The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-05
CHANGE OF VENUE.
AN IOWA MOB, DlsGusTED WITH
LAWS DELAY,
Sends Il Trio of Confessed N.urderers Be
fore the Court OF Very Last APP
peal A Judge in Decidedly
Bad 1dor.

AUDUBON. lows, Feb 5-April 28th OF
last year Hmm Jefferson and old inolfensive
cripple was taken from his bed here in the
night AMI hanged to tree His son Cicero
and his sons-in-law John \. Smyth and Joe
J. Wilson were arrested Cicero made
confession admitting bis own quit
and duplicating the ether tive
Al three were indicted by the
eranl jury bat secured e continuance
Wednesday, Jan %, Judge Loofbarrow con-
vened court here AMI the case was called for
rial Defendants filed motion for u change
of venue on tho groun Is Of prejudice on the
part OF the people. Without ruling on the
motion the judge adjourned court until
Monday. On that day Judge Ander-
son took his place and an
nounced as Loofbarrow's ruling that
the venue would be changed to Cas- county.
The announcement created great indigna-
ton and it is alleged that Judge Loofbar-
row was in consequence compelled to leave
town.
Tuesday night over 200 citizens held a
secret meeting ana it was determined to
lynch the prisoners. Guards were sta
toned in every street leading from
the Jail at dusk and mounted
men patrolled the town in order to Illustrate
the intention of the sheriff to remove the
prisoners by special train to Atlantic
The mob kept up its watch until 4 a. III.
Wednesday, when the Jail was surrounded
and the prisoners taken out and shot and
aftarward hung.
At 4 o'clock Wednesday morning 100
armed men battered down the jail walls
Jefferson was dragged out aul hanged on
the grand-stanl IN the public square
Smyth and Wilson resisted and were shot
in their cells, then dragged out and hanged
to rail fence The mob was composed of
many of the best citizens. The sheriff was
on the scene, but was powerless. Two hours
were occupied in lynehing. All is now quiet.
Before being hung Cicero Jefferson made
the following confession:
My name is Cicero Is, Je,ler,on; am %
years old the 18th day Of this l0nJh. | re-
side in Carroll county, Iowa; formerly re
sided IN Audubon: am acq tainted with
Hiram Jefferson; he was my father. The
last time | saw him was on Friday night,
the 25th; saw him under circumstances of
murder J. J. Wilson and John A. Smyth
were the leading ones who committed the
deed. Wilson, Smyth and myself are the
ones who did it. We lett the residence of
Wilson, in Carroll county, about O'Clock
Friday evening. Smyth role his own horse
and Wilson and | ruue Wilson's horses; We
tied our horses to the trees a lew rods IRON
the house. We stopIei there ami laid our
plans how we should pruce.i. Wilson took IA
rope which he had brought, ami Smyth and
Wilson burst the door o,eu We ali went
inside, then went to the led AMI pulled
father out Father sald. Cicero. is that
you" Nobody answered Mother said,
No, that is John Smyth. We brought
him to the front room and chOked and
smothered him, and one TOOK tho rope out OF
my hands and put it on fathers neck.
Father begged OF Us not to hurt him.
We had a rope on him and started
out doors with him, and went drag
ging him along by the neck. | had
hold thel end OF the rope and Smyth and
Wilson were behind A, we were dragging
him along, pa said: Don't john; don't
hurt me 81" Wilson stopped and frightened
the rope and John and pulled him along
When we got 10 a trae Smytn threw the end
of the rope over a limb, ana helped pull
father up, Wilson taking hold and
lifting the body unit, We got it
clear from the ground When we
got him up, We tied has hands behind him
and wound the rope around his body, but
uCl KNOW IASu now. L liiiNk ne was ABOUT
dead then, rs he kicked once or twice after
open and tied it over his head. The shirt
was the only clothing he had on,
and Smvth and Wilson put on
their overcoatS, and we united our
horsos ami mounted them an rode off We
arrived at Wilson'S ten N inutee past /, Sat
urdty morning; it was quite daylight We
murdered father about midnight We took
eyes, and were them over our faces for
masks l threw mine into the stove and
burned it after got home. Wilson bought
the rope at Coon Rapids week ago Satur-
day that we used to hang father with.
They had been talking to NE about hang
ing father for week ~ ten days but | o.
jected. and did not want to help II do it,
Smyth came 10 Wilson's Friiay morning.
and we agreed to 90 that nj ut Thcy told
me they would make away with me after
they got back that night if | did
not 60 alopg with tltem and hep
them. John Smyth said We had better
go that night, las it WIS dark and the roads
were good, ANA we could get back before
| morning. | told them We would get into
trouble and get arrested. but tley S&il We
could go and get back before daylight, and
go TO work in the morning, as usual, and no
one would mistrISt u. / went, against my
will, but told them would 60,
| and they made arrangements where
to meet and about what time.
There wa, no light at JOHNS house
when we pas ed, and John said he and h $
wife and hired hand Went to bed e,Tiy, but
after the Others were aslesp he got up and
| left None OK US had any arms that know
| Of They told me not II tell anything. but
| to deny every thing. Wilson was the author
of the whole business. He said be was the
man that was doing it.
The motive for the crime was that some
time since the murdered man hal been &C
| cused of incest with che of his daughters,
who is now Wilson's wife The neighbors
| placed no credence in the accusation. be.
lieving that the old man mas innocent and
that the murder was wholly uurrovo1ed.
Jefferson was an inoffensive cripple.