River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-10-23
TERRIFIC La CROSSE SENSATION.
z. A. Burton Shot Seven Times and Killed
The Murderer Hanged to Tree.


La Crosse Special 16th.-F A. Burton, pres.
ident of the Blaine and Logan club here, was
shot dead by a ruffian known as "Scotty'' at
s o'clock this evening. While the .Repub-
licans were forming in procession on Main
street, seven shots were fred in quick sue
cession. The murderer was arrested and
hurried to jail before the immense crowd
could realize what had occurred. AS soon as
the fact was made known there was the most
intense excitement, and hundreds OF men IN
uniform and carrying their torches hurried to
tho court house yard and demanded that the
prisoner be handed over to them.
The body of Mr. Burton was taken to the
drug store Of T. II. Spence where an exami
nation showed life extinct, every shot taking
effect
Those who stood near the scene OF the
murder say the man advanced from the
crowd on the sidewalk to within a few feet
of his victim, and fired the first bullet into
his back Mr.. Burton fell to the pavement,
and the murderer followed with six shots into
his body and head He then threw the
revolver at his victim, and gave him
kick saying, 'that Is the s-of
b. that knows me and that have been
looking for" or words to that effect All this
was done in minute time, and before any one
could realize what had happened Mr. Bur
ton was broker and commission merchant
for l. H. Lory & Co., of Milwaukee, and SON
l.
Milwaukee & st Paul company here He was
one of the best known and most proml-
nent 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 In this section. The
motive of the murderer is not known. lie Is
said 10 be a desperate character, who has fol-
lowed the river for living. He has served
term in state prison After throwing the first
revolver at his victim, it 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. The torches of
the men hared above the sea OF heads
and the white plumes moved resolutely
about the square. The doors were
ba tered down and the murderer was taken
from his cell. rope thrown to man sitting
on the first strong limb quickly attached,
and everything made ready for the execution.
At this point in the proceedings came pause.
Among the leaders were some who wanted the
murderer to make 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 juncture the cry went round,
'Pull him up!" "Hang him!" Don't lei
him live minute longer"
The mob seized the rope and made strong
pull, but the ruffian freed his hands and the
rope broke before he was raised from the
ground. In less than five minutes 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 Wai
HANGING IN THE AIR.
with his face closely pressed against the limb
of tree and the terrible tradgedy was over.
The body of the doomed man was left hanging
only few minutes, when it was taken down
lfeless and left in charge of the sheriff who
will see the remains inferred
AT firstit was thought Mr.. Burton's position as
president of the Republican club had aggravated
some crank to attack him, but no one now be-
lieves that to be true The murderer had openly
threatened him. with other citizens whom ne
could have known only by sight Last spring,
on coming out of the woods, Mitchell said he
would kill Frank Burton, Frank Hatch, then
chief of police, then Charles Mcdonald He
would 'smake his mark in this town." as he ex-
pressed it