Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1886-01-27
LYNCH Law.
A Murderer Taken from jail at Vim.
ccnnes, Ind, and Hanged to
Tree.
lvinsennss ind. ] specisl.1

lVincennes Nnd) speciaL1
Holly Epps, the black-skinned and black
hearted wretch who murdered Mr.. Dobson,
of Greene County, on the night Of the 1lth
of January, paid the penalty Of death this
morning at the hands Of an infuriated mob,
who came from Greene County, forty miles
distant, to stretch the negros neck 1t was
! o'clock when the leader Of the mob, which
was composed OF no moro than fifteen nervy
men, raped at the door of Sheriff Scddie-
meyers residence. The moon was shining
brightly, and the figures Of the men in masks
As they took their positions at different cor
ners of the house were weird scene to be-
hold. In response to the rap the Sheriff
came to the door and asked what Was want
he laplaax ll;a 81 natxo1
open the door, and mean every worn ~
say"
seddlemcyer said: Gentlemen. l viii
not open it.
well, then, we will batter it down, re-
joined the leader, in clear aud emphatic
tone. "Are you going To open it?"
"No," cried the Sheriff.
@Get ready. boys, commanded the leader.
"One, two, three, look out inslde,r and
with q crash heavy sledge- hammer was
hurled against the fragile wooden door by .
stalwart vigilante, and the mob was in the
main corridor leading to the iron door which
stood between the fiend and his fate. Ham,
mers and cold chisels were brought into
requisition, and just fifteen minutes from
the time the mob demanded entrance the
last blow was struck, and the ponderous
lock of the iron door fell to the floor. II
seemed but the work of few seconds until
the murderers cell was vacated and the rope
placed about his neck. He was then led
out OF the Jail by the mob, and for the first
time since his incarceration walked unaid ID.
The viglantes led him over the icy ground,
about fifty yards from the Jail, and. after
passing from the courtyard, led him un-
der maple tree. with a limb designed Tor
a rope. 1t seemed that Epps was spirit!sss
during the whole time. The mob as's i
him no question:, and the vile wrctch Il 4
not attempt to open his mouth. He was
perfectly resigned to his fate. The
rope was thrown over the limb of
the tree, and the murderer's carcass was
hauled up. Scarcely word escaped thu
lips Of ANY member Of the mob. The still
ness was disturbed only by the gurg'ing
sound in the negros throat-the deah-
rattle-which grew fainter and fain ei
as the rope tiek;ened around his
neck. In twelve minutes from the time his
feet left the ground he wns dead man.
| The mob was quiet and orderly, but more
determined set Of men never undertook to
storm jail. A great many citizens, who
got wind of the contemplated attack, we're
on the scene as spectators, but there was no
attempt to modest the mob eitherby citizens
or officials. The PLAZA to take z ps
back to Greene County had already been
arranged. Prosecuting Attorney Axtell, OF
| Greece County. arrived here SUNDAY noon
10 arrange for the preliminary trial. A se-
cret conference was held In the parlors of
Sh riff Seddlemeyer's residence, and lot a
living soul except the officers knew Of the
| programme that was there mapped out.
A correspondent, however, learned Of
it, The programme arranged was as
follows: Sheriff Saddlemavar aud Prosa-
cnting Attorney Axtell, together with TWO
| deputy sheriffs. were 70 take thesmu'sl ssex
out Of Jail this morning at o'clock and 81
cort him direct to the nor h. Bound passen-
| Ger train on the Indianapolis and yilcenncs
Rnilroah