Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-10-22
SHOCKING TRAGEDY.
F. A. Burton, Prominent Citizen OF
La Crosse, Shot Down.
Tho Murderer Arrested, but an Infuriated
Mob Batter Down the Doors and
Hang Him to q Tree.

Mob Batter Down the Doors and
Hang Him to q Tree.
F. A. Burton, president of the Blaine
and Logan club at La Crosse. was shot
dead by rufian, known as "Scotty," ," at
8 o'clock on the evening of the 10th,
while the Republicans we're forming in
procession on Main Street. Seven shots
we're fred in quick succession. The
murderer was arrested and hurried to
jail before the immense crowd could re-
alize what had occurred. The body of
Mr.. Burton was taxed to the drug store of
Mr.. T. 81. Spence, where an examination
showed that life was extinct. every shot
having taken effect. Those VINO stood
near the scene of the murder say The
man advanced from the crowd on the
sidwalk to within few feet of his VIC
tim and fred 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 a kick, saying, "That is the
that knows me and that
I have been looking for" or words to
that effect. All this was done in min
ute's time and before any one could re-
alize what had happened.
sion merchant for l. Fl. Lowry & Co.,
of Milwaukee, and son-in!aw of Capt.
I. 81, Moulton, agent for the St. Paul
company at La Crosse. He was one of
the best known and most prominent of
the young business men in the North
west. He was chosen president of the
Blaine and Logan club, and was man.
aging the campaign in that section.
The motive of the murderer is not
known. He was known as desperate
character who had followed the river
for living. He had served term in
states prison. After throwing the first
revolver at his victim, it was found that
he had another in his pocket, but he
was arrested before he had an opportun-
ity to use it. The Republicans were to
have celebrated the Ohio victory with
parade, fireworks and speeches, but
the scene changed as if by magic to one
of terrible excitement of far different
character.
AS soon as the crowd realized what
had occurred, threats of lynching were
heard on all sides, and although the
more conservative urged moderation
and argued that the murderer was
probably insane, their words had nc
effect on the mob, who demanded life
for life. The excitement incre ,sed un'
til 10 o'clock, when beams we're pro
cured and the outer doors of the jail
were battered in, and the mob surged
into the building. Twice the sheriff
and his hastily gathered deputies sue
ceeded in clearing the building, but al
the third attack the officers were driven
out and the mob then had everything
their own way. There we're no drunken
men in the mob, The whole work being
done by resolute fellows, who decided
to make the murderer pay the death
penalty before they left the square
Once in the corridor, sledge-hammers
were used to break in the heavy iron
doors, two in number, that intervened
between them and the cell-room. These
soon yielded and as each fresh advance
was made the crowd outside was ap
prised, and constant cheers of encour
agement went up. The prisoner had
been confined in cell No. 3 on the low
er corridor, and the mob had little
trouble in finding their man. He was
taken from the cell and dragged into
the yard, where he was identified as the
man who did the shooting. The officers
when appealed to, declared that they
had the right man.
Everything was now ready for the e1
ecution. At this point in the proceed
ings there was pause. Among the
leaders we're some who wanted tn
murderer to makea statement, while 9th
ers, more impetuous, urged immediate
action. The murderer declined to sa.
anything except that he was the mar
who shot Burton. At this juncture {
yell went up, "Pull him up," Hang
him." Don't let him live minute long
er." 1t was understood that the Ligh
Guard Company, Third Regiment, W
N. G., had been ordered out to charge
the mob, and there was an impression
that the execution would be prevented
No rally of the guard was made, how
ever. The mob seized the rope an(
made strong pull, but the ruffia1
freed his hand and the rope broke be
fore he was raised from the ground. I,
less than five minutes new rope wa
thrown over the heads of the crowd ant
fell within few feet of the executioner
This was adjusted, his hands and arm
firmly tied, and in another moment h
was hanging in the air with his fac'
closely pressed against limb of tn
tree. The terrible tragedy was over.