The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1884-05-08
A SANGUINARY SEQUEL.

Punishment OF the Harper (has.) Bank
Robbers and Mu' derers-One of Them
Shot to Death in Jail while Resisting the
AyenEers-The Other Three Hanged in
the Outskirts of the Town.
HARPER, KAS. May2.
The party of four desperadoes who
endeavored to rob the Medicine Lodge
Bank and shot and killed the cashier, and
mortally wounded the President, rode fast
after their deed was done, but the posse
following them rode faster and harder,
and overlook the fugitive murderers
about three miles from Harper late
Wednesday evening. When the posse
came upon them they made a show of re-
sistance, but were captured without much
difficulty and taken to the Harper jail
amid great rejoicing and much excite
ment.
The entire county was out when the
captives arrived, and no sooner had the
Jail doors closed upon them than the
mutterings of approaching trouble be-
gan to become loud and an omin-
Gus activity took possession of the
pOpulace all of sudden. There wer,
the usual stimulating spirits to increase
the excitement, and the city authorities
were on guard near the jail all evening
Every one seemed determined to remain
up longer on Wednesday evening than
usual, and the usual rumors of the pur-
chase of several yards of stout hemI
rope served to keep the ball of excitement
rolling.
At ten O'Clock the populace seemed to
come from all directions towards the Jail,
and the thoroughfares surrounding that
institution were crowded with people,
who talked of vindicating outraged jus
tice. The mob organized quickly and al
attack was made on the Jail. The officer
made a resistance strong enough to in
crease the determination of the mob, but
not strong enough to make any gaps in
the ranks of the attacking citizens a.
they swarmed around the building. Al
entrance was easily secured, and the muir
derers and robbers were reached.
One of them having a revover still H.
his possession opened fire upon tn,
crowd, but before the report Of his pisto
had been silcnced dozen or more shoot
ing-irons were leveled at him, and he fel.
to the floor and expired with his boots
on, and his body full of bullet holes. Ih,
other three murderers of the gang wer
coruered before they could make any re-
sIstance. Pistols were placed to their
heads and their hands were bound behind
them. Then it became known who III.
robbers were-Henry Brown, City Mar
shal, and Ben Wheeler, Deputy Marsha
OF Caldwell, Kas., and John Westry and
Billy Smith, typical cowboys from the In
4 Ia ETalt
known and their reputation was as bad
as mems could be who had established
several graveyardS, and supported cOrO-
nerS and undertakers, all in their rcspeC-
tive districts.
The three bound men were led out OF
the Jail surrounded by the mob in state
of wild excitement. The march was uu-
exciting, as the prisoners of the people
were kept in q state of submission by
pistols pointed at their heads. one OF
them weakened and showed the white
feather so cOnspicuOusy that he had TO BE-
showed along the WagOu-rOad leading out
OF town. His pleas for mercy and re
quests that the mob would think of Ger
tain of his relatives were drowned by re
marks to the effect that he would get
what he had given and he'd better kecp
stepping or he would not be in at the enc
Of the march.
A short time was spent in the march
when a clump of trees lOOmed up on the
edge Of the town limits and a couple Ol
couriers went on before. Arrived at
the trees the proper ones were selected
with the care characteriZjna these affairs
in Kansas.
No time was lost, and in few minutes
the men were strung up, and their con
vulsiOns had not yetceased when the moi
began the return march to town, leaving
the three bodies dangling from the trees
as a warning to all eyii-doers who might
strike the town from that direction. Two
of the men died game. The mob did no
dispcrse when the people came back g
town, but gathered around the open stores
and stood in groups carrying on excited
conversations, the purport of which was
that the community had not yet been
purged, and that more bad blood was
needed.
All day yesterday the excitement was
at fever heat. The dead bodies have
been cut down, but the inquest has not
yet begun. This formality is postponed.
as there will be little trouble i'm arriving
at the verdict. President Payne is re-
ported as dying. The bullet entered h!~
breast directly over the heart and made
its exit below the shouder-bade.