The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1885-06-11

Two OF tho Notorious Rainsbarger Broth
srs nynohed 1t Eldors, Hardin County

Two az the Notorious Rainsbarger Broth
srs nynohed 1t Eldors, Hardin County,
Iowa.
ELpoRA, Iowa, Special Telegram, June ga
mob of a hundred masked men surrounded the
Hardin county Jail here at o'clock this morn
ing, overpowered 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 unacceptable by
the Infatuated mob. The trouble which cul-
minated in this tragedy occurred last fall, when
Enoch Johnson, father Of Rainsbarger's wife,
was found dead not far from his home. At
first appearance it seemed that he had been
thrown from his horse, dragged by the strrup.
and trampled to death. Suspicion finally attach
ed to Nathan Rainsbarger and his brother Will
lam. They were arrested and on examine
ton were committed to jail The wife OF Nath-
an and daughter of the murdered man was
Witness and she told touching story of how
the suspicion had grown upon her that her
husband was the guilty man. The "" ,.,
ers being in Jail. three "+' ,,n.., ."p PROM,
systematic .r,e Of persecatnr and and anu in'
,-..eeting ali who had been instrument
| tai In the prosecution Men were am
! bushod 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
iynched men were arrested were these: Late
Wednesday afternoon, DIR. Underwood Of
Eldora was called il consultation with a
| ,,,o ,hDo ponI apa
near Robertson, twelve miles from Eldora
He was accompanied by DR.. Ritenour, 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 fled. Several shots struck
the buggy, and one passed through DIR. Under
woods coat, but neither gentleman was in
iured. Yesterday morning warrants were
issued flor the arrest of William Finn
and E. M. Rainsbarger, brothers, and
Edward Johns, and they were arrested last
evening The Rainsbarger's were brothers of
the two boys now on trial for the murder of
Enoch Johnson last fall and Johns is son Of
| Henry Johns who died recently from the EFF
| fects of the wounds received at the hands Of
| 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 lynching of Finn and Mouse Rainsbar-
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 Marshaltown,
charged with the murder. The &C
cusation was made by the wife of
Nate who is the daughter of Johnson. Among
the most prominent men i'll 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 q watch was set 1t was discoS-
pred in secret Communication with the Rains
bargers 1t was finally found that plot
was being concocted to murder number
the leading citizens of the county. These
facts developed only a 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 night 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 neighborsa great
deal of trouble Great excitement prevails.
Public sentiment, however. generally approves
the lvnching tits doubtful if any prosecutions
will follow.