The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-11-21
LYNOHED.
Melting the Murderer Hung by Mob.
He Expiates His Foul Crime within Sight
of the House Where He Killed
His Victim.

The Sentinel yesterday announced briefly
the lynching of Jacob Melting for the muir
der OF Miss Ada Atkinson, near Oxford last
September. The following account is from
the Lafayette Journal of yesterday morning:
The murder of Ada Atkinson is avenged and
this morning the sun rose on the horrible spec
tacle of the body of Jacob Melting dangling in the
air. A mob of determined orderly men, COM
posed of $50 of the leading farmers of Benton
County. took the law into their own hands and the
wretch was make to see that his punishment a
Just retributiOn to the law of q life for a life.
About O'Clock 80 masked horsemen rode from
Oxford toward Fowler There was no loud dem
onstraons or threats in the ten mile ride silently
they advanced toward the Fowler Jail. The
hOrsem stopped in a body near the stock yard,
while a SEirmIsner sent into town 20 see that
everything was secure for their approach. The
sight of one man on horseback slowly riding into
town AZ 1880 O'Clock from the southeast.
was not calculated 70 alarm any be
lated citizen who might appear on the
streets, and the horseman proceeded without sus-
piciOn his GRAND 10 the Court House. and after
riding around the building he turned back and
came About forty minutes aiterward the mob of
$50 men, masked beyond recognition. rode in q
body into the town, and dismounting, hitehed
their horses to the posts along the Guards
were posted at every approach to the Jail to warn
away the citizens In the event OF resistance, and
Inatc manner TO 5oree open the Jail Sheriff Scan
Ian was not prepared for the mob and was taken
wholly unaware, although, as was MS custom, TOOK
precautions to doubly secure Melting in his
stronghold, The mob gathered at the east door of
the Jail and attacked il with crowbars and sledge
hammers Naught save the loud resembling blows
or the ecuOing shouts could be heard on the night
air. AS the work proceeded and the great iron
doors beran to give under the heavy blows the
crowd became somewhat excited, and As the first
barrier removed an eXultant yell arose that
time win terror The next operation was to force
the bars that were inside the outside door. This
task easily accomplished by their united
efforts, and twenty resOlute stood inside the
Jail Across the cell corridors is a partition of
heavy iron bars. the door of which was locked
with large padlocks, which were smashed with
Eleoges and the mob stood in front of the muir
derer's cell. Melting faced his avengers. already
dressed 10 meet them. His doom had come, and
he knew that only few moments stood between
him and eternity. Considerable skill was required
dOubly locked, and fastened at the top with four
inch bar OF iron running the entire length OF the
corridor Within half hour the heavy door
men, and Nelling was dragged out a trembling
captive. Though cool, he was the very picture OF
that death ne was soon 20 meet Hls eyes were
and the expression OF his face was that OF abjeet
terror and despair.
He was forced 10 the east door, where his pres
ence was greeted with ch GERS from the crowd out
side. AS he was being hustled down the steps he
said, "GO little slow, gentlemen; am older than
some OF you" His words were unheeded, now
ever, and he was placed in a carriage cor tanning
the rope to hang him, and driven rapidly toward
oxford. The mob Immediately followed on their
horses, and excitement ran high. By this time the
citizens of Fowler had been thoroughly aroused,
ana several of them hastily procured vehicles and
Joined in the ride of deatA.
Having arrived at Oxford, Melting taken
from the carriage and the rope hurriedly adj ted
around his neck. News of the approaching crowd
had reached the town, aud excitement for time
riot among the pop ulace. The hanging crowd
was largely augmented by hundreds of citizens
eager for revenge.
Near the residence OF Cephas Atkinson, and
where Melting could view the house in which he
committed his crime, stands an old tree in plain
sight of the road, that pHssers by might easily
read the sign "a foul murder has been avenged to-
night" and to this spot the doomed man was
marched in terror. II was O'Clock when the mob
reached the farm of CeDhas Atkinson, and no time
lost in expediting the hanging. As the old
man stood under the cross beam. bare headed. the
crowd looked on in silence. The moon shone
brightly on his pale, haggard features. He seemed
to have desire TO ask for mercy, but lacked the
strength TO speak. In vain he cast an anxious eye
about for plying face. Not one in all that as
semblage of reSolute men wavered; the stern re.
solve TO avenge the death of their neighbors
daughter was depicted on every countenance. At
ten minutes before O'Clock this morning, one of
the executioners stepped up and said:
Melting, you must die. Have you any further
confession to make or anything to say?'
'No, nothing more than have already said, but
/ want you TO make half way decent job OF this
and cut off my wind as quick as you can"
A moment was given the doomed man to make
his peace with God, whose law he ha0 fully out
ragged, and then he was pulled high in air. dang
ling wretch in the agonies of death. He made two
cOnvulSiN 4 struggles and then became UNCONSCIOUS,
being chOked to death. Satisfied with their nights
work. the crowd dispersed to their homes, and to-
day the citizens of Benton have another page of
blood to chronicle in the chapter OF their history