The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1884-05-07

tor persuit, first ten. then fifty anc
finally hundred or more taking the
saddle.
THE CHASE WAS SHORT,
however, as the persued became
convinced that fright was useless ana
so made a stand on the hills three
miles west of the town, here they
were surrounded and lively skirm-
Ish ensued until nearly O'Clock,
when finding themselves completely
surrounded and their ammunition gone
the robbers held up their hands and
surrendered.
Upon being brought to town they
were heavily Ironed and placed in iall
under a strong guard, but the sight OF
the murdered cashier and dying presl-
dent so exasperated the citizens that
it WAS seen that nothing short of
genuine necktie party would satisfy
them. Alter waiting few hours
the crowd began to gather at the Jail
and a demand was made tor the
men. This was refused by the Of
ficers, but the crowd would not be
put off, and sudden move was
made upon the Jail, the guard over
powered, the doors broken open,
and a wild rush made for the cells
holding
THE TREMBLl NC PRISONERS,
who fully realized that their hour
| had come. Westley had in some
way concealed revolver about his
person. and IS the mob approached
the cell he opened fire hut was al
most instantly riddled with bullets,
and tel! dead with dozen bullets
in his body. 1t was an easy matter
| to force the cell doors, and ropes
being produced. the remaining three
men were led out and nooses placed
about their necks. They were then
half dragged to a small grove short
distance from town and hanged to
separate trees. Two of them died
game, but the third begged for
mercy and asked that he might be
shot instead OF hung. His execu-
TONERS had no mercy, however, and
he was hung with the others. Be
fore the lvnching all of the men
were recognized, ana Westley was
identified as a we'll known desperate
and one of the best shots in the state.
By his resistance at the Jail he met
death more speedily and evaded the
halter Before death the men ad,
mitted nothing and offered no eN-
cuse.
Geppert, the cashier, was shot in
the head and breast, dying instantly
MIR. P:.vne was shot IN the LETT
breast. lust above the heart, and l;
reported dying. He was proprietor
of the Index, and one of the wealth
lest men in this section. The rob
bers had with them wire cutters and
powder with which TO blow up the
safe had they obtained the charm
Not dollar was taken from the
bank. however.
PAYNE AND GEPPERT.
+ MIR. E. P. Carruthers, editor o
5 the Barber county Index, came Il
+ this city last week and has been su
2 perintending the printing here OF til
e southwestern brand book. The frs
$ and only information he received o
= the terrible tragedy at Medicin
: Lodge was obtained from the &C
e count of the attempted robbery an
: murder published IN the Times yes
terday morning. He was horro
stricken by the calamity, and dc
clared the death of MIR. Payne an
n Mr.. Geppert would cause a loss t
the community which could not b
e replaced. Mr.. Payne owned tn
1t newspaper and the bank, beside
It being very largely interested IN tn
: cattle business. MIR. Carruthe'
t edited the Index for him, and Nj
IL Geppert had charge OF the banl
V Mr.. Carruthers declared it would t
l. extremely difficult thing to find an
e one competent TO take Mr.. Geppert
k place. even should Mr.. PAYNE Il
ie cover.
1t MIR. CarrutherS related an INC
1t dent tending 10 show that MIR. Gel
ii pert was a man OF great courag
$ Only a short time ago MIR. Carruti
+. ers ana Mr.. Geppert were talklf
rs about bank rohberies. and Mr.. Ge
r pert was asked what he would do
nj case cownovs should attack the bar
as and demand the money. Brlngit
n. down his fist with emphasis. NJ
', Geppert declared without he>itatIo
IN ..Bv the eternal, | would stand
I'd the bank Although the exact cl
cumstanceS of the robbery Nednt
al day are not known, sufficient IS :
= ,ilcated to prove that this i Just VII