New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-06-10
RmDLED wITE BULLETS.
Two OF the Notorious Radnsbarger Broth
ers Lynchsd at Eldora, Hardin County.

Two Of the Notorious Rainsbarger Broth
! ers Lynchsd 1T Eldora, Hardin County,
iowa. s.
EIDoRA, Iowa, Special Telegram, June 5-A
mob Of a hundred masked men surrounded the
Hardin county Jail here at o'clock this morn
ing, oyerpowered the jailer, broke down
the doors and captured Finn and Mans
Rainsbarger, brothers, who were yester-
day arrested for firing upon. two prom
inent citizens who were driving over to
Steamboat Rock. After being captured they
were shot until they were unrecognizable By
the infuriated mob The trouble which cul-
minated in this tragedy occurred last fall, when
Enoch johnson, father of Rainsbar gers wife,
was found dead not far from Ills home. At
first appearance it seemed that he had been
thrown tromh horse dragged by the stirrup,
and trampIed death. Suspicion finally attach
ed to Nathan Rainsbarger and bis brother Will
Jam. They were arrested and on examina-
ton were committed to Jail The wife of Natb-
an and daughter of the murdered man was g
witness, and she told a touching story of how
the suspicion had grown upon her that her
ers being in Jail. three others began bold and
systematic course of persecuting and in
timidating all who had been instrument
tai in the prosecution. Men were am
pushed in the night, had horses shot down
under them, and various acts Of like character
were perpetrated Finally Wednesdays at
tack made endurance no longer possible to the
citizens Hence the mob and results narrated
above
The facts as to the deed for which the
lynched men were arrested were these: Late
Wednesday afternoon, DR.. Underwood of
Eldora was called in consultation with a
physician from Steamboat Rock, over case
near Robertson, twelve miles from Eldora.
He was accompanied by Dr.. Ritenour, a dentist
OF Eldora, and on their return after night they
were fired at by four parties in ambush. The
doctors being armed, returned the fire, and the
would be assassins fed Several shots struck
the buggy, and one passed through DR.. Under
woods coat, but neither gentleman was in
issued tor the arrest Of William Finn
and E. M. Rainsbarger, brothers, and
Edward Johns, and they were arrested last
evening The Rainsbarger's we're brothers Of
the two boys now on triad for the murder of
Enoch johnson last fall and Johns is a son Of
Henry Johns who died recently from the ssef-
fects Of the wounds received at the hands of a
mob who ambushed him near his home one
night He was also uncle of the Rainsbarger
boys and was furnishing the money to defend
them on the charge of the murder Of johnson.
The latter, it is believed was killed that the
murderers might get the $4,000 insurance on
his life.
The lynchlng OF Finn and Mouse Ralnsbar-
ger is really the result Of an old feud that has
been brewing in Hardin county for many years.
1t originated in family quarrel great many
years ago, and eliminated last year in the muir
der of Johnson. For this crime the two Rains
bargers Nathaniel and Frank are, as
already stated, now, in Jail at Marshalltown,
charged with the murder. The ac-
cusation was made by the wife Of
Nate who is the daughter OF johnson. Among
the most prominent men in the county who
testified at the preliminary examination was
DR.. Underwood, of Eldorado. His life was
threatened by the gang. A few days ago sus-
picious movements were discovered by party,
upon whom watch was set. It was discov-
cred in a secret communication with the Rains
bargers 1t was finally found that a plot
was being concocted to murder a number
the leading citizens of the county. These
facts developed only day or two ago. The
attempt upon the lives of Doctors Underwood
and Riedenour drove the citizens to desper-
alton, and the Rainsbargers having been ar
rested last evening were during the light taken
out and lynched, as already told. Fin was a
pardoned convict charged with murder. The
family and their followers are hard characters,
and have given the peaceable neighbors great
deal of trouble Great excitement prevails.
Public sentiment, however, generally approves
the lynching It'll doubtful if any prosecutions
will follow.