The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-02-08
SWIFT VENGEANCE.

Peter Clifford, of Rendville, o., Called to
His Door at Night and AsSassinated-He
Falls Dead in His Young Wife's Arms,
Breathing the Names of His Murderers
The Crime Promptly Avenged by
Mob of the Victims Fellow Citizens.
CORNING, O., Feb. 5-A terrible murder
Sunday morning in the village of Rend-
vile, one mile west of this place, was fol-
lowed by the lynching of the murdererS
late the same night Shortly after midnight
two men went to the house of Peter Cliff
ford, brakeman on the Ohio Central Rail-
road, raped on the door and begged him to
open it and speak with them. Young Cliff
ford sprang out of bed, unlocked and
opened the door. Instantly one of the
seoundrels clapped a pistol to his
breast with the exclamation, "ThereI' and
sent bullet through his left side, about
one inch above the heart. The poor man
sank back into the arms of his young wife
and died inside of two minutes, but not be-
fore he had said ''Mollie, the Hickeys have
killed me-" referring to notorious and
worthless set whose actions in the vicinity
have been source of terror to the village
for several years past and only needed
murder to cap the climax of their other
crimes. The gang consisted of Richard
Hickey, his wife, and her brother, Joe
Reddy, and four others.
The cries of the young wife, whose hus-
band had just died in her arms brought
large number of neighbors to the scene
These were told by the afflicted woman that
Dick Hickey and Joe Reddy were the two
villains who had murdered her husband.
An armed body of men soon started in pur-
suit and by daylight four members OF the
gang, including Hickey, the leader, and
Reddy were lodged in the village caboose.
During the day the greatest possible excite
ment prevailed, and dozen sidewalk-meet-
ingS were held to denounce the murderers.
At eight O'Clock at night crowd began
to collect in the central portion of the town,
and by nine o'clock the crowd numbered
nine hundred persons, mostly men and
boys, though six or eight women kept in
the front ranks. Probably one-f fourth of
the mob were masked and armed with re-
volVers and shot-guns. Ten large-sized
men, evidently leaders, carried two long
ropes. The crowd marched quietly to the
Jail, where they met with no resist
ance, and in a few moments Dick Hickey
and Joe Reddy were being dragged through
the streets toward grove near by. Hickey
was promptly strung up to the nearest tree
and asked if he was guilty or innocent He
declined to answer, and only said he would
die like a man. He was hanged without
further parley and left hanging.
Another rope was then placed around the
neck of Joe Reddy, who had been forced to
witness the horrible death of his companion
in crime. He also refused to make con-
fession, and only shook his head in logged
manner when asked to speak to the mob. He
was stHng up to another tree near by, but
the rope suddenly snapped, letting him fall
to the ground. He moaned piteously for
mercy and begged to have his life spared,
declaring with tears in his eyes that he was
innocent. His earnest protestations finally
caused the crowd to reprieve him, and he
was conveyed back to the calaboose to await
trial. The other prisoners have been re-
moved to this place and locked up in Jail,