The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1886-01-21
HOLLY Epps LYNoHHD.
A Masked Mob Batter Down tho Doors
OF the gincennes Jaii-Thc Murderer
Dragged From Bed and Hanged

TO Tree.
VNoESEEs, IND, January 1e.-Holly
'Epps, the foul murderer Of farmer Dobson,
has expiated his terrible crime at the hands
Of Judge Lynch, and bis worthless black
carcass hangs suspended In the Courthouse
yard at this hour q o'clock a. m.) At
about 1880 tonight. crowd of masked
men, numbering from twenty to thirty,
carrying sledge hammers and various
other implements, were seen marching like
silent spectres through the suburbs OF the
city down Sixth street toward the jail.
The masks were nothing more than bandana
handkerchiefs, but each face was so care
fully covered that Identification was
Impossible, They marched steadily and
silently down Seminary street, then down
Seventh. and reached the Courthouse yard.
Here they saw two policemen. The leader
OF the gang approached those official dig.
nitaries OF the peace and welfare Of the
sSs 20 ba% snd orassss Ssss
peared as suddenly as II by magic. Sta
tioning masked sentinels at each corner Of
the jail yard, the greater part OF the gang
entered the jail yard and walked stealtbily
up toward the portico OF the Sheriffs resi-
dence. Not a sound could be heard. The
lynchers stood back, while the leader
Knocked on the door. Sheriff Seddlemyer
came 20 the door, but would not open IL.
After parleying with him, for some time,
one OF the crowd struck the pine door with
q large sledge hammer, In two or three
teis and literally knocked of its hinges.
Entering the hallway, the lynching
party struck light, rushed into
the parlor, grabbed Sheriff 6eddlemyer
and pushed him In an adjoining room,
slammed the door In his face, and gruffly
ordered him 70 keep quiet and stay in his
for the huge iron doors and commenced
their work OF batteriDg them down. This
was the most difficult part OF the whole
performance, and fully half an hour
elapsed before they succeeded In loosening
the locks enough TO admit them They
had come prepared, and really gained an
entrance before those outside anticipated.
They entered the inclosure, soon got into
Epps' cell, and grabbed the black fend by
his woody head, and unceremoniously
jerked him from his bed The black wretch
yelled and howled like a maniac at first
sight OF the strong men who had come to
take his life but slap In the mouth ST.
lenced him, and as they dragged him into
the gasiight In the hallway of the jail 10
seemed almost certain that he had turned
white. They marched him out into the
street, tied Q rope around bis neck and
jerked him along on the ice and snow, conn
pelling him TO walk on his frozen feet, un-
III they reached the Courtrhouse. yard, o
few yards off. Here they entered, and 70
the nearest tree they went and threw the
rope over a strong limb, and jerked the:
murderer up with s,yo he,r where
he was suspended between earth
and sky. Epps kicked and squirmed,
aud grabbed hold OF the, rope
above him, but the lynchers knocked bis
hands away, and would not let him relieve
himself His groans were terrible to hear.
and shocked the SPECTATORS beyond meas
ure. At :l5 a. m. Epps was pulled up, and
for fully fifteen minutes he struggled for
life, when death came 10 his relief. He was
strnngied, and as be hangs now In the
spectacle ofthe vengeance Of Judge Lynch.