Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-06-22
LYNCH LAW IN COLORADO.
Hsw n Praysr-mestiBE weuas Tip with q
Deablc Hanging.

Belts and Browning, said Mr.. Hick-
man, the receiver OF the land office, at
Lake City, to Denver Tribune repor-
ter. "You will remember the cause
Sheriff Campbell attempted to arrest
the two men, you know, while they
were in the act OF stealing some furni-
ture from q house. He was shot
and killed instantly-an assistant
who was with him identifying
the faces Of the murderers by the light
Of a match which was struck when tho
demand for surrender was made. The
murder was committed on the 2Gsh Of
last month, the day We were to have
celebrated the Odd Fellows anniver-
cary. The sheriff was the founder Of
our lodge, and instead OF celebration
We had funeral. A better fellow than
Campbell never lived. The murderers
were the keepers OF q dance hall. They
were arrested that morning and put in
jail. Campbel's two brothers, who were
mining at Pitkin, eighty five miles away,
were telegraphed to come to Lake City
to attend the funeral. That afternoon,
the 9th, q rumor was circulated in the
streets that there would be = prayer
meeting at the house of the dead
sheriff at ii o'clock. hal not the
slightest suspicion of the intention,
and was among the 100 men or more
who congregated near the premises.
| was not there long before / had
learned the purpose Of the advertise
ment, and was not slow in washing my
hands in the affair. The men had met
to lynch the murderers. The plan was
given ont boldly, and as boldly exc
cuted, as the next day when | arose the
information I received before l bad
reached the breakfast table was that the
lifeless bodies OF the two men we're
hanging from the cross beam OF the
Gunnison river bridge. below the city"
Did you hear bow the yigilants
proceeded?"
From the gossip which was circula.
ted after the excitement and precau.
tion had died ou., believe that a. least
100 men were in the lynching party. /
will tell you the occurrence as framed
it from mixed reports. From the
prayer meeting the vigilAnts went to
the Jail. The guards. apparently, Of
fered no resistance, and Belts and
Browning were taken out. The hands
were first bound TO their sides Some
Of the representative church members
OF the community are said to have been
in the throng who demanded the eye
for an eye and the tooth for q
tooth. do not know how true that
was. Well, while the mon we're being
bound, one OF them asked IL
there was not friend in the crowd. A
young gambler who had been . fire.
quenter Of the dance ball, aud friend
to the doomed men, shouted that he
was . friend, aud made q break toward
the prisoners. Somebody placed the
cold muzze of pistol AgAins. the side
Of his head and told him to skip the
town instanter. Ibelieve that the inci-
dent was . true bill, because the cou-
rageous youth was not seen h the city
until . week later. Everything Was
done quietly, dispassionately. The two
men were marched down the Gunnison
road after midnight Neither OF them
weakened, even when the bridge was
reached and the cruel nooses we're
placed about thcir necks. An effort was
made to save Browning, many insisting
that he did not Are the fatal shot, and
should not be lynchsd for completely in
the murder. Browning would have
been turned loose bad il not been for
the fact that he taid he would be
avenged upon the witness of the mur.
dor. When he made this threat he vas
deemed . better man dead than alive,
a. everybody knew that, although q
quiet man. he was desperate. Just as
the hanging bee was ended, aud, I un-
derstand Il. while the ropes we're being
arranged for the pulling. the two Camp.
bell brothers arrived at the scene, hAv.
ing rode the eighty ave miles by buck.
board and in the saddle that day. The
murderers were asked II they had aught
10 say, and both ooolly replied that
they had not. They we're hanged TO q
beam which crosses above from truss TO
truss of the bridge The bodies we're
allowed TO dangle there until late in the
day. They we're planted, however, be.
fore the remains Of the sheriff we're In.
tered"
"Was there any indignation expressed
against the lynchingT
"Not the least On the contrary. the
MANILA all khou0hk iha aol q pond ana