Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-05-06
GRAHAM LYNCHED.

The Bigamous Wife-Murderer Taken From
Jail by Masked Mob and Hung to
Tree--He Reiterates To the Last the In.
nocence of Cora Lee and Mrs. Molloy q
Participation or Guilty Knowledge.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo-, April 27.-Shorth
before two O'Clock this morning a mob OF
about one hundred masked men rode into
the city from the west and took posi-
ton on College street directly opposite
the Jail, where George E. Graham, the
wife-murderer, was confined. They were
heavily masked and armed with shot
guns, rifles and reyolvers, and promptly
halted all persons approaching, COM
handing them to throw up their hands
and stand or clear the streets. A deputa-
ton forced an entrance to the room of
Sheriff Donnell, which is in the Jail build
ing, and demanded the keys, which were
refused.
Two men held the sheriff while another
party went to the bureau, the drawer of
| which was locked. They then took the
| key from his wife, and opening the draw
er, found bunch of keys. Leaving
Sheriff Donnell in charge of guard they
went to the jail taking the guard whom
they had compelled to accompany them
to the sheriff's room, along with them.
In less than ten minutes the door to Gra-
hams cell had been unlocked. rope had
been placed about his neck and he was
outside in the hands of the mob. He
was hurriedly placed in a wagon and
driven to grove in the northwestern
part of the city, stopping at the first ac-
OmmOdatin0 tree that offered
Graham being given an opportunity to
talk reiterated his statement that neither
Mrs. Emma Molloy nor Cora Lee knew
any thing about the murder of Sarah Ora
ham until after the discovery of her body
in the well Oh February 20.
When asked if he wished to make prayer
he replied: "No, Cd it. I'm not
afraid.'
A brief prayer was offered, however, by
some one in the crowd, after which the
rope was thrown over a limb and the
body pulled up. He made no appeal to
the mob for mercy and died apparently
without a struggle, death ensuing in a
very short time.
Sheriff DOnnell, who, with his night
guard, rode with the party on the wagon
to the place of execton, made a strong
appeal to the mob to allow the law to
take its course, arguing that Graham hav-
ing 1ully confessed MS CRIME, II was only
a question of a short time when he would
be punished in accordance with law and
the good name of the people of Spring
field be vindicated. His appeal, how
ever, had no effect beyond causing Il brief
delay.
Pinned to the body was the following
notice.:
ARBITRARY NOTICE.
When the coroner is in possession Of this
paper Geo +. Graham will be dead, and
little punishment will have been inflicted as
if he had been hanged by legal authority. 1t
is matter of right to the community and
justice to humanity that we, the ''rhree
Hundred,' ignore the law in this instance
We recognize the fact that our criminal
statutes not equal to all occasions
Therefore, we have resolved to remove from
our midst the worst criminal who has ever
infested our county. He gets the "benefit of
clergy" that we may hereafter and forever
live and be without his presence and vicious
influence. We heartily welcome all stran-
gers to citizenship who are pure of
purpose and act in good faith. but
give this to the world warning
to ex-convictS and murderers who may
hereafter invade our county to impose on
our credulity. We also give warning that
ton who dare to discover the actors in this
tragedy will be surely and speedily dis
patched to hell where all things are revealed
to the curious In justice to the memory of
Sarah Graham, a loving wife and dear moth
er, whose life was sacrificed at the altar of
Hecate, we subscribe ourselves
CITIZENS OF GREENE COUNTY, Mo.
To SHERIFF DONNELL-keep your mouth
shut if you recognized any of US, or you
will die the death of dog.