The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1883-06-13

Fhon ehe Pioneer Pres.


About ! week ago the particulars ola
MI murder committed almost year ago
near Winterset, Madison county, were
Art made public. A convict, named
PuRh, Who was serving out = sentence
for horse Sealing, furnished the evidence
which led to the discovery. The muir
dered mans name was Newell, and ne
had mystenously disappeared on the
18th day Of Last June. Pugh stated that
the missing man had been murdered by
Z farmer named John Hammer, for the
purpose of robbery, Newell having but .
short time previously received several
hundred dollars pension money, and
that the body Of the dead man was burr
ed in the woods near Hammers farm.
Pugh was brought from the penitentiary
to Winterset, and in company with the
sheriff drove-out near the Hammer place
and pointed out the spot. A vigorous
use Of shovels soon discovered human
body in an advanced stage Of decomposi-
ton. There was the bullet hole in the
head, the skull was fractured as by a
rock, and the throat was cut. There was
indisputable evidence that the remains
were those Of Newell, and that he had
been murdered. Pugh stated that Ham
ner had disclosed the fact Of the murder
to him; that he had assisted in the
burial. There was further corroborative
evidence Of an indisputable character,
showing that Hammer did the deed, and
tho coroners jury 80 found. Hammer
was held in the Winterset Jail, and his
preliminary examination fixed for the
coming week. On Wednesday night q
mob gathered at the fair grounds for the
purpose Of
LYNCHING THE PRISONER,
and marched into town. They were met
at the public square by the police, and
were driven back and dispersed. The
attempt was repeated Thursday night,
but was again defeated by the interior
ence of officers. Two successive failures
caused considerable sport among law
abiding citizens, but a. nothing was done
Friday night it was supposed better
counsel had prevailed, and the attempt
would not be repeated. Everything was
unusually quiet in the village, but about
2:3O o'clock the town was suddenly
aroused by the ringing Of the court house
bell and the rapid discharge of small
arms. The mob, about seventy-6ve men,
some ON foot and some mounted, had
quietly surrounded the court house.
Hammer was in Jail, which is located in
the basement While most Of those
stood guard, q portion rushed for the
Jail. The inside doors were torn away,
and the four sets of heavy iron doors
within were
FOUNDED IN WITH sLEDGE HAMMERS.
The prisoner was found in bed, but was
given time to dress. A rope was placed
around his neck, and he was led out to
tree about one hundred feet from the
Jail. The doomed man was asked if he
had anything to say, and he replied that
he had not, and that they might 60
ahead. He was then drawn up and the
rope securely fastened. At this point
guard, who had charge of a prisoner in
the upper story Of the court house, rang
the bell to alarm the town. Some of the
mob, to make sure Of their work, shot
Hammer in the back, the ball coming out
near the left breast. About a hundred
shots were then fired into the air and the
mob disappeared in the darkness. There
is practically no sympathy for the victim
of the mob, who has long led dissolute
life.