Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-26
"OLD KAINTUCk"
Gets to the Front Once More With
the Startling Tragedy
Of the Day.
Officers of the Law Leading a Mob
to Lynch a Couple of
Criminals.
A Sheriff and a Respectable Farmer
Among the Mob Who
Were Shot.

Nj. STERLING, Ky, VIA. LENisToN, KY,
May 25.-There has been confined in the
county Jail Of this Montgomery county
for ten days, John Barrett and companions
known as the Barrett gang charged with
the murder of Noughan Hilton, on the
night Of May 18th on the edge of this coun-
ty, nearest to the Manefee line. Rumors
had reached Judge Jas. H. Hszleygg, of this
city, some days ago that mob from Name
fee county, composed of friends OF the
murdered man, were coming TO take the
prisoners at midnight, and
Hang Some OF Them.
at least he had ordered guard to be on
duty at the jail every night. Last night
Jailor J. O. Stevens, who is quite old. had
gotten the City Marshal, Pat Punch, to
take his place. Marshal Punch and De.
putty Sheriff George Mccormick were keep
ing guard in the hallway of the jail.
Richard Farmer, James Thomas and Jesse
Hamlin, armed with shot guns, Spencer
rifles and pistols were stationed in front
room up stairs. At one o'clock \. VI. a mob
of a hundred or more on horseback enter
ed Mt. Sterling from the direction OF Man.
efee, and
Rode Rapidly TO the Jail
where they were reinforced by a small
party on foot when they advanced 10 the
gate OF the jailyard. Richard Farmer, from
his window above and his shotgun well
loaded with buck shot in hand. commanded
a halt, and asked who they were and what
they wanted.
I'VE want blood, and are going to have
it, was promptly responded, and the fur.
tber command OF Farmer TO halt, there"
rung out in the night air. Close up this.
they went shoot" and the same mOmeIt
one OF the mob entered the gate Sayt
When just within the gate an
other messsge came from Farmer, but
this time II was
Leaden One of BuckshOt.
which filled the leaders with demon like
wells. The mob commenced firing. Three
guards from the upper windows mean
while returned lire as rapidly rs possible
for two or three minutes, when the mob
retreated The bells Of the court house and
engine house were promptly rung. The
Cerro Gordo guards and many citizens soon
came TO the rescue. Upon the Jail doors
the wounded man who had fallen forward
upon the steps was carr ed into Jail and
there recognized as A. j. Ringo, the
High SheriTof Manefee County.
Near the JAIL wounded in the leg, was
found Thomas Clark, a farmer OF this
county, near him lay his horse dead,
killed by the bullet Of a Spencer rifle
which had wounded his rider. Shortly
after two or three stray saddle horses with
no riders were found. Clark claimed that
he was onl6 passing and was accidentally
hit and was not member OF the mob, but
his statement is dsbelieved. Sheriff Rlngo
when asked by Marshall Punch what he
meant by
Heading Mob,
said: John Barrett and his gang have
been bushwhaCking people for three years
past, and the good people Of my county
are getting tired OF it. This gang have
previously been charged with the murder
Of jim Ne sser, the shooting OF Gil Messer,
and the stabbng of Vaughn Hilton, two
wears ago, and were acquitted by the
courts. Three months ago they were
charged with firing in old man Hilton's
house, poisoning his cattle, stabbing and
killing his horses and shooting old man
Hilton, and our courts were
PowerIess TO Convict.
Therefore, after advising with the best
men in my county came here 10 Jarrett
with Others. A bunch OF rope with hang
man knots, carefully made, were found
near Ringos body. Ringo is dangerously
wounded. five balls penetrated his night
leg, ten inches above the knee, necessia-
ting ~ putation, and probably will result
fatally. Although the ceiling OF the room
above is riddled with bullet holes, none OF
the guards were wounded.