Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-10-17
"a LIFE FOR A LIFE.-
Cold Blood-The Murderer Lynched
by the Infhriated Mob-A Fiend
for whom Hanging Was
Too Good.

LACROSSE, Wis, Oct l6.
c. A Burton, president of the Blaine and
Logan club here, was shot dead by man
known as "Scatty" at o'clock this evening,
while the republicans were forming in pro-
cession. Seven shots were fired in quick
succession, The murderer was arrested and
hurried to Jail before the immense crowd
could realize what had occurred, As soon As
the fact was known there was intense excite
ment, and hundreds in uniform and carrying
torches hurried to the court house yard and
demanded that the prisoner be handed over
to them. Lynch him lynch him !" was the
general cry. At this hour (s.40 p. NJ. hun
dreds of men are beseiging the Jail. Sheriff
Scott, Chief of Police Clark and posse are
at the Jail door trying 20 calm the iufurated
mob. No violence has been done yet and
none may take place.
The body of Burton was taken to drug
store. where examination showed that life
was extinct. Every shot took effect. The
people who stood near said that that the mur-
derer advanced from the side walk TO within
few feet of his victim and fred the first
shot into his back, when Barton fell 10 the
pavement. Tins was followed by six more
shots into the PROSTATE mans body and head
"Scatty' then threw the revolver at his VIC
tim and gave him a kick. All was done in
moment and before anyone could realize the
situation. The motive of the murder has
not yet come TO light. Burton was mana ging
the campaign IN this section.
LArER-Scatty was lynched at As p. NJ.
The mob, finding they could not prevail on
the authorities to surrender the prisoner, at
1915 procured a cold chisel. forced open the
doors, and putting rope around the murder.
er's neck, lynched him,
The officers were not able to stay the mob,
who refused TO listen TO arguments. From
3 to 10 the court house square presented a
scene which beggared description. The mob
increased in number till the entire space on
three sides of the Jail were a dense mass Of
humanity, demanding the murderer to be
hung. Torches famed above the sea of
heads, and the white plumes moved resolutely
about the square. The best citizens were
present and watched the fearful scene with
blanched faces but no expression of sym.
pathy. Beams were procured and in short
time the heavily barred and bOlted doors
were battered in by the crowd who poured
into the Jail. The mob had little trouble to
find the man. He was taken from the cell
and dragged to the yard He was identified
as the man who did the shooting, and the
officers declared they had the right man.
In a minute tree was selected, the rope was
thrown over a limb and the murderer urged
to make a statement. He declined TO say
anything except that he was the man who
shot Burton. At this the cry went up: Pull
him up! Hang him Don't let him live
another minute," The mob seized the rope
and in a moment he wss hanging in the air
with his face closely pressed against the
limb of the tree, and the terrible tragedy was
over. The body was left hanging only few
minutes when it was pronounced lifeless and
was left in charge of the sheriff. The body
of Burton was removed to his home during
the evening