Middletown transcript., 1882-02-10
LYNCH LAW.

The people of Wisconsin are deplor-
ing the hanging of Ed. Maxwell, at
Durand, and saying that it is blot up
on the history of the State, etc.
We also deplore lynch law, but it has
broken out in some of the most sedate
and steady of the States in the Union,
and the indications are that people are
beginning to get a little scared about
allowing criminals to be tried by the
courts.
Lynch law in the West may be re-
garded as a condition of affairs where
the people begin to feel that the law is
not sufficiently powerful to whoop up
substantial justice
1t is also safe to prognosticate that at
Durand, Wis, and Bloomington, ILL.,,
as well as several other points, crime
will not have its tail over the dash
board SO extensively as heretofore.
So far as Maxwell himself was con-
cerned, we do not think his death
was such hardship as many suppose.
If he had not been hung, he would
have been compelled to remain in Dur
and for some months, and death was
really a happy release. No matter
where he went after death, he struck a
more congenial cline, in our estima-
tion, than Durand.
We spent day or two at that metrop-
oils It few years ago. It is is net net 3 pretty
town, nor very hilarious one either.
We rode about a hundred miles by
stage through bed Of sand to get there,
and the hotel was full. 1t seems that
two travelling men from Milwaukee
had entered the town during the after
noon, and Durand was therefore having
boom. The travelling men had en-
gagged room apiece, which filled the
hotel to overfowing.
Most everyone knows with what a
shy, reluctant way commercial man
walks up to the proprietor and asks for
the bridal chamber to sleep in and the
front parlor for a sample room. Well,
these bummers were of that style. The
landlord wasn't hardened to the usages
Of commercial men, so if they had asked
him to make pie of his tWo-year-old
twins, no doubt he would have done it
and charged it in the bill.
Therefore we were assigned to an old
boudoir on the eastern battIement, that
had been used as bath room years be-
fore, but had been abandoned because
it was not large enough for tall man
to bathe in, unless he bathed by Sec
tions.
We went into that room and tried to
lock the door. 1t didn't have any lock
on it. 1t had a "screw eye" and
6 hook" with which we fastened it, al
though we knew man could stick
toothpick in and unfasten it. Then we
had to step out into the hall to un-
dress. 1t was too crowded in the bed
room.
AT last we retired. The bed broke
down twice, and we lost the pillow in
our ear and had bad time generally,
ill about two O'Clock A. NJ, when a :
Chippewa river driver opened the door
with can opener, and walked in. He !.
old US to hitch over, and as he was
arge and drunk, we did so. His breath
vas so vigorous that it peeled the plas-
er off the wall.
We arose early. 1t is not custom,
,ut we wanted to see a Wisconsin sun
Use by candle light Early rising never
,rought better return, for while we =
we're at breakfast our room mate stole
on the second floor, except
he soap, and went away. +
That is why we say that Maxwell's d
ate might have been worse. Hanging l
S rather an ignominious way to die, J.
,ut think what might have befallen i
i'm. He might have been employed as :
clerk in that hotel, or he might have
,een chosen to teach the school in G
)urand. There are some things worse V
han death.-BiU Nye. q