The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-05
AN IOWA LYNCHING.
The Murderess OF Hiram Jefferson, an
Aged and Crippled Farmer, Lynched
at AudaboD, Iowa.

DEs MoINEs. L., Feb. 4.-This morning
about o'clock, John A. Smythe, Joel j.
Wilson, and Cicero Jefferson. the murderers
of Hiram Jefferson, in April, 1884, were
killed in or near the Jail at Audubon, this
State. About o'clock Sheriff Herbert and
family, Deputy Sheriff Workman and /. II.
Conkins were sleeping up stars in the jail,
when they were awakened by raps
on the front door. The Jail is q two
story brick on the northeast corner OF the
s9usre-that is, the residence portion, but
the jail proper is back and only one story IN
height. Inside is an iron cage containing
tso cells. The Sheriff went to the window
and asked what was wanted. The answer
was, 1--WE want to see you" The Sheriff IN.
quired what was wanted of him. The reply
came, I'VE want Jellerson's murdersrs"
The Sheriff looked and saw what he esti-
mated at from 800 to 700 men gath
cred about the Jail. He told them the
prisoners were in his charge as an off
GER and be would not give up the keys
bat would defend and protect the prisoners.
The answer was they did not propose to al
=
as II was Tumored that the Sheriff contem-
plated remociDg them. The Sheriff told the
crowd that II they would 90 away he would
take the prisoners away in the day time aud
would tell when il would be done, but he
would neither give up the keys or prisoners.
A voice cried: Herbert every man
here is your friend, and we know
your duty as well you do,
but We ere here on business
and for business, and we want no fooling
about 1T; we are no mob, but a body OF de-
terminal citizens. We came for Jellerson's s
murderers, and We are going to have them
at whatever cost. We will not Interfere
with you, unless we are compelled to do so,
but We warn you not TO interfere" The
| Sheriff stepped back, grabbed a navy re-
volver and commenced firing over the heads
of the crowd to frighten them and alarm the
| town, but the town was already on hand
bat a bullet through the wlndow.glass where
be was standing showed that the SrO Ed
meant business. In small room leading
| to the Jail are the stairs leading to the
upper story, and this room is
guarded by iron doors, and another
one opens into the Jail from the room. These
were for the purpose of protecting the Jail
| from without, but this time they protected
| the crowd and imprisoned the Sheriff and
Deputies. The officers attempted to open
| them, but the crowd drove rods into the
key holes and the doors we're then secure.
The walls Of the jail proper we're then at
| tempted with sledges, and soon large hole
was made; the men rushed inside and
| fsstended the other door, and the officers
wese powerless. There was a high board
| fence running through the court yard, and
after the prisoners were captured, Symtne
and Wilson were hung TO the stringsr
OF the fence, the boards being
knocked OF for the purpose. Cicero, the
son, was hanged TO baud stand abo1t the
1tor ~ ho l~.l Ill
bullet hole in the face and several in the
body.
The prisoners in the jail with the victims
say that about O'clock they were awakened
by the breaking in of the walls of the iai, ,
a d nihe masked men stepped in. In the
east cell, IL an iron cage, were sleeping
Smythe. Wilson and another prisoner, and
Cicero Jellerson and three others oc c'upied
the west cell. Smylhe and Wilson
tried TO barrica0e the cell with the be I'll
clothes. With seGee hammers and cold
cbile'ls they were broken down, and once in
the corridor OF the Jail the padlocks wers
soon broken, when the cells were open. The
crowd called for Jeilersons murderers to
| come out. Smyth seized a broom handle
al ttIuck one man, who fired at once the
hsl striking Smythe square in the left eye
| and be fell stone dead. Wilson backed in 8
! corner of the cell and said If he died be
would die game, and grabbing a chair said
in resch. Being driven from the
corner with a Crowbar, he made
a dssh far the opening with the chair, bat
was nalted by bullet, anu be kept up the
fight until the third shot was fred, when he
tell. Both bodies were then dragged from
the cage through the hole in the .il wall,
and while they were all gone, probably
bsneipg the bodies to the fence
stringeIs, Cicero breathed easier, aud thought
they would not take him. rhe prisoners
with him told him If be had anything to
say he had better say it. He then told them
that the three committed the murder, and
his con fession made when arrested was
true. Soon the crowd came back and told
Cicero to come out. He did so, aud they
threw rope over his head, and that was the
last he saw OF him.