The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-05-05
HANGED BY A MOB.
Graham, thu Wife Murderer, Pays tds Penalty
Of Els ArociOus Crlma
Masked Men Take HIN From the Jail al
Springfield Missouri, and With But
Few PrelimInaries Launched
HIM Into Eternity.

from the West, armed with shotguns and
rifles, and halted on College street, opposite
the jail, which contained George L. Graham,
the wife murderer. All belated pedestrians
who came in their way were ordered to
throw up their hands and commanded to
stand away from the street, which order was
readily complied with. Very soon knocking
was heard at tle door of the Sherif7s
place OF residence, which is in the
same building as the Courthouse, part of
which is used as a Jail. There was the
sound of iron and heavy implements
rafting, and then there followed compar-
alive silence broken only by an occasional
order from the horsemen for spectators to
stand back. In about twenty minutes there
was confusion and busting, which was
caused by the taking of Graham from his
cell and putting him in a wagon Then
there was command Gail ready, 60" and
the procession, consisting OF the wagon con-
tanning Graham and guards, with horsemen
in front and rear. proceeded through the
square and north on Boonville street.
considerable crowd of people followed, but
were ordered to stand back at the peril OF
their lives. They still persisted in following,
many of them exclaiming:
ave want to help you"
''We want to look on, ETC."
By this time il was nearly o'clock.
The mob proceeded with Graham to the
northwest part of the city, where there is
grove beyond the wooden mills, and stopped
at the first suitable tree they came to. As to
what Graham said while on the wagon moth
ing IS known, but spectators were near
enough to hear the mob ask Graham if he
wished to make a confession. He said:
Gentlemen, you all want me to tell the
truth"
There was chorus of loud answers in the
affirmative from all.
He then said that Mrs Emma Molloy and
Cora Lee knew nothing of the murder of
Sarah Graham until February -. This was
the date of the discovery of her body in the
well.
He was asked if he wished to make any
prayer, ana replied:
''No, c. d-n it, Pm not afraid"
Some one offered a brief prayer, after
which the rope was put over t.e limb Of the
tree and his body hauled up. He made no
entreaties for them TO spare him, but went to
his death coolly, and died apparently with
out astruggle. In short time his breath had
fed. The mob and spectators then dispersed
in all directions.
The following notice was pinned to his
BODY:
Arbitrary NOtice.-When the Coroner is in
possession OF this paper, George f. Graham will
be dead, and as little punishment will have been
inflicted if he had been hanged by legal
thority. 1t is matter OF right to the community
and justice TO humanity that we. the Three
Hundred ignore the law in this instance. We
recognize the fact that our criminal statutes are
not equal to all occasions Therefore we have
resolved to remove from midst the worst
criminal who has ever infested our county be-
fore. He gets the benefit OF clergy that we may
hereafter and forever live and be without his
presence ana vicious influence. We heartily vel
come all strangers TO citizenship who are pure OF
purpose and act in good faith, but give this to
the world aSa warning to excOnyicts and MUIR
derers who may hereafter invade our country to
impose credulity. We also give warning
that aDy person or persons OF any rank or station
who dare to discover the actors in tins tragedy
VIII ie surely and speedily dispatched to hell
where all things are revealed to the curious. In
justice to the memory of Sarah Graham. a loving
wife and dear mother, whose life sacrificed
at the altar Of Hecste. we subscribe ourselves.
"CITizENS or GREENE COUNTY MISSOURI"
ITO sheriff Donnell: Keep your mouth shut
if You recognized any of US, or you VIII die the
death OF a dog. p"
Sheriff Donnell tells the following story:
81 was in bed asleep when they came.
Ever since Graham has been in jail for the
murder have had guard who comes on at
midnight and remains until daylight, while
| remain up until midnight myself This
guard is Il. W. Douglas. He was up when
| the mob came. The first thing / knew
! heard them coming in, and as soon as [
could jump out of bed and put ON my pants
! they were passing into the room, holding
/ Douglas tight and fast. Two big fellows
and they were big ones, too-grabbed my
| hands, while two others caught ME behind.
1 never saw so many shotguns and navies be-
fore in my life and they handled chem in a
way that was too careless for comfort. All
/ the men wore cloth masks. One of them
4 sand:
81 want the keys
81 haven got them" I replied.
"There is no use of being foolish about the
business, said the masked party. I'VE are
friends, but we want Graham, and we are
/ going to have him."
''Then they went to the bureau drawer,
where 1 kept the keys, but it was locked.
| They took the key to the drawer from my
wife, and then opening the drawer they took
/ out bunch of keys, and leaving two men to
1 guard me, they took Douglas out with them
and went back to the Jail. l suppose they
4 were gone about five minutes, and when
they came back Douglas came in and gave
me the keys. | didn't see Graham when
they took him out. | should think there
\ were twenty-five IN the room. When they
were ready 10 leave they released me and
skipped
GRAHAM's Confession.
Following are the main points of Graham's
confession, which caused the lynching this
morning. The confession was made Feb-
I ruary IS:
/ walked with her down to the Gulf Depot
and again tried to induce her to 90 up to
Kansas City. L could do nothing with her
4 4 L. -