The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-06-07
rho Vengeance or an Iowa Mob.
A MAX CHARGED WITH MURDER HANGED TO
TREE.


TREE.
A winterset Qowa) special OF Sunday
says About week ago the particulars Of
murder committed almost year ago near
this place were first made public. A con-
yict named Pugh. who was serving term
OF imprisonment for horse-steahng, fur
nished the evidence which led TO the dis
c0very. The murdered mans name was
Newell, and he had mysteriously disap-
peared on June 18th last. Pugh stated
that the missing man had been muir
dered by farmer named John Ham
ner for the purpose OF robbery, Newell
having short time previously received
several hundred dollars in pension-money,
and that the dead man was buried IN the
woods near Hammers farm. Pugh was
taken from the penitentiary TO Winterset,
and IN company with the sheriff drove 10
the Hammer place and pointed ont the spot.
A vigorous use Of shovels soon disclosed a
human body In an advanced stage oil de-
composition. There was bullet-hole in
the head, the skull was fractured, and the
throat cut. There was indisputable evil
dence that the body was that OF Newell,
and that he had been murdered. Pugh
stated that Hammer had disclosed the
fact to him, and that he had assisted In
the burial. There was further evidence
showing that Hammer did the deed,
and the coroner's jury so found. Ham
ner was held in the Wnterset Jail, and his
preliminary examination was fixed Tor the
coming week. On Wednesday night a
mob gathered at the FAIRGROUNDS for the
purpose OF lyncbing the prisoner, and
marched into town. They were met al the
public square by the police and were driven
back and dispersed. The attempt was re-
peated Thursday night, but was again de-
feated by the interference Of officers. Two
successive failures caused considerable
sport among the law-abiding citizens, but,
as nothing was done on Friday night, 1t
was supposed better counsels had pre-
vailed. and that the attempt would not be
repeated.
About 2:30 O'Clock this morning the
people were aroused by the ringing OF the
courthouse bell and the discharge OF fire.
arms. Surprising there was fire, many
citizens fastened TO the spot and found
Hammer swinging TO tree about 100 feet
from the Jail, which is in the courthouse.
1t appears that another mob had gathered.
aud had made their plans successful. III
consisted OF about seyenty-tiye unknown
men, seven Of them breaking open the out
side cellar-doOr OF the courthouse. and thus
gaining entrance to the jail. After reaching
the Jail they had four heavy iron doors to
open to get TO Hammer. This seemed to be
nothing to them. They found Hammer in
bed. and gave him time to dress. They
then put the rope around his neck, took
him TO the nearest tree. threw the rope
over limb. and drew him up to strangle
TO death. A guard who was in charge OF
the prisoners in the upper story OF the
courthouse, seeing what was going on,
rang the courthouse bell. The mob, know
ing that this would cause excitement, and
to make sure Of their work, shot Hammer
In the back, the bullet coming out at the
left breast. While the seven men were
hanging Hammer the rest OF the mob was
keeping guard, and no one was allowed to
come any nearer than three blocks Of the
square. AT the ringing OF the bell about
one hundred shots were fired by the
guards, and they all disappeared as quietly
as they had assembled. All was done in
about thirty minutes. The leaders OF the
mob asked Hammer if he had anything to
say, and he said, "Nothing"; for them to
90 ahead. lie was not guarded in the jail,
as he preferred TO be alone to sleep. No
one seems to care much, as the general be-
Iiof 10 thaf no was entity