The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-10-23
LYNcHED BY THE MOB

LA SROSsE, WIS., OcL. 10, lO:OO p IL
The officers were not able TO repulse
the mob, who refused to listen 10 argu-
ments. From O'Clock to 10 the court
house yard and square presented ascene
which beggared description. The mob
increased in numbers until the entire
space on three sides of the Jail was q
dense mass OF humanity demanding that
the murderer be hung. The torches OF
the men glared above the sea of heads,
and the white plumes moved TesolutelY
about the square. The best citizens in
the place were present and watched the
fearful scene with blanched faces, but
with no expression of sympathy. There
were hundreds of women IN the thor
oughfares and walks about the
Jail. The excitement grew steadily
in force, and the demand at last found
leaders with cool heads who went
methodically about taking the man from
prison and lynching him. Beams were
procured, and in q short time the heavily
bolted and barred doors on the Fourth
street side of the Jail were battered in
and the crowd poured into the first floor
rooms. The sheriff ana assistants sue.
ceeded in clearing the room the first and
second time, but on the third rush the
mob oVerpowered them and held theiI
ground. There were not any drunken
men in the mob, the whole work being
done by resolute fellows who decided tC
make the murderer pay the death pen
atty before they left the square. Once
IN the corridors. sledge hammers wert
used, and the heavy iron doors sOOr
yielded, and as each fresh advance wa
made. the crowd were spprised on the
outside, and constant cheers of encour.
agement went up.
The prisoner was taken from the cell
and dragged into the yard, where be
was Identified as the man who did the
shooting. Numerous men were SCOT
climbing to the branches of the trees
and in minute one was selected and q
rope thrown to man sitting on the first
strong limb. who quickly placed it in
position. The murderer declined TO say
anything except that ha was the man
who shot Burton. At this juncture the
cry went around, "Pull him upr
"Hang him!'' Don't let him live min.
ute!" It was understood that the Light
Guard company of the Third regiment
WIN. 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 what
ever. The mob seized the rope and made
a strong pull. but the ruffian freed his
| hands.
The rope broke before he was raised
from the ground. In less than five min
utes q new rope was thrown over TIE
heads of the crowd and tell within few
feet of the executioGers. This was sd
lusted, his feet and arms firmly tied anC
a moment later he was hanging in the
air, with his face closely pressed sgaIns
the limb of tree. and the terrible trag
hA
was at its highest the terrible din wa!
increased by the fire bells and the rattle
OF the engines, called out by the burn
| ing of wood shop connected
with the Northwestern foundry and thu
night was one which IT, is to be hOpeC
| will never be repeated in La Crosse
The body of the doomed man was LET
hanging only a few minutes, when i
was taken down lifeIess and left il
charge of the sheriff.
The body of Mr.. Burton was removed
to his home during the evening. On,
bullet passed through the head, twt
through the lungs and two into the alb
| domen, any one of which would havI
been fatal. Mr. Burton was engaged il
clearing the road and organizing tn,
first section of the head of the process
sion and stood with his back to the side
| Wdik. he EeodS6I1 bGcpp0u OuL IIOu
| the crowd which lined the walk ant
fired.
In searching for motive for the &C
| the only plausible theory that Is yet ar
rived at is that two years ago when MI
Burton was acting surveyor of custom
| at this port this man was frequently i'm
| portuning for hocpital certificate b
that he could spend his time at the hos
| pital at tIe expense of the rivermen
and Mr.. Burton told him TO go to worl
and stop drinking and he wouit
not need the benefit of marin
| physicians. Another theory Is tina
Mitchell thought he was killing anothe
man. A letter was found on his person
addressed to Nathaniel Mitchell, Nells
vile. Clark county. Wisconsin. care o
Tysilton Camp No. l, dated Feb. 9th
1884. at Halifax and signed your broth
er, VIM. Mitchell" The letter lie writ
ten In q scholarly manner and is full o
good advice and family news. 1t con
veys the idea that Mitchell, the man jus
| lYpched is not married