Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-11-21
MURDER AND MOB.

Special Dispatch 10 the Daily Eagle.
BELLE PLANE, Nov. 1e, 1884.
A Democratic jubilee here last night
wound up with the shooting of John c.
Crouch by John Wallen, and the hanging
of the latter by the excited populace.
This man Wallen was a desperate charac-
ter, who came here from Kentucky, flu
gitive from justice it is said, having at least
boosted of "killng his man" in that state.
He was recently appointed marshal of our
city, on the principle, it is claimed that it is
necessary to eight fire with fire.
that is, there was some work to be done
characters to look after-that it was thought
he could look after better than any one else
and as it was difficult TO find a man who
would accept the position, our authorities
resorted to the doubtful experiment of
placing him in the position of sort of de-
tie ctive for short time,
All about 1890 last night. he was the prin-
cipal disturbing element in n billiard hall,
instead Of peace officer, and when remon-
strated with by the proprietor of the hall,
he went out muttering threats of what he
proposed to do, and among the first he met
on the outside was John c. Crouch,
against whom he had held grudge for
| some time, and without a word of provoca-
! ton on this occasion he drew 45-calibrc re-
volver and shot his victim down in cold
blood the ball entering the poor
man under the chin and passing out
/ ,,fr ehA,,lI.r 4 l,
almost instantly.
The murderer made no attempt to escape,
but rather boosted of what he had done and
what more be proposed to do of the same
diabolical work. He was soon taken into
custody and disarmed and placed in the cal
aboose, at about Il o'clock. Soon after mid
night the excited populace, to the number OF
a hundred or more, organized, not as an or
binary mob, but as quiet, determined band,
and proceeded to Mayor Storer's residence
and demanded the key to the jail-which he
reluctantly surrendered, seeing the situation
and going to the jail took the prisoner out
and marched him TO where his victim lay
cold in death-where he was killed-showed
him what he had done, and told him if be
had anything TO say or prayer to offer now
was his time. The prisoner maintained stolid
indifference, made no denial of his crime, bu,
simply asked for fair trial. He asked fol
a drink of water, which WAS given him, anc
then he was marched to post in front of &
billiard hall, to which he was hung so quick
that the crowd could hardly realize what wa.
done. Here he was left hanging till about
nine o'clock in the morning, awaiting the ar
rival of the coroner from Wellington. The
coroner could not come, however, but thu
authorities took the body down and inquired
into the whole matter according to the law
but the case was very clear one.
John G. Crouch was an unmarried man
about thirty-fve years of age, and was res
pected as peacable and honorable eiti
zen, who had many friends here, as the re
suit showed. 1t is proper to state here thai
Walen was stimulated for his bloody worl
by the use Of whisky. This is the first oc
currence of this kind that ha
taken place in the history of our quiet ant
peacable town, which dates back a periot
Of thirteen years; in fact. the only distur
bance We have had was oecasioned by thi!
man Wallen and our people are so accus
toned TO peace and quiet that they coule
no. tolerate the conduct of this rowdy.
The atliir is deplored by all our people
especially the seeming necessity of resortins
to this summary manner of punishment, fo
all our best people deplore anything lik,
mob or lynch law; but if there ever was al
excuse for this kind of punishment it was il
this case, and all seem to feel a relief a
being rid of this dread character.