Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1886-05-06
GRAHAM CYNCHED.
Tho Springfield. Mo-, Wife Murderer
Hanged by n Mob.

Tho Springfield. No., Wife Murderer
Hanged by Mob.
SPRINGFIELD. No., April 27.--About half
past one o'clock last night between two
and three hundred masked men surrounded
the Jail and guard was placed at each OF
the streets that lead into the square.
Twelve or fifteen of the leaders then went
into the Jail, where they found r. W. Doug
lass, the gtiard, on duty, whom they took
possession of. After securing him they
passed into the room where Sheriff Donnell
was sleeping, drew shot-guns and revo!-
vers down on him, and demanded the keys.
He informed them that he did not have
them.
There Is no use OF being foolish about
the business" said the masked party; I'VE
are friends, but we want Graham and We
are going to have him.
Then they went to the bureau drawer
where the keys were kept but it was
locked. They took the key to the drawer
from his wife, and then opening the drawer
they took out a bunch OF keys, and, leav-
ing two men to guard the sheriff
after securing the keys, proceeded to
the cell occupied by Graham. Unlocking
the door, they went in and told him that
they had come after him. Graham at once
commenced to curse them, saying that they
were God id Brooklyn murderer" At
this juhcture one of the party very coolly
placed shotgun against Graham's head
and told him t. shut up and put on his
clothes without any more foolisIlness Ora.
ham then commenced to cry pitifuly, keep.
ing it up the entire time he was dressing.
A ftcr lie had finished the last of his dressing
the leader of the mob told him that he would
have to make full confession of every
thing. Graham replied that he would give
them good square talk. \ rope was put
around his neck and his hands tied behind
him. This being done the crowd moved
out of the jail to College street, where they
placed their victim In vehicle provided fur
the OCCASION. The wagon was in cluster
IF horsemen who had their weapons pointed
suggestively in the face of the crowd of
spectators, who followed at respectful
distance, which by this time CON
sisted Of about thirty persons. The
procession then moved across the
square to Boonville street down, which they
took their way. This was the order OF
things until point was reached little be.
You'd TIE Bailey grove. when they turned
west and passing out on the road by the
WOODEN mill, arrived shortly at small tree
in the common beyond. About on the cor.
poration line dividing the two towns and in
front of the Haines place. there is little
scrub oak about twenty feet in height with
bushy limbs beginning close to the ground
"a very inconvenient tree for hanging.
1t was, however, "IIObson's choice" for
there was no other tree at hand and they
were growing impatient of decay as dawn
was approaching.
The preparations for the final act in the
tragedy went forward slowly and there
seemed to be great deal of difficulty about
the details, the first time since their appear
ance in town that they had manifested an
embarrassment or delayed their movements
more than was consistent with an orderly
and methOdcal execution of their designs.
Just what happened under the tree at this
time no one except til. regulators would be
able TO say, for they kept everybody else at
distance of about fifty yards
1t was about three o'clock
when the confusion which had pre-.
vailed for some time subsidized
and the hOrsemen gathered closely around
the tree. There was scarcely sound aud.
iolc. The little open space was only dimly
seen by the light of a cloudy night, not as.
sisted by the light of the lanterns, for they
were continuously kept close to the ground,
and now and then turned full in the face OF
the interested observers, who We're so neal
and yet so far. About hat past three
O'Clock the impatient members Of the
Second division succeeded in getting theil
captain with them, after being told to wall
until they had finished the work they had
undertaken.
Shortly before four o'clock the guard
rode off west and the bystanders approach.
ing the tree found Graham suspended to
one of the limbs with his feet almost touch.
ing the ground. The blood was oozing
from his mouth and nose. Ills features
were somewhat distorted and he was dead.
The body was drawn out of shape and the
clothing twisted as though several men
might have been Juggling at his legs while
others were pulling him up by the rope,
and after much industrious effort on their
part he seems to have died of strangua-
ton. The following notice was found at
tached to the back OF his coat:
ARBITRARY NOTICE.
When the coroner is in possession of this
paper George +. GrahN N will be dead, and rs
little pun shment W II have been inf cted rs
if he had been hanged by legal authority. II
is a matter of ght to the community and
justice to humanity that we three hundred"
ignore the law in this instance. We rccOg.
niZc that our or minal statutes are not eQua,
to all occasions. Therefore, we have re
solved to remove from our midst the
worst criminal who has ever infested ON
country before he gets the benefit OF
clergy, that we may hereafter and forever
live and be without his presence and vicious
to citizenship who are pure in purpose and
act in good faith, but we give tn 5.
too, as warning to eX-convicts and
murderers who may hereafter invade
our country to impose on our credulty.
We also give warning that any per.
sons of any rank or station who dare to d s.
cover the actors in tn tragedy viii be surely
and speedily dispatched to hell, where all
things are revealed to the curious. In JUS.
ing wife and dear mother, whose life was
sacrificed at the altar of Hecate, we su oscribe
ourselves,
CITIZENS OF GREENE COUNTY, Mo.
To Sheriff Donne!l: keep your mouth
shut if YOU recognized any of Us, or you
will die the death of dog" Gralam's
body was cut down about five a. nj. by Sher.
if Donnell and brought over to Eli Paxson't
undertaking establishment There was g
letter from Cora Lee found on the body in