The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-03-14

siArted In puFsait at ahUus ten O'Clock yesterday
They gotta clew ard allowed il up and u twelve
O'Clock they overlook Owens beyond Krause's
Spring. and after slight resistance captured him.
Owens acknowledged TO being In the house Sun
day night bat said he only mtended robbery
Atterwards he said he thought Of rape, and then
said he ought 10 have murdered the girl and
hushed The matter up.
+ THE NFuRIATED MOB
\ He appeared to take the entire matter as
huge joke from the time be was arrested In
coming back TO town, as. he crossed the river he
threw package overheard. He was placed in
Jail At about one O'Clock In the meantime the
news Of the intended rape had got wind and
spread, and by the time the prisoner was safely
behind the bars, the people had about determined
TO take the law In their own hands. In an
hours time an immense crowd had gathered.
and vote was called, and all who favored tax
ing Owens out and hanging him to tree were
asked to step out. Nearly all stepped out. Then
about twenty men volunteered to go up to the
sherifs home and get the Jail keys / am sure
Mr.. Gran did not think for a moment that the
crowd intended harm When the mob entered
the sheriffs house, he was at his dinner AS he
rose from the table dozen pair of hands grabbed
him, and before he knew what he was about bis
keys were gone and the mob with them The
infuriated mob pressed on towards the Jail. In
the meantime the mob was growing larger every
u.
prisoner was taken out. He was The most un-
concerned and indifferent person present He
said oh. you all can't bull -doze me- l will
have trial" Then he was hurried acrOss the
courthouse yard, and then across the street un-
der large shade tree. A rope was passed over
a limb moose made, and his hands were tied
Now, Tor the irst time, the miserable wretch re-
alIzed his fate Before, he did not know " hat
10 think / am sure he had no idea OF being
hung. As soon as he saw that the mob was in
earnest then he denied the crime and begged for
his lie He said he would go 10 prison for lie if
only mercy were shown him. He begged for
trial, and The grimmest reply was given | ever
heard: F" Yes, We will give you a trial. but we
will hang you first and try you afterwards
THE LYNcHING.
Lieutenant Danes of the Third ARTILLERY. ar
rived on the ground, and soon as he saw how
matters stood he called the garrison to arms TO
rescue the prisoner. The sheriff had come down
and the mayor OF the town, and they were now
all begging for the prisoners life The poor
frlendiess wretch saw that if he could only pro-
long bis life few minutes the troops in the gar
rison would rescue him How he fought, how
he begged tor time. how be called on the crowd
To help him! But in vain. The fair face Of his
intended victim was uppermost in the minds OF
the madiened throng. As som as the feet and
hands of 'he dooned man were tied a dray was
driven under the tree and Owens placed thereon.
"nen ihe afay moved on TIE rope slipped and
the prisoner fell 10 the ground The military
were expected every moment, and now the mob
must act quickly. So a half dozen ready hands
laId hold of the rope and drew the body OF c D.
Owens up.
There the body hung in the public streets, out
In front OF the hall Of justice court sitting from
day to day; there the body hung till sunset
The crowd slowly dispersed, the military did
not come, and human vengeance was visited
swiftly on this wretched man. May the God he
has gone to meet have more mercy on him than
did his fellowmenl