The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-05-07
GRAHAM LYNcHEp.
fhe Springfield. No.: WIFE MURDERS
Hanged BY . Mob.

fhs Springfield. No.! WIFE Murderes
Hanged BY . Mob.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo-, April 27.--About half
past ono 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 guard, on duty, whom they took
possession Of. After securing him they
passed into the room where Sheriff Donnell
was sleeping, drew shot-guns and revolt
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
tho business" said the masked party; I'VE
are friends, bu. we want Graham and We
are going to have him"
Then they went to the bureau drawer
where the keys were kept but 1t was
locked. They took the key to the drawer
from his wife, and then opening the drawer
they took out . bunch of keys, and, leav-
Ing two men to guard the sheriff
after securing the keys, proceeded to
tho cell occupied by Graham. Unlocking
the door, they went in and told him that
they had come after him. Graham 1t once
commenced to curse them, saying that they
were God id Brooklyn murderers." At
this juncture one Of the party very coolly
placed Q shotgun against Graham's head
and told him to shut up and put on his
clothes without any more foolishness. Ora.
ham then commenced to cry pitifully, keep
ing it up tie entire time he was dressing.
After he 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. A 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 a vehicle provided for
the occasion. The wagon was in q cluster
of horsemen who had their weapons pointed
suggestively in the face of the crowd of
spectators, who followed at q 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-
yOnd the 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 q little
scrub oak about twenty feet In height with
bushy limbs beginning close to the ground
"a very incOnvenient tree for a hanging.
It was, however, "HobsOn's choice" for
there was no other tree at hand and they
were growing impatient of delay 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 methodical execution of their designs.
Just what happened under the tree at this
time no one except the 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.
ible. The little open space was only diMiy
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 were so near
and yet so far. About half past three
O'Clock the impatient members of the
Second division succeeded in getting their
captain with them, after being told to wait
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 0Ozing
from his mouth and nose. His features
were somewhat distorted and he was dead.
The body was drawn out of shape and the
clothing twisted as though several men
others were pulling him up by the rope,
and after much industrious effort on their
part he seems to have died of strsngua.
tached to the back of his coat:
ARBITRARY NOTICE.
When the coroner 10 In possession Of this
paper George E. Graham will be dead, and q
little punishment will have been inflicted 40
IL he had been hanged BY legal authority Il
justice to humanity that We 'three hundred"
ignore the law in this instance. We rec0g.
nize that our criminal statutes are not equal
solved to remove from our midst the
worst criminal who has ever infested our
country before no gers the "benent Of
live and be without his presence and vicious
influence. We heartily welcome all strangers
to citizenship who arc pure in purpose and
act in good faith. but We give this.
murderers who may hereafter invade
our country to impose on our credultty.
We also give warming that any per.
cover the sctors in this tragedy viii be surely
and speedily dispatched to hell. where ali
things are revealed to the curious. In Jus.
tice to the memory Of Sarah Graham. Q Low.
sacrificed ct the altar of Hecate, vs subscribe
ourselves,
CITIZENS OF GREENE COUNTY, No.
To Sheriff Donnell: Keep your mouth
shut II you recognized any Of u, or you
will die the death Of q dog" Graham's
body was cut down about five q. m. by ShsY.
III D0nnell and brought over to Eli Paxson's
undertaking establishment There was
letter from Cora Leo found on the body, in
which there were many insinuations that
could only b understood By the parties in
terested. It Il said there were number
Of mystic signs in the letter. About half
past eight this morning IN inquest was held
over the body and verdict was rendered
that George Z. Graham came To his death
by strangulation at the hands of unknown
partieA The remains were viewed By
thousands of DeOn:e during tina foranoon