Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-08-03

OWL" and on this occasion he was still on
when the lynchers, headed by their captain
arrived. The front door leading to the Jail
or's apartments was consequently on TIT
latch, as was also the first iron door. TIL,
second, however, was locked, as was the dool
OF the cell in which Caldwell was confined
There were no other prisoners in the Jail.
When the mob found its further progress
| stayed by the inner iron door, an ak was
procured, and a man detailed to break the
lock. The first stroke awoke the TAILOR
Sheriff Fletcher, who sprang from his bed
on the upper story, and revolver in hand
came out on the landing of the stairs to sec
what was the matter. 4 half-dozen cooked
revolvars instantly covered him, and he was
| seized by two men, one of whom whispered
, in his ear: ''Bill Fletcher, 1 am one of your
| best friends, but, by Cd, we're going to
! have that nigger" OF course, unaided, he
| could do nothing, and he perforce had to let
| the mob have its way. Thursday and Fri
day nights Mr.. Fletcher, fearing that some
thing Of the kind might be attempted, was
prepared for such an emergency; but as two
nights had passed without demonstration,
| and public feeling seemed to be somewhat
allayed, the precautions had been omitted
this night.
After hacking away at the lock in the dark
Intellectually for some time, some of the men
procured lamp from the kitchen, and in Il
short time entrance was gained. Then the
key to the cell was forcibly taken from the
jailor, and in trice the lynchers had the
prisoner in their possession. A rope, with
moose adjusted, was thrown over his head,
and they started with him on a run for the
railroad bridge. A few yells were given by
some of the more excitable men as they
passed the Ironton Mills, but these We're
quickly hushed, and no further disturbance
was made until the lynching was an accom-
plished fact.
At the bridge the work was quickly done.
The prisoner was rushed up the steps and to
the centre of the bridge, when, the rope, still
about his neck, was made fast to one Of the
projecting beams. He was then thrown over
the parapet. but desperately chung to the
timbers, when slash from a knife through
the muscles Of his arm loosed his hold, and,
dropping, he hung suspended by his neck. His
feet touched the ground, however, and feel
ing the hanging might not be effective, some
thirty shots were fired at him at short range.
The suspended body was completely riddled.
The crowd then gave a yell or two, and inn
mediately dispersed, scattering in all direc-
tons.
Coroner Grandhomme was at once advised
of the matter and at one O'Clock in the morn
ing he summoned jury, went down to the
bridge, received the BODY c1It it down. OrO-
cured coffin, and, assisted by Constable
Patton and others, brought it up to the
Court House, where it lay in the Sheriff's
room until ten O'Clock next day. Then it
was taken to the potter's field and buried:
and so came the end of a horrible crime and
its terrible expiration.
1t was not the first attempt of the kind he
had made. During the past few months his
actions had been such that he was forbidden
whom he had been working, and the heads
of these families had been keeping him I'M
der continual surveillance. He had imbibed
the notion that he was entitled to 4 'twhite
lady," and when he was arrested last Thurs
day, he declared that he was a man and
would fight for his ''rights." More than one
person feels relieved to know that the brute
is out of the way forever.
We are not an advocate of lynch-law, but
if there ever can be case calling justly for
its Intervention, this was one. And that's
about all we have to say about it, excepting
that an example of its swift justice was need
ed, and to hope that the desired effect will
result.