Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1884-10-23

r. A. Burton shot Seven x:mss n KILLED
Thu Murderer Hanged 10 q Tree.

La Crosse Special i6th-f 4. Burton, pres
idsDt Of the Blaine and logan club here, was
shot dead by q mfian known as "Scotty'' at
8 O'Clock this evening. While the .Repub-
lic&ns were forming in procession on Main
street, seven shots were fired In quick sue
ccssion. The murderer was arrested and
hurried 70 jail before the immense crowd
could realize what had occurred As soon as
she fact was made known there was the most
intense excitement, and hundreds Of men In
uniform and carrying their torches hurried to
tho court house gard aud demanded that the
prisoner be handed over TO tbesu
The body OF Mr.. Burton was taken 10 the
drug store OF r. IL Spence, where an exami
nation showed life extinct every shot taking
effect
Those who stood near the scene Of the
murder say the man advanced from the
crowd ON the sidewalk to wishin a few feot
of his victim, and fired the first DULLES into
his back. Mr.. Burton fell 10 the pavement,
and the murderer followed with six shots into
his body and head He then threw tho
revolver at his victim, and gave him
q kick saying, chat Is the s--of q
b. that knows me and that l have been
looking for" or words to that effect All this
WAS done IN minutes time, Apd before any one
could realize what had happened Mr. Bur
ton was a broker and commission merchant
in-law u Captain L ii Moulton, agent for the
Milwaukee a st Paul company here. He was
one OF the beat known and most promi-
nent young business men In the north
west He was chosen president Of tho
Blanc and Logan club Of La Crosse, and was
managing the campaign In this section Tho
motive OF the murderer is not known. He is
said to be q desperate character, who has fol-
lowed the river for = living. He has served .
term in state prison. After throwing the first
revolver At his victim, il was found chat he had
another one in hIs pocket
The officers we're not able to stay the moi AZ
the jail The mob increased IN number until
the entire space on three sides OF the jail was
q dense mass Of humanity Al demanding
that the murderer be hanged The torches Of
end the white plumes moved resoluiely
about the square The doors wore
battered down and the murderer was taken
bis cell. A rope thrown TO a man sitting
on tbs frst strong limb was quickly attached,
and everything made ready for the execution.
At this point in the proceedings came a pause.
Among The leaders we're some who wanted the
murderer 10 make a statement while others
more impetuous. urged Immediate action.
The murderer declined 10 say anything, ex-
cept thai no vas tho nan @he shot Mr.. Dur
At this j~uncture the cry went round,
Pull him upl" Hang him. Don't let
him live 3 minute longerls
The mob seized the rope and made a strong
pull, but tho rufian freed his hands and the
rope broke before he was raised from the
In less than five minutes a new rope
was thrown over the heads Of the crowd and
within a few feet OF the murderer This
vas adjusted, his hands and arms firmly
led and in another moment he was
HANGING IN THE AIR
Nth bis face closcly pressed against the limb
u q tree, and the terrible trzdgedy was over.
The body Of the doomed man was left hanging /
,nly = few minutes, when il was taken down
and left In charge OF the sheriff who
viii see the remains inferred
All firstit was thoughtMr. Burtsn's position as
OF the Republican club had aggravated
Ioms crank TO attack him, but no one row be-
ieves that b be true. Tho murderer had openly
him, with other citizens whom he \
sould have known only by sight Lastspring,
N coming out Of the woods, Mitchell said he
would kill Frank Burton, Frank Hatch, then
thief OF police, then Charles Mcdonald He
would make his mark In THE town" al he tx
il