The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-12-22
LYNCHING
Of Mussell for the Murder
Of Christinan.
HE PLEADS HIS INNOCENCE.
After the sparrows Comes Rabbits
The Perils OF the Deep-A
Bad Baptist.
Eager to Lynch n Murderer

CIScISSATI, December PA Green
castle, Ind, dispatch says: William
Mussell the murderer Of Daniel Christ.
man, at Eaton, Ohio, on the TIN instant,
was arrested here and has admitted his
! identity, and that he has worked for
ChriStman, but denied the crime. de
/ Is 10 be sent TO Eaton to-day.
Another special from Eaton. Ohio.
says that William Mussell arrived there
about noon, and created the widest
! excitement. The officers got him
| quickly into carriage, and drove
rapidly to the Jail. hut found there a
crowd OF men yelling Kill him ?"
Shoot him." \ rush was made for
the prisoner, but the officers drew their
revolvers aud Kept the mob back
Another effort 10 get him was made
after Mussell was placed in the Jail, but
1t Jailed for lack of organization. The
crowd fingers about the Jail.
THE LYNCRISG ACCOMPLISHED.
The Commercial Ga-ette's Eaton, Ohio,
special says: The lynching of VIM.
Mussen was fully determined on and all
the details were arranged this after
noon ut a meeting held in the city, to
which only trusted men were admitted
and which was made up of the heaviest
taxpayers and best men of the place.
! Four of the best friends Of the sheriff
were detailed to peacefully call on him
at the proper time and hold him q
! prisoner. Arrangements were made
/ for cold chiseis, sledges and rope. Soon
after O'Clock the sheriff was captured
and held prisoner in the woodshed.
a - az 10
the Jail followed by the hOoting crowd
The jail doors we're soon broken, and
| the leaders were quickly in Mussell's
| cell. de answered to his name, but
when asked IL he had killed Caristman
he denied il. He refused to say anything
! further, but said: IF you are going 20
1 hang me, be quick about it." The men
sent for some one to identify him, and
this being done, the rope was put on
his neck, and he was led TO the electric
tower, in the principal part of the town,
where he was given an opportunity to
confess. he declared his innocence,
and asked that his body be buried, and
that his coat and letters be given 10 his
wife. The leader then gave the order to
/ pull the rope, one end of which had been
/ thrown over the beam of the tower and
was in the hands Of several stalwart
men. Just then a call for silence was
made and a hush fell over the crowd in
4 expectation OF a confession, but Mus
set again said he was innocent. Pull
| the rope" was the order, and in an
/ instant Mussell's body was dangling in
the air. At this sight the crowd gave
vent to its delight Dy hand-clapping
and cheers. The body was left hang
/ ing an hour, during which time
hundreds of women and children gath
cred about to see il. Ii was
then cut down and given 10 the
undertaken. Mussslls crime was the
I killing OF Daniel Christman, an aged and
I respected farmer, living near Eaton,
and the attempted killing Of Mrs.
! Christman, on the night OF December
7th. Mussell had besn employed that
day by Craftsman to do some work,
and after going 10 bed al night got up
and went out, Christman, becoming
anxious, went out after him. Mrs
Christman then saw Musseli strike her
husband dead with an axe He came
| 10 the house, and beating her to inseH-
I sibility, robbed the house OF few dol
I lars, set the bed on FIRE and fled. Mrs.
I Christmsn recovered and put out the fire
aud is still living.