Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-10-24
rrsz1r1c Ia CROSSE sEHsAr1oH.
E. q. burton Shot Beven Times and KILLED
VI -The Murderer Hanged t. 1, Tree. 583

E. 4. burton Shot Beven Times and KILLED
THE Mnraerar hanged t. q Tree.
La Crosse Special 10th. - j.. a. Burton, pres
sident Of 5ths Blaine and Logan club here, was
shot dead by rtlffian known 40 s.Scottyo at
s o'clock this evening. While the ..Repub-I
leans vera forming ID procession on Main
street. seven shots wero fired in qnick suc-
scass;on. The murderer was arrested and
hurried to jail before the immense crowd
could realize what had occurred. As soon "a
tile fact was made known there was the most
intense excitement. and hundreds Ct men 10
uniform and carrying their torches hurried to
the court house yard and demanded that the
prisoner be handed over to them. 5*5 81
The body Of mr. Burton was taken to the
7 drug store OF T. II. Spence, whore N GoxaIni .
nation showed life extinct, every shot taking
effect S# .5s s$sz #Sss.
Those who stood near the scene Of tho
murder say the man advanced from the
crowd on the sidewalk TO within few feet
Of His victim, and fired the first bullet into
his back. Mr.. Burton fell to the pavement,
his body and head Hs then threw tho
revolver at his victim, and gays him
kick saving, ssthat 10 the s--of .
b. that knows me and that have been
looking for" OF words to that effect ALI this
Was done in minute time, and before any one
ton was broker and commission merchant
for r. Lory Co., Of Milwaukee, and son
in-law Of CaptainI H Moulton, agent for the
Milwaukee 4 BIT Paul company here. He Was
one Of the best known and most promi-
nent young business men in the north
vest 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 ia
said to be desperate character, who has fol-
lowed the river for living He has served 9
term in state prison. After throwing the first
revolver at his victim, it was found that he had
another ono IN his pocket. IN III ;'5.
The officers were not able to stay the mob at
the jail The mob increased in number until
the entire space on three sides of the jail was
that the murderer be hanged. The torches OF
the men fared 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 : man sitting
on the first strong limb was quickly attached,
| and everything made ready for the execution
At this point in the proceedings came pause
| Among the leaders were some who wanted the
murderer to make statement, while others
more impetuous, urged immediate sctlon
The murderer declined to say anything, ex-
eept that he was the man who shot Mr. Bur
ton. At this juncture the cry went round
ssPull him up!" t.Hang hint" sDon't let
him live minute longer!" T%3c;~
The mob seized the rope and made strong
pull but the rufian freed his hands and the
rope brooks bsfore he was raised from the
ground In less than five minutes new rope
was thrown over the heads of the crowd and
fell within q few feet of the murderer. This
was adjusted, his hands and arms firmly
tied, and in another moment he was
HANGING IN THE AIR. Z.
with his face closely pressed against the limb
Of tree and the terrible tradgedy was over.
The body of the doomed man WAS left hanging
only 8 few minutes, when it was taken down
lfeless and left in charge Of the sheriff who
will see the remains Inferred. T2}h5 ~
Atfirstit was thought Mr.. Burton's position "a
president Of the Republican club had aggravated
some crank to attack him, but no one now be-
lieves that to be true. Ths murderer had openly
threatoned him, with other citizens whom ne
| could have known only by sight. Last spring,
on coming out Of the woods, Mitchell said he
would kill Frank Burton, Frank Hatch, ther
/ chief Of police, then Charles Mcdonald H<
would make his mark in this town." - he ex-
pressed it :" -,