The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-10-24

+. A. Burton snet seven Times and Nined
The Murderer hanged to a Tree

Ia Crosse Special 10th F A. Burton, pres
ident OF The Blaine and Logan club here, was
| shot dead by a rufian known as "ScattyN At
s o'clock this evening While the boHNN.
| Hcans were forming in procession on M"A1
street seven shots were fired IN quick sue
cessiou. The murderer was arreS'%d and
hurried 10 isil before the Immense GROVE
could realize what had occurred, As soon a.
! the fact was made known there was the most
intense excitement, and hundreds or men ID
uniform and carrying their torches hurried %
| the court house ward ami demanded that tho
prisoner he handed over to them,
The hody of Mr. Burton was taken 10 the
dug stC. Of I. H. Spence, whore an eNarAl'
nation showed life extinct, every sho' taxing
effect
Those who stood near the scene of the
murder saw the man advanced from TIE
| crowd on the sidewalk 10 within s ttw irrt
of MS victim, ana fired the hrst bullet INt1
his back. Mir. Burton fell to the pavement
and the murderer followed with SIX Shots lh'O
his body and head lie then threw The
revolver at his victim, and gave nm
a kick Swing, ''that il the s-of 4
b that knows me aud that l have been
looking for" or words to that effect. All tbs
was done IN minutes time, and before any ons
could realize what had happened Mr.. Bur
ton was a broker and commission merchant
for | II. LOrv & Co, OF Milwaukee, and SON.
in-law IF Captain l. H. Moulton, agent for the
| Milwaukee & St Paul company here. He was
one of the best known and most proml-
neut Young business men IN the north
west He was chosen president OF the
Blame and Logan club of La Crosse, and was
! managing The campaign III this section. The
motive of the murderer IS not known. he is
said to he a desperate character, who has fol-
lowed the river for a living. lie has served a
term in state prison. After throwing the hrst
revolver at his victim, il was found that he had
| another one in his pocket -.
The officers were 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
a dense mass of humanity. All demanding
that the murderer be hanged. II 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 Sas taken
from lis cell. A rope thrown TO a man sitting
on the first strong limb was quickly attached,
and everything made ready for the execution.
At this point in the proceedings came a pause.
Among the leaders were some who wanted the
murderer to make a 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 j~uncture the cry went round,
'Pull him up" Hang him." Don't let
him live a minute longer"
The mob seized the rope and made a strong
pull, but the rufian freed his hands and the
rope broke before he was raised from the
! ground. In less than five minutes a new rope
was thrown over the heads of the crowd and
fell within a few feet of the murderer. This
was adjusted, his hands and arms firmly
tied, and in another moment he was
HANGI IN H AIR.
with has face closely pressed against the limit
off tree, and the terrible tradgedy was over.
The body of the deemed man was left hanging
only q few minutes, when it was taken down
! ~liieless and LETT ID charge of the sheriff.
At irstit was thought Mr.. Burton's position as
presidentof the Republican club had aggravated
some crank TO attack him, but no one now be.
lieyes that to betrue. TIL murderer had openly
threatened him, with other citizens whom ht
could have known only 10y sight Lastspring
on coming out of the woods, Mitchell said hG
would kin Frank Burton, Frank Hatch, ther
chief of police, then Charles Mcdonald. Ht
would make his mark in this town" as he ex.
pressed it.