but was
taken in custody by the mob disguised with
handkerchiefs, and was forced into submfs-
sion in the corridor leading to the cell-room
Ihen commenced search for tho prisoner
from ecu 10 cell, by dim light, but up to
TWO O'Clock without result. The committee
made various demands upon the sheriff to
eve Up the prisoner, but he stoutly refused.
ABOUT three clock access was obtained to the
third tier of cells, where the prisoner was or
dered 10 be confined. Two men suspected of
being the one looked for were taken ont A
hurried investigation resulted in the partial
luentllication of one, giving his name as Crom-
tfSS, VINO no was found N cell No. on the third
was Delng questioned by the Vigiants,
making noeHort to conceal his face, and glibly
answering the questions which were put to
nm. 1t was exactly $40 when he was
Drought into the corridor, and, escorted by the
enure company of Vigilants, the prisoner was
marched to the house of Mr. Spear, where were
gathered several ladies who had seen him be-
lore the commission of the act. No sooner
was he presented than all the ladies' de-
elared positively that he was tho euprit the
ugolllIed mother eXclaiInlng: 4" II is the man!
lake MN awayV While this dramatic scene
was going ON IN one room, the victim of the
Outrage Jay dying in an adjoining room,
the ladies' was the signal for action and, with
OUT noise or any demonstration, the prisoner
was taken to large oak tree on the southeast
corner of the block diagonally across from the
nlgh school, The moose was prepared, one of
tne members of the committee climbing up
ana placing the rope over the limb. While
this was in progress of performance tho pris-
oner was asked If he had anything 10 say. and,
Mlthout the least sign of fear, nc replied that
MS name was Tim Cromley, and that he was
from Boston, and had been here four
months. When he was asked how he came
70 perpetrate the crime of which he
was guilty, he denied IT, hut afterwards con-
fessed, and said it was done while he was
drunk. His hands were thcreupon tied behind
him. The rope was then put over his neck
ana carefully adjusted under his right ear,
and at 1851, with h. hat and boots on. he was
swung into eternity, the vigilants giving
long pull and strong pull which brought the
wretch dangling in the air The rope Was then
securely tied TO the trunk Of the tree. The
remains Were left dangling in the ar, NherS
crowds Inspected them, as the news spreN
rapidly over the city to the early risers.