Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-05-23
JUSTICE.

RETRlBUTIYE JUSTICE.
I Four De~speradoes Commit Murder In an
Unsuccessful Attempt to Rob n Deposi-
tory at Medicine Lodge, Mur-
derers Executed by n Mob-Death at the
Hands of u Mob of Two West Virginia
Outlaws.
HARPER, Kan, May IA courier lust
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-fve 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
a 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 cam up with the robbers three
miles from town, captured them after a
brief struggle, brought the prisoners back
~ town and lodged them in Jail. a crowd
g"(tlered ut ten o'clock the same night
aid attacked the building. One of
tlt robbers opened fire, whereupon
til crowd riddled him with bullets. The re.
mining three men were taken out, conduct.
edto the edge of the town and hanged. The
refused to listen to the officers, who endeav
odd to quiet them. One of the prisoners
begged for mercy but the others died game.
re excitement increased when it was
fdnd that two of the robbers We're
Hhry Brown and Ben Wheeler, Marshal
anti Assistant Marshal of Caldwell.
TIE other two, John Wesley and Billy
S1ith, were cowboys from the ct 50
rs3ge. All the men were well known here.
Nj. Payne is reported dying. The bullet
etered his breast over the heart and came
Oft below the shoulder-blade. Geppert was
fiBt shot in the back and then in the fore
had, and died instantly.
HANGED WITH RELIGIOUS SERVICES.
ST.. ALBANs, w. Va, May 2.-Charles
Surlock, Scott Hill and Brownslow Hill,
tIe three robbers who killed Albert Wood
add fatally shot A. j.. Wood, his father,
we're arrested at the home OF Spurlock on
tie main Mud River, Lincoln County, at
fur o'clock Wednesday morning, brought
hire that evening, and placed in the
hStel for safe keeping. A mob capt
uted the two Hill brothers from the
giard, took them to an elm tree half a
mile from town, and after religious serv-
ices by Rev. Mr.. Stump they were hanged
with a half.inch cotton rope. Scott Hill
confessed to being in company with Jack
Dedson, who shot eX-Sheritf Adkins, of
Boone County, last Saturday night for his
money, but said they got only ST. 2. He
further stated that lie, Spurlock and
BrSwnslow Hill visited the residence Of
A. ~. Wood Monday night, entered the
house for the purpose of getting money,
and he (Scott HilD killed young Wood
and shot the old man, but did not get any
AoASJ AAASJ AoAAS W oOLIC 1OUUClS
who have their headquarters at Spurlock's
house. 1t was their calculation to make
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
Ell man among the two hundred. They
were determined. and did their work quietly
and etfectually. 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 all undertaken. 1t was the request OF
the boys to send their bodies to their aged
mother, who resides a 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"
DlAAkTUN1N aUuvvr