Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-04-28
AN EARLY LYNCHING-
Graham, the Wife Murderer, Dragged
from Jail at n Ropes End.

AN EARLY LYNCHlNG-
Graham. the Wife Murderer, Dragged
from Jail at n Ropes End.
SpR1SGFIELD, Mo-, April 27.-George
Graham, the vile murderer, was lynched
here BY a mob at an early hour, this morn
ing. A spring wagon was part of the
outfit of the lynching party. The wagon
was halted in front of the jail door, and a
few men, heavily armed, and carrying in
their hands q rope and aledgs hammers,
knocked at the front door. The Sheriff
was aroused and answered their call. Up
on opening the door he was seized bY the
men, who demanded the keys to Graham q
cell. He attempted to equivocste, but q
revolver thrust between his eyes told him
resistance was folly, and he told them
where TO get the keys. They then went to
the cell and opened the door.
Graham was in his bunk, and was COM
manded to get up. lie was at hrst lsfuri-
ated, and replied with osths, bnt was 81
lenced BY the muzzle of a rifle thrust IN his
face. He then dressed himself, and when
the rope was placed around his neck, broke
down and wept bitterly. The leader OF the
party informed him of their purpose, and
demanded true statemeutuf the killing
Of Sarah Graham.
After he had recovered his composure,
and with something Of his old audicltY,
Graham replied that when he got out he
would give them straight talk. He WAS
led out OF the Jail
AT THE END OF THE ROPE,
placed in the wagon, and the grim process
sion moved in q nortterly direction. The
crowd of spectators, which had by this
time increased to perhaps fifty, at once
started to follow, but were halted and
warned not to do 80, aud only few OF the
most venturesome did so, keeping in the
shsdows OF fences and trees. About two
miles north Of the city the cavalcsde halt
ed By q small scrub oak tree. Plckets
were thrown out, who kept all curious fol-
lowers at 9 distance, and preparations for
the banging were hurriedly made.
Graham was asked if he had anything
further to say with regard TO the killing OF
his wife. Exactly what his reply was is I
not known outside the charmed and charm 1
ing circle which surrounded him, but 1t Is (
claimed that he reasserted his statement
that neither Mrs. Malloy nor Cora Lee was
implicated in the murder. A cloth was then {
tied over his face, his hands were bound be- I
hind him, and the rope was thrown over
limb of the stuuted tree.
j IN q fpInknnO dan !
ged the body Of the wife murderer in mid
air. He was ,
LITERALLY CHoEED TO DEATH, !
and at a N. the body of Graham was found
hanging where LETT by the lYnchers. III g
is the first instance of lynch law that has
occurred in Green county for twenty years.
It was reported that one wing ol the mob
went 10 Bolivia, where Cora Lee is syill IN I
iail, with the intention Of lYnching her :
also, bat this is not verified.
THE sHERIPFs sTATENENT. r
Upon being interviewed concerning the s
affair, Sheriff Donnell said: 81 have heard
so much talk of mobs thst gave up the /
idea of one The frat thing I.knew was |
= hen masked men broke into the room v
saving, We are friends; don't be scared, Q
overpowered me and then requested the '
keys Of Mrs. DOnuell. Getting tired OF
refusal the leader uGid, Well boys bring
the tools 0Ee Of the party, Vho e.ldent-
" knew where they were, walked straight q
to the drawer where the keys were kept z
sD;, forced it open. | know nothing OF c
80, C.absn ;,>"k it, | was kept close in T
the room"
Mrs. Douue,l cC;d: They we're cool and !
collected. When they unlocked Grahaus
cell, he said, You can hang me, but you 7
can't scare me- They tied his hands be
hind him and marched him through the
hall with q roea Ground his neck. he was .
as a sheet, out otherwise never Hinched. !!
WARNING To OTHERS.
The followiug was found pinned to Ora \
hams body
OgIrrARY NOTICE-When the coFonsr is
in possession Of this paper, George Z Ora 7
ham will be dead, and as little punishment
will have been inflicted as II he had been :
hanged By legal authority. It is matter
of right 70 the community and justice TO
humanity tuhL VIC iBhAbp thO 80" ~ sA'S 50 4
stance. We recognize the TACT that our
statutes are not equal TO all occs- t
sions Therefore we have resolved to re- 8
move from our midst the worst criminal ,
who has ever infested our county, that We
may hereafter and forever live aud
be without his presence and vicious (
influence. We heartily welcome all strang- I
ers TO citizenship who are worthy OF it We {
give this, too, as q warning to ex convicts ,
and murderers who may hereafter invade
our county TO impoSs upon our creduhty.
We also give warning thst any person or
persons OF any rank or station who dare to :
discover the actors in this tragedy will be
surely aud speedily dispatched to hell, where
all things are revealed to the glorious. In
Justice to the memory of Samuel Graham,
a loving wife and dear mother vho;e life
was sacrificed at the altar Of Hscate, we
subscribe ourselves, citizens Of Greene
county, Missouri. l.
To Sheriff Donnell: Keep your mouth
shGt. If you recognize any Of US you will
die the death Ct cog.