The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-07-03
REGULATORS WORK.
Garfield, the Slayer Of Mrs
0herkin, Lynched at Vim.
cennes, Ind.
Taken from jail In the Dead Or Night
and Hanged TO q Telea
graph Pole.
Iyincenncs lInd.l J tclcgram.l


The threats nlnde last evening by angry
citizens to summarily punish Oliver CAM
field, the young miscreant who shot Mrs.
Molie Gherkin last Tuesday night. were
not idle ones. Az the hours went by the
knots Of men who stood talking quietly at
the street corners were gradually re-en-
forced until several hundred we're gathered
In the vicinity uf tho ial. There was no loud
talking or noisy display Of any kind. but
the grim, set features Of those who had as
scmhled To avengo the murdered woman
BODIED Ill for the unhappy wretch who cow
cred In his cell, fully alive - all that was
trnnspiring and to the dreadful hopeless
ness Of his case.
At midnight the avengers. body some
fifty strong. composed Of tho best citizens.
moved through the inky darkness toward
the jnil. The stout doors were quickly
crashed open with PIECE Of milroad iron
that had been brought from the trick for
the purpose. Meeting with no resistance,
the avengers rushed on to Canfelds cell, the
door Of which was battered down with
three or fonr blows Of the ram. The pris-
oncr covered down in a corner and at
tempted to pray, but was roughly hidden to
prepare 10 come ont. Trembling In every
limb. and with features ghostlike In their
sicklv pallor he complied. and was marched
slowly between the two masked leaders out
Of the jail into the open mir.
The first proposition made on the outside
Of tho Jail yard being reached, was that Cam
field should be strung mp then and there,
but, with strnge persistency, he pleaded
to be put to death on the same spot where
his helpless sweetheart met her fate at his
hands. His proposition was received with
deafening yells Of approval by the crowd,
and he was rushed of to a convenient tele-
gnph pole within stones throw Of the
murder. 4 stout rope was slnng over the
lower cross-tics, moose made, and the VIC
tim placed in position. His aspect was
pitiahle but it called forth no ex-
preston Of mercy or sympathy from
the determined men around him,
and he was told IL he had any
thing to say to say it quickly. He faltsred
forth that he was guilty, and was sorry he
killed the woman. He begged that his
mother be told that he tried to be recon-
ciled to the Almighty, but that he should
never 90 to heaven. He was given min
ute to say his prayers, hut he had by this
time sunk 80 low that he could scarcely be
reused. Tho rope was soon adjusted
around his neck. and. amid the applause OF
| the crowd, he was drawn to height of ten
feet and left to hang. There was scarcely
a struggle perceptihlc, but the victim prob
| ably lived thirty minutes. A card was
! pinned to his coat requesting the Coroner
to leave the body hanging until II O'Clock
| to-day.
No resistance whatever was made by the
Jail officials. The Sheriff merely refused
to deliver up the keys IT the Jail when re-
| Quested quietly 10 do SO. hut after the doors
h.1 hatt .lr1e, tha l,.p,n xvar
not interferci with.
The crime for which Garfield suffered
| his terrible punishment was committed last
Tuesday night. He had been paving marked
| attentions for ycar past TO Mrs. Mollie
| Gerkin. beautiful widow. Canfeld wished
| her In marry him. but rs divorce suit was
/ pending between tho woman and her hus-
band. she was unable To comply. A week
ago last Friday Garfield and the woman
came 10 vincennes FROM Washington, Ind.
Shs obtained work In boarding house,
while he spent his time in idly loating
about. Tuesday evening he called ut the
house where she was staying and requested
his sweetheart to take walk with him.
She complied with apparent willingness,
| and the two strolled down Main street and
| turned in the direction of the bridge. Sud.
denly, without moments warming Can
Il ueiu tuIeN HIS ttIlS NIOuHu NAtns uASAAih
/ neck and kissed her. At the same moment
| he drew revolver from his pocket and
sent bullet crashing into the marble fore
head that rested lovingly and confdingls
on his shoulder. His victim sank to ths
earth without groan, but not satis-
fed with the result of his dcyilish
work he fired four more shots at hel
as she lay pros,late ON the ground. great
crowd gathered and in the excitemen,
Garfield escaped, He lied to Washington
aud went to his sisters house, telling hel
what he had done. nj the same time hand.
ing her knife and revolver. These his sis
ter threw into vault, The murderer spent
the night hidden in tho woods near his
mothers house. and was captured earl,
Thursday morning by the officers, who hat
followed closely ON his heels. Brough
back to Nincennes. he refused to give an,
motive for his deed, but declared that h,
was sober aud rational ut the time Of il
commission. Canfcld VAS but % years o
AGE. He was known as a hard character
and had spent most of his time working il
coal mines. Mrs, Gherkin died yester,ia.
morning, and the plans for lynching he
murderer were imme aiately consuMnated.
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