The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1884-10-23
rBRRrF1c LA CROSSE SENSATION.
z. 4. Burton Rnot Seven Times and Killed
The Murderer HANGED to a Trae

z. 4. Burton Rhot Seven Times and Killed
rho Murderer Hanged to Tree.
I. l. Crosse Special 16th.-F. A. Burton, pres
ment of the Blaine and Logan club here, was
shot dead by ruffian known as "Scotty' at
8 o'clock this evening While the :Repub=
licans were forming in procession on Main
street, seven shots were Aired In quick s,i6:
cession. The murderer Was arrested and
hurried to Jail before the immense crowd
could realize What had occurred AS soon as
the 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 yard and demanded that the
prisoner bo handed over to them.
The body of Mr.. Burton was taken to the
drug store of + II. 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 fruM the
crowd on the aidewalk to within 4 few feet
Of his victim, and fred the first bullet into
his back. MI. Burton, fell to the pavement,
his body and head He then threw the
tevclter at his victim, and gave him
. kick saying, ''that is the s-of a
b. that knows me and that have been
looking for" or words to that effect All this
was dono in minutes time, and before any one
ton was broker and commission merchant
for L H. Lory Il Co., of Milwaukee, and SON.
in-law Of Captain /. H. Moulton, agent for the
milwaukee, l. st Patti company here. He was
one of the best known and most promi=
vent sfanns osea r a so Of bo
Blame ard Logan club of La Crosse, and was
managing the campaign in this section. The
motive of the murderer is not known. He ia
said to be desperate character, who has fol-
lowed the river for living. He has served 4
revolver ut lis victim, it was found that he had
another ono In his pocket
The officers wore not able to stay the mob at
the jail The mob increased in number until
the entire space on three sides of the jail was
q dense mass of humanity Ali demanding
that the murderer be hanged. Tho torches Of
the men Jared above the sea of heads
and the white plumes moved resolutely
about the square. The doors were
battered down and the murderer was taken
from his cell; Arope thrown to 9 man sitting
on the first strong limb was Quickly attached;
and everything made ready for the execution:
At this point in the proceedings came pause:
Among the leaders were some who wanted the
murderer to make statement, while others
more impetuous, urged. immediate action.
The murderer declined to say anything, ex.
cept that he was the man who shot Mr.. Bur
ton. At this juncture the cry went round
.:Pull him up" "Hang him!" "Don't lei
him live minute longer!"
The mob seized the rope and made strong
pull, but the ruffian freed his hands and the
rope broke before he was raised from the
ground In less than five minutes new rope
was thrown over the heads of the crowd and
fell within a few feet of the murderer Thin
was adjusted, his hands and arms firmly
ted and in another moment he wai
HANGING IN THE AIR.
with his face closely pressed against the limb
of tree, and the terrible tradgedy WAS over.
The body of the doomed man was left hanging
only a few minutes, when it was taken down
lifeless and left in charge of the sheriff who
will see the remains inferred.
Atfirstit was thought Mr.. Burton's position al
president of the Republican club had aggravated
some crank to attack him, but no one now be-
ieves that to be true. The murderer had openly
threatened him. with other citizens whom M
could have known only by sight Lastspring
on coming out of the woods, Mitchell said he
would kill Frank Burton, Frank Hatch, then
chief of police, then Charles Mcdonald HI
would ssmake his mark in this town." as he ex-
pressed it