Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-05
CITIZENS LYNCH A TRIO.
OLD MAN NJELLERSON'S MURDER
MERCILESSLY AVENGED.

>
MERCILESSLY AVENGED.
Seven Hundred Determined Citizens
Batter Down the Walls of Audubon's
Jail at Night-The Officers All Made
Prisoners-TwO of the Criminals shot
Dead While Fighting Their Foes and
Their COrpses Hung Up to Dry-The
Third Victim Hanged and Bullet Rid
died.
DEsMoINEs, IA, Feb. 4.-This morn
ing about O'Clock John A. Smythe, Joel
j. Wilson and Cicero b. Jefferson, MUIR
derers of Hiram Jefferson, who met his
death in April, 1884, were killed in or
near the Jail at Audubon, in this State.
About O'Clock, Sheriff Herbert and fami-
ly, Deputy Sheriff Workman and T. f.
jenkins were sleeping up stairs in iail.
when they We're awakened by rams at the
front door. The Jail is two story brick
structure on the northeast corner of a
square, that is the residence portion: but
the jail proper is back, and only one story
In height. Inside is an iron cage con-
tanning two cells. Tne Sheriff went to a
window and asked what was wanted.
The answer was:
we want to See you"
The Sheriff inquired what was wanted of
him, and the reply came:
we want the Jefferson murderers."
The Sheriff looked and saw what he esti-
mated at 500 TO $50 men gathered about the
jail. He told them that the prisoners were in
MS charge as an officer and that he would not
give up the keys, but would defend and pro-
tect the prisoners.
NO POOLING TO BE BRooKED.
The answer was that they did not propose
10 allow the prisoners to leave town in the
H.,
plated removing them. The Sheriff told the
crowd that If they would go away he would
take the prisoners away In the day time and
tell when 1t would be uone, but would neither
give up the keys or the prisoners. A voice
cried;
Herbert, every man here is your friend
and we know your duty as well as you do,
out we are here on business and for business,
and we want 40 f0oling about it. We are no
mob, but body OF determined citizens. We
came for the Jefferson murderers and we are
going TO have them az whatever cost. We Will
not interfere with you unless compelled 10 do
so, but we warn you not TO resist"
SHOTS FIRED TO BRIGHTEN THE CROWD.
The Sheriff stepped back. grabbed a navy
revolver and commenced firing over the heads
of the crowd TO frighten them and alarm
the town, but the town was already on
hand and bullet through the window
glass where he was standing showed
aim that the crowd meant business. In a
small room leading to the jail are the stairs
leading To the upper story, and this room is
guarded by iron doors. Another 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 amt
imprisoned the Sheriff and his deputies. The
officers attempted TO open them, but tho
crowd drove rods into the key holes, and the
uo0rs pG were then secure. The walls of the
Jall proper were then attacked with sledges,
and soon large hole was made.
sTRINGING UP THE TRIO.
Men rushed inside and fastened the other
door, and the officers were powerless. There
was high board fence running through the
court yard, and, after the prisoners were
captured, Smythe and Wilson were hanged
TO the stringers of the fence, boards being
knocked OFF for the purpose. Cicero, the son,
was hanged to the bandstand about the centre
OF the square; SmYthe was killed by a bullet
shot In his left eye, Wilson had a bullet hole
IN his forehead, another in his face, and
several in his body.
WHAT SURVIVING PRISONERS SAY,
Prisoners who were in the Jail with the vic
tins, say that about O'clock they were
awakened by the breaking of the walls of the
jan, and masked men stepped IN. In the
east cell, IN an IRON cage, were sleeping
>mythe, Wilson and another prisoner and
Cicero Jefferson and three others oc-
son tried to barricade the cell ~ith bed
clothes, but with sledge hammers and cold
chisels the doors were broken down. and once
in the corridor OF the cage, the padlocks were
crowd called for Jefferson, the murderer, TO
come out. Smythe seized a broom handle and
truck the man.
SMYTHE SHOT DEAD IN HIS CELL,
The man fred at once. the ball striking
Smythe in the left eye, and he fell dead.
w ilsOn backed into the corner of the cell, and
SAID that If he died he would die game, and
grabbing chair struck at every one within
reach. Being driven from the corner by a
crowbar he made a dash for the opening, with
IA KFn "a haI Ifa1h hxr
Il bullet, but kept up the fight until a third
shot was fired, when he Iel. Both bodies
were then dragged from the cage through the
hole in the jail wall, and while they were all
gone, probably hanging the bodies to
strlnger, Cicero breathed easier and thought
that they would not take him. The prisoners
with him told him that if he had anything to
say ne had hetter say IL. liz sneu told them
that the three committed the murder, and
that his confession as made when first arrest
eu was true. soon the crowd came back and
.old cicero to come out. He did SO. They
LhreW rope over his head, and that was the
last the prisoners saw of him.
THE STORY OF THE CRIME,
April 2S, 1884, hiram Jefferson, an old in
onenslve cripple, was taken from his bed in
the night and hanged to a tree. His son,
cicero, and his sons law, Smythe and Wit
son, were arrested for the crime, and Cicero
made detailed confession admitting the
guilt OF himself and duplicating Smythe and
" llson. They were subsequently indicted by
nesday Judge LoofbOrow convened the court
mere and the case was called for trial. The
defendants filed motion for change of
venue on the ground of prejudice of the peo-
PIE. without ruling ON the motion Judge
L0o1Dorow Saturday surprised all by stating
mat Judge Henderson, of the Marshalltown
district, would be here Monday to take his
place ON the bench.
AN ODIOUS DECISION.
The latter arrived Monday, opened court
announced +
which was to the effect that the venue wouii
le changed to Cass county. Nothing ever
occurred so Thoroughly aroused the indigna-
ION OF the people generally, as this announce
nent. 1t is charged that Judge LOofborow
vent away to dodge the storm that followed
us decision. Last night upward of 100 cit1
ems held secret meeting. IL was rumored
nat special would leave here during the
hght to carry the prisoner to Atlantic. So
guards were stationed in every street lead
ng from the Jail and patroed the town an
llghJ. Ihere was determination that the
lrlsoners should never leave this county.