The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1886-01-21
BROKE HIS NECK
Mr.. Epps Meets With an
Accident.
Result of Stretching Rope With
His Full Weight.
Fifteen Merry Men Help to lie
The Fatal Knot.
Coming Forty Miles to Give the
Deceased the Needed Chance.

Coming Forty Miles to Give the
Deceased the Needed Chance.
ssaV1NcENNEs, IND, January 49,
Holly Epps, the black-skinned
and black hearted wretch who
murdered Farmer Dobson, of
Greene county, on the night of
the 11th, paid the penalty of
death for his damnable deed this
morning at the hands of an infa-
rated mob, who came from
Greene county. forty miles dis
tant, to stretch the negro's neck.
1t was one o'clock when the
leader Of the mob which was
composed of no more than fifteen
nervy men, raped at the door
of Sheriff Seddlemeyer's resi-
dence. The moon was shining
brightly, and the figures of the
men in masks, as they took their
positions at different corners OF
the house, was a weird scene to
behold.
In response to the rap
the Sheriff came to the door
and asked what was wanted.
The leader replied: "We want
you to open this door, and mean
every word we say" Seddle-
meyer said: "Gentlemen, will
not open it,
"Well, then, we will batter it
down." replied the leader, in a
clear and emphatic tone. care
you going to open its"
mop cried the Sheriff.
"Get ready, boys!" command
ed the leader. "One, two, three!
Lookout lnsde," and with a crash
a heavy sledge-hammer was
hurled against the fragile wood
en- 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. Hammers and coal
chisels were brought into requl.
sition, 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.
It seemed but the work of a
few seconds until the murderer's
cell was invaded and the rope
place securely about his neck
He was then led out of the Jail
by the mob, and for the first
time since his incarceration he
walked unaided.
The vigillantes led him over
the icy ground about fifty yards
from the Jail, and entering the
Court House yard, led him under
an immense maple-tree with a
limb designed for a rope. 1t
seemed Epps was speeches. du
ing the whole time. The mob
asked him no questions, and the
vile wretch did not attempt to
open his mouth. He was per-
fectly resigned to his fate. The
rope was thrown over the limb
of a tree, and the murderer's
black carcass was hauled up
scarcely a word escaped the lips
of any member of the mob. The
stiffness was only disturbed by
the gurgling sound in the ne
groe's throat, the death rattle,
which grew fainter and fainter as
the rope tightened around his
neck.
In twelve minutes from the
time his feet left the ground he
was dead man. The mob was
quiet and orderly, but a more
determined set of men never un.
dertook to storm a Jail.
A great many citizens, who got
wind Of the contemplated at
tack, were on the scene as spec
tators, but there was no attempt
10 molest the m OBJ either by citi-
zens or officials.
The plan to take Epps back to
Greene county had already been
arranged. Prosecuting Attorney
Axtell, of Greene county, ar
rived here Saturday noon to ar
range for the preliminary trial.
a secret conference was held
in the pallors OF Sheriff Seddle-
meyers residence, and not living
soul except the officers knew of
the programme that was to be
mapped out.
Montana Asking for Admission.