The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-05-09
RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE.

RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE.
FOar Desperadoes Commit Murder in an
Unsuccessful Attempt to Rob a Deposit
tory at Medicine Lodge, Kan.-The MUIR
derers Executed by Mob-Death at the
Hands of Mob of Two West Virginia
Outlaws.
HARPER, Kan, May Ia courier Just
arrived bringing news that at ten o'clock
yesterday morning four men armed with
Winchester repeating rifles and revolvers
rode up to the Medicine Valley Bank, at
Medicine Lodge thirty-five miles west of
here. Two remained with the horses while
the others entered the building and de-
manded the money. E. w. Payne, Presl-
dent, and George Geppert, Cashier, were
in the bank. They refused to COM
ply. when the strangers fired, killing the
cashier and fatally wounding the President.
The City Marshal just then appeared and
opened fire on the men outside. Citizens
gathered rapidly and the robbers quickly
mounted and galloped away without having
secured any booty. Within ten minutes
thirty men were in hot pursuit, and the
chances are the robbers will be captured and
summarily dealt with. Geppert was a
prominent business man, while Payne was
wealthy and influential stockman.
HARPER, Kan, May 2.-Swift retribu-
ton has overtaken the Medicine Lodge MUIR
derers and robbers. The posse in pursuit
"Wednesday came up with the robbers three
miles from town, captured them after a
brief struggle, brought the prisoners back
to town and lodged them in Jail. A crowd
gathered at ten o'clock the same night
and attacked the building. One of
the robbers opened fire, whereupon
the crowd riddled him with bullets. The re-
manning three men were taken out conduct
ed to the edge of the town and hanged The
excitement of the crowd was intense They
refused to listen to the officers, who endeav
ored to quiet Them One of the prisoners
begged for mercy but the others died game.
The excitement increased when it was
found that two of the robbers were
Henry Brown and Ben Wheeler, Marshal
and Assistant Marshal of Caldwell.
The other two, John Wesley and Billy
Smith, were cowboys from the SET 81
range. All the men were we'll known here
Mr.. Payne is reported dying. The bullet
entered his breast over the heart and came
out below the shoulder-blade. Geppert was
first shot in the back and then in the fore
head, and died instantly.
HANGED WITH RELIGIOUS SERVICES.
ST. ALBANs, w. Va, May 2.-Charles
Spurlock, Scott Hill and Brownslow Hill,
the three robbers who killed Albert Wood
and fatally shot A. j. Wood, his father,
were arrested at the home of Spurlock on
the main Mud River, Lincoln County, at
four o'clock Wednesday morning, brought
here that evening, and placed in the
hotel for safe keeping. A mob capt
ured the two Hill brothers from the
guard, took them to an elm tree half a
mile from town, and after religious sery-
ices by Rev. Mr.. Stump they were hanged
with half.inch cotton rope. Scott Hill
confessed to being in company with Jack
Dodson, who shot eX-Sheriff Adkins, of
Boone County, last Saturday night for his
money, but said they got only $1.S2. He
further stated that he, Spurlock and
Brownslow Hill visited the residence of
A. ]. Wood Monday night, entered the
house for the purpose Of getting money,
and he (Seott Hill) killed young Wood
and shot the old man, but did not get any
money. They belonged to some robbers
who have their headquarters at SpurlOck' s
house. It was their calculation to make a
raise at Woods, then go West and become
train-robbers. Spurlock was hidden by the
officers while the mob was securing the two
Hill boys, and will be taken to Charleston,
the county seat to-day. The mob was Or
derby and unmasked. There was not a drunk
en- man among the two hundred. They
were determined, and did their work quietly
and effectually. 1t is rumored that Spur
locks friends will make an effort to rescue
him from Jail at Charlestown if he is al
lowed to get there, which is very doubtful.
Great excitement prevails, and this place of
about five hundred inhabitants is in such a
state as was never known before. On every
street corner men are grouped discussing
the hanging.
The bodies of the Hill brothers were cut
down about twelve O'Clock and turned over
to an undertaken. 1t was the request of
the boys to send their bodies to their aged
mother, who resides few miles from the
main Mud River. The murderers put on a
bold front, but while the minister was talk
ing to them each weakened and was heard
to say: "God have mercy on my soul"