The Dickinson press., 1884-10-25
The Universal Gazette Of Berlin states tina
TERRIFIC la CROSSE SENSATION.
T. A. Burton Shot seven Times and Killed
The Murderer Hanged to a Traa.

La Crosse Special lGth.-F. A. Burton, pros.
idcnt of the Blaine and Logan club here, was
shot dead by a rufian known as ~"Scotty' a,
5 o'clock this evening. While the Repub.
licans were forming in procession on Mar
street, seyon shots were fired i'll quick sue.
%ccssion. 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
the 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 I. 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 feel
of his victim, and fred the first bullet into
his back. Mi. Burton fell to tho pavement,
his body and head. He then threw the
revolver at his victim. and gave him
a kick saying, chat is tho s--of q
b. that knows me and that l have been
looking for" or words to that effect. All this
was done in q minute 8 t,me, and before any ono
ton was a broker and commission merchant
for L H. Lory & Co., of Milwaukee, aud SON.
in-law Of Captain l. H. Moulton, agent for tho
Milwaukee & st. Paul 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 La Crosse, and was
managing the campaign in this section. The
motive of the murderer is not known. He is
said to be q desperate character, who has fol-
lo~od the river for q living. He has served a
term in state prison. After throwing the first
revolver at his victim, it was found that Aehad
another one in his pocket.
The officers were not able to stay the mob at
the Jail. The mob increased in number until
tho entire apaeo on three sides of the Jail was
q dense mass of humanity. All demanding
that the murderer be hanged. The torches Of
the men tlared 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
and everything made ready for the execution.
At this point in the proceedings came q pause.
Among the leaders were some who wanted the
murderer to make q statement, while others
moro impetuous, urged Immediate action.
The murderer declined to say anything, ex.
ton. At this j%nncture the cry went round
him 1.-Two q minute longer"
The mob seized the rope and made q strong
pull, but the ruffian freed his hands and the
rope broke before he was raised from tha
ground. In less than five minutes a new rope
was thrown over the heads of tho crowd and
fell within a few feet of the murderer. Thia
was adjusted, his hands and arms firmly
Ned, and in another moment he was
IN THE AIR.
with his face closely pressed against the limb
ofa tree, and the terrible ~tradgedy was over.
The body of the doomed man was left hanging
only e few minutes, when it was taken down
~lifeless and left in charge of the sheriff.
Atfirstit was thought Mr.. Burton's position a.
,,racilocf 1f {lo Pa,,,,l ~, a1,,l 1,ol -r~o-, ~,
Some crank to attack him, but no one now be.
lieves that to ctrue. 1he murderer had openly
threatened him, with other citizens whom he
could have known only by sight. Lastspring,
OH coming out of the woods, Mitchell said lie
would kill Frank Burton, Frank Hatch, then
would ,'make his mark in this town." az he OK
pressed it.