The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-02-12
THREE MEN LyNcHED.
The Jellexson Murderers Shot
and Hanged at Audubon,
Iowa, by Masked Men
A Desperate Resistance Made by Wilson
and Smythe Cicero Jefferson
Submits Meekly.

[Audubon nowS special
Early this morning mob killed Joel j. VIII
con. John A. Smythe, and Cicero b. Jellerson,
confined In the County Jail awaiting trial for
hanging Hiram J. Jefferson, ON April 26 last
On Saturday last Judge Toofbourn granted n
change Of venue In the case. on motion OF the
prisoner counsel. and trial was set for Monday
ME- 70 a. saos ant that Organ
lied and proceeded to the County jan at about ?
o'clock this morning. and demanded tho KEYS 10
alarm the citizens Of the town by firing OF his
pistol This the mob had guarded against by
stationing outposts over the CITY ana
residenoes to retire Indoors. The crowd re-
turned the fire of the Sheriff and at once pro-
ceeded with picks and crowbars to maze an
opening In the brick wall OF the cell room large
enough to permit two persons towaik In abreast.
Through this the crowd poured and commenced
breaking the locks and bolts admitting them 10
the cells One OF the leaders, dressed In white
and wearing white mask, TO distinguish him
from the crowd, who wore black dominos
conducted the work OF forcing an entrance once nee
two cells, the leader demanded that the three
Jefferson murderers-Smythe, Wilson. andsel-
lerson-come out. and gave assurance 70 the
other prisoners. tour In number, that they only
wanted the Jefferson mHderers smytne made
q lunge with a broom handle through the
near and punched him over backward. severe
ly injuring him. and atthis man carrying a
lantern held IL mp, and the leader shot Smythe
through the left eye, killing him.
one OF the persons confined In the cell with
the murderers was next ordered TO step out
After this prisoner was once out. Wilson pro-
to come out, and two shots were fired at HIM,
taking effect Immediately below the left
shoulder, and he was hit In the month
them them A to XIII h% ' outright .' and not
to. torture him. Another shot was fired,
taking effect In the upper part OF his chest, and
~ k.lxx Sail n.1 WAR
over the heads of Smythe and Wilson and their
bodies dragged TO the jail-yard fence, where
they were strung mp. The second cell was tnen
opened and Cicero Jefferson ordered to step out
AS as he appeared rope was thrown
around his neck and he was taken by the crown
to a band-stand In the pubic square, about
II he was guilty OF the murder OF his fathoo HE
replied that he was. The rope was then thrown
around the flagstaff surmounting the stand, and
he was drawn up. while the leader said In loud
tones: AS you swung your father mp last
April, so you swing now between heaven and
earth After this hanging the Sheriff was noti-
ned that the mob had done its full work, and
that the OTHER prisoners were safely LOCKED In
their cells. The crowd then quietly dispersed.
with A. an IN ell-both built Of brick. The main
building is used by the Sheriff as o residences,
and the ell Is the jail proper. Inside the Jail Is
a wrought iron cage consisting OF two Coils ana
a corridor in front made OF bars closely inter-
laying and riveted. All the locks and levers
opening the cells and corridors are in steel
X.
prisoners could be gotten at. The work OF
opening this was done quickly. The number
comprising the mob is variously estimated az
from fifty to $50. 1t was well disciplined, and
every avenue of approach Yas guarded, and no
one was allowed to approach nearer the Jail than
a full block. When each shot was fired In the
first cell, Cicero would exclaim, -Oh, my todl
and when Wilson was heard to fan Cicero said
TO one of his companions: If live through 1t,
don't tell on mo; but what ! confessed to last
spring was true. We killed father"
Wilson's three sisters arrived tonight from
Coon Rapids, and their grief was terrible to
witness as they viewed the remains OF rne H1,
the Coroner, and taken by train to their home
for interment. The Coroners jury rendered .
verdict Of death at the hands OF a mob un-
known.
The Grand Jury was called before Acting
Judge Henderson, and after a few well chosen
words and able structures on the mob he gave
the case into their hands for consideration.
Probably nothing as to the composition OF the
mob will be dcveioped. The bodies OF Smythe
and Jefferson are still unclaimed.
local paper this evening expressed it as rs
opinion that had Judge Toofbourn been here he
would have shared the same fate as
td gain admittance they reapetedly as.
sured the prisoners that they only wanted
the Jefferson murderers. AS soon as
a hole was made through the brick wall
the lock to the iron door leading from the resi-
dence part to the cells was spiked 80 that the
Sheriff could nos enter by ny, that ma route. Pete
Kleever, was brought before the Coroners jury,
and ss an ye-witness his evidence may be in
teresting He said: Il was In the jail last night,
in the west CELL The mob came there about 2
o'clock. and heard noise OF firing and heard
some one say to the Sheriff: Fire one more shot
and down comes this jail / soon heard
picks at the Jail wall and we got mp and
dressed. 1t took them twenty minutes to
half an hour to get in. They then
dor. They were quite long time Mt that.
While at the door Smythe shouted three times:
Herbert, hain'J YOU going TO stop tifis?' Some
one outside said: Wen stop it'll Then they
came in. Smythe poked q broom-stfck into a
man ribs and knocked him over. All had
the shooting had handkerchief over his face;
one man had lantern. When the man was
punched in the ribs he stepped back and fired,
killing Smythe. Crawford, who was in the
same cell. said: BE careful; there is one inno-
cont man here v They told Crawford to to
he went out he would pound him. Craw-
ford went out and they shot at Wilson. and
somebody put crowbar In his face He said:
Great God, boys. don't murder me this wayl
/ never killed old man Jefferson, or saw him
until / saw him the day he was In his coffin
man saidS Ii innocent, why don't you como
out?' Wilson said: If die. die game The
man who had the lantern told the man with tho
pistol 10 shoot Wilson. He continued firing till
Wilson was shot in the neck or lungs, when he
from the gurgling sound. Then they dragged
bmythe and Wilson both out. and came back TO
our cell and ordered Cicero to walk out told
him to 40 ont. and he went. They put rore
around his neck and shouted: Mr.. Sheriff,
this is the man want and walked away.
Your time Is about at an end. IL You are guilty
of this crime you are accused of,
now tell me- Cicero choked up. but. after
ward he said the statements he had made were