The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-04-29
GRAHAM CH0KED
BY 4 ROPE PLACED AROUND HIS NECK
AND DRAWN OVER A LIMB OF
A SCRUB OAK TREE.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo-, April 27.-At
80 O'Clock this morning a mob of 400
armed men surrounded the county Jail
and began parleying with the sheriff
for the surrender of George E. Graham,
the wife murderer. The sheriff would
not comply with the demands, but they
soon battered in the doors and secured
the prisoner.
Graham was in his bunk and was
commanded to get up. He was at
first Infatuated and replied with oaths,
but was silenced by the muzzle of a re-
vOlver thrust III hiZ face. He dressed
himself, and when the rope was placed
around his neck broke down and wept
bitterly. The leader of the party in
formed him Of their mission, and de-
manded true statement of the killing
of Sarah Graham. He recovered COM
posture, and with something Of his old
dacity 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 and placed III wagon, and the
grim procession moved in a nOrtherly
direction. About three miles north Of
| the city the calvacade halted by a
small scrub oak tree PicketS were
thrown out who kept all curious follow
ers at distance.
Preparations for hanging were hur-
riedly 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 not known outside the
charmed circle who surrounded him,
but it is claimed that he re-asserted his
statement that neither Mrs. MOllOy or
| Cora Lee were implicated with the
| murder. a cloth was tied over his face
| and his hands were tied behind him.
The rope was thrown over limb Of a
I stunted tree, and dozen strong arms,
in twinkling, dangled the body Of the
wife murderer in mid-air. He was lit
orally strangled to death.
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 Z.
Graham will be dead; and as little pun
ishment viii be inflicted as if he had
been hanged by legal authority. 1t
is a.matter of right to the community
and justice to humanity that we 800 ig-
| more the law in this instance. We rec
| ogniZe that our criminal statutes are
not equal to all occasions; therefore we
have resolved to remove from our midst
| the worst criminal who has ever infest-
| ed our country before. He gets the
benefit of the clergy, that we may here
| after and forever live and be without
| his presence and vicious influence. We
heartily welcome all strangers to citi-
ZenShlp who are pure in person and act
in good faith, but we give this as a
warning to eX-cOnvicts and murderers
who may hereafter invade our country
to impose on our credulity. We also
| give warning that any persons. of anv
rank or station, who dare to discover
| the actors III this tragedy, will besurely
and speedily despatched to hell, where
all things are revealed to the curious.
In justice to the memory of Sarah Ora
ham, loving wife and dear mother.
whose life was sacrificed at the altar of
Hecate. We subscribe ourselves.
CITIZENS OF GREEN COUNTY. Mo
To SHERIFF Donneu:
Keep your mouth shut if you recog-
nized any of us, or you will die the
death of dog
Graham's body was cut down about
D O'Clock this morning by the Sheriff
and brought over to Eli Parsons IN
dert liking establishment. There WI;
letter from Cora Lee found ON his
body in which there were many insin-
nations that could only be understood
by the parties interested.
1t is said there were a number of
mystic signs in the letter.