The Mineral argus., 1884-10-30
EzHHrrIC La CROSSE uzss.,,.-
r A. Burton shot Seven Times ana v,
The Murderer Hanged to a r.

A. Burton shot Seven Ttmss ana
-The Murderer Hanged to a r.
La Crosse Special 16th-F. A. Bnr+o.
ident Of the Blaine and Logan club bers
shot dead by = rufian known as ''Sco,tv1 :.
S o'clock this evening. While the Renns
hcans were forming in procession on n
street, seven shots were fired in quick i
cession. The murderer was ARRESTED
hurried to jail before the immense cron9
could realize what had occurred As so,n
the fact was made known there was the me-.
intense excitement, and hundreds Of men 4
uniform and carrying their torches hurriea ~
the court house yard and demanded thai so
prisoner be handed over TO them. WS
The body Of Mr.. Burton was taken IA n.
drug store Of 7. H Spence, where an ex.ni
nation showed life extinct every shot taEiag
effect lug
Those who stood near the scene o, u.
murder say tbs nan advanced from ~
crowd on the sidewalk to within a few 80
of his victim, and fired the first bullet ns.
his back. Mr.. Burton fell to the pavemenf
and the murderer followed with six shots irss
his body and head He hen threw fhs
revolver at his victim, and gave hin
. kick saying, that If the s-of =
b. that knows me and that l have been
looking for" or words to that effect AIT tbis
was done in q minute time, and before any one
could realize what had happened HI. Bur
ton was q broker and commission merchant
for / II. Lory & Co, of Milwaukee, and SON
in-law Of Captain / H. Moulton. agent for the
Milwaukee & st Faul company here. He was
one of the best known and most promi-
nent Young business men in the NORTH
west He was chosen president Of the
Blame and Logan club Of Ia Crosse, ana was
managing the campaign IN this section The
motive of the murderer Is not known. He is
said to be a desperate character, who has fol-
lowed the river for a living. He has served a
term in state prison. After throwing the first
revolver at mis- victim, II was found that he had
another one in hls pocket
The officers were not able to stay the mob Al
the Jail Tit mob increased in number until
the emit re space on three sides Of the jail was
q dense mass of humanity. Ali 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
battered down and the murderer was taken
from his 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 mako a statement, while others
more impetuous, urged immediate action.
The murderer declined 10 say anything, ex-
cent that he was the man who shot Mr.. Bur
ton. t this j~uncture the cry went round,
'cPull him up!' Hang HIM" Don't let
HIM 1--we n minute longer.
Tn 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
HANGING IN THE AIR
with his face closely pressed against the limb
Of a tree, and the terrible tradgedy was over.
The body of the doomed man was left hanging
only s few minutes, when it was taken down
l~ifeless and left in charge of the sheriff who
will see the remains inferred
Athrstit was thoughtful Mr.. BurtOn's position az
president Of the Republican club had aggravated
some crank to attack him, but no one now be-
lieves that IL be true. TIL murderer had openly
threatened him, with other citizens whom be
could have known only by sight LAstsprng,
on coming out of the woods, Mitchell SAID be
would kill Frank Burton, Frank Hatch, then
chief of police, then Charles Mcdonald H
would make his mark in this town" a. hsC-
pressed it.