Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-01-28
PAID The PENALTY.
The Negro Murderer of Farmer Dob
son Lynched at vincennes,
Indiana
ryincennes nnd.l special.l

tVincennes Qnd) special1
Holly Epps, the black-skinned and black
hearted wretch who murdered Mr.. Dobson,
of Greene County, on the night of the 1lth
of January, paid the penalty Of death this
morning at the hands of an infuriated mob,
who came from Greene County, forty miles
distant, to stretch the negro's neck. TWAS
/ o'clock when the leader of the mob, which
was composed of no more than fifteen nervy
men, raped at the door of Sheriff Seddle-
meyers residence. The moon was shining
brightly, and the figures of the men in masks
as they took their positions at different cor
ners of the house were q weird scene to be-
hold. In response to the rap the Sheriff
came to the door and asked what was want
ed. The leader replied: "We want you TO
open this door, and mean every word We
say"
seddlemeyer said: Gentlemen, I will
not open it."
"Well, then, we will batter it down" re-
joined the leader, in a clear and emphatic
tone. "Are you going TO open it?"
"No,p cried the Sheriff.
"Get ready, boys" commanded the leader.
"One, two, three, look out inside" and
with a crash a heavy sledge- hammer was
hurled against the fragile wooden door by q
stalwart vigilante, and the mob was in the
main corridor leading to the iron door which
stood between the fiend and his fate. Ham
mers and cold chisels were brought into
requisition, and just fifteen minutes from
the time the mob demanded entrance the
last blow was struck, and the ponderous
lock of the iron door fell to the floor. II
seemed but the work of few seconds until
the murderers cell was vacated and the rope
placed about his neck He was then led
out of the Jail by the mob, and for the first
time since his incarceration walked unaided.
The vigilantes led him over the icy ground,
about fifty yards from the Jail, and after
passing from the courtyard, led him un-
der q maple tree, with a limb designed for
rope. 1t seemed that Epps was spiritless
during the whole time. The mob asked
him no question:, and the vile wretch did
not attempt to open his mouth. He was
perfectly resigned to his fate. The
rope was thrown over the limb of
the tree, and the murderers carcass was
hauled up. Scarcely a word escaped the
lips of any member of the mob. The still
ness was disturbed only by the gurgling
sound in the negro's throat-the DEATH
rattle-which grew fainter and fainter
as the rope tightened around his
neck. In twelve minutes from the time his
AOSb ACAO bhO blOuhu AO Ndo u Ntlu
The mob was quiet and orderly, but more
determined set of men never undertook to
storm Jail. A great many citizens, who
| got wind of the contemplated attack, were
| on the scene as spectators, but there was no
attempt to molest the mob either by citizens
or officials. The plan to take Epps
back to Greene County had already been
arranged Prosecuting Attorney Axtell, of
Greene County, arrived here Sunday noon
10 arrange for the preliminary trial. A Sc
cret conference was held in the parlors of
Sheriff Seddlemeyer's residence, and not q
living soul except the officers knew of the
programme that was there mapped out.
A correspondent, however, learned OF
it. The programme arranged was as
follows: Sheriff Seddlemeyer and Prose-
cutting Attorney Axtell, together with two
| deputy sheriffs, were to take the murderer
out of Jail this morning at o'clock and es-
cort him direct to the north bound passen-
ger train on the Indianapolis and yincennes
Railroad.