The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-07-01

Village Marshal Convey of Detroit Muir
dered by William keIIeher, Alias big
Red'-A Mob Breaks into the Jail Takes
the Murderer Out to IL Grove and Strings
Him Up.
Detroit Becker Coz Special 23d.-Joim
Convey, marshal OF this village, was in
stantly killed by IL shot through the heart
fired by Il gambler and runner OF a house of
i'll fame named William Kcllehcr, alias
Big Red, at l::iO o'clock this morning. y
row between gamblers had been in prog
ress all the evening, and hard blows had
been exchanged. Finally Il number OF
them were standing in front of the Masonic
block, when Big Red drew his revolver
and shot at another gambler named Frank
Bennett who quickly lodged and the shot
struck tho sidewalk Marshal Convey,
who was standing near, started Tor Big
Red, who as quick ~ he saw the move
mcnt brought up his sell cocker and fired
at Convey. Convey threw up his hands
and exclaimed, My God, I'm shot and fell.
Big Red" ran around the corner and dis
appeared before the astonished special ors
could realize what had happened. Doctors
were called, but Convey never breathcd
after lie dropped. County Attorney Brown,
Sheriff Phinuey and Constable Aorcros6
were aroused and a reward OF 5000 being
offered kilograms were sent in alldlrectIonS
and parties detailed TO scGur the country.
Messrs. Foster and Bontell, who had been
detailed to watch Red s. house, while pa
trolling discovered their man asleep in the
brush, captured him and locked him up in
iail. At 10 Il. III. Coroner Hanson empan-
eled Il Jury, consisting OF some OF the best
citizens, who, after hearing the direct evil
dence and doctors report OF the port NOR
TEN examination, brought II virdict that
the deceased came to his death by II shot
fired by William kelleher, with malice
aforethought. John Conveys father and
mother live in Rochester, Mimi, and II tele
gram being sent there they answered to
send the remains to Rochester, which Will
be done. Convey was unmarried, but en-
gagged to an estlmaDle young lady living
south OF town.
All day gangs of citizens have throngcd
the sidewalks talking i'll quiet, but earnest
tones and men were on the watch around
the court house to see that Red is not
spirited away by the sheriff to another
county, the sheriff fearing Il lynching.
large number of friends of Convey from the
surrounding towns came i'll. Every one
conversed in quiet tones, and no noise or
confusion was heard. AS the clock struck
the lights in every saloon went out. At 10
o clock the silence was broken by the clan5
OF the large bell OF the engine house, and III
less time than it takes to chronicle 1T the
three doors to the court house were sur
rounded bv a crowd led by few men with
handkerchieis tied over their faces. \ few
heavy blows from Il sledge and the rear
door fell and the window irons Knocked in
to splinters the inside door, and
nothing but the sheet iron cells
we're between the mob and their
victim. Red was in plain view and beg
ged the crowd to shoot, but they paid no
attention to him. A delay occurred here,
as the leaders had every thing provided eN-
cept the necessary light to See how to work.
Sheriff Phinney, who is IL small man, strus-
gled hard, but was ovcrpowered. The mob
now became impatient at their slow prog
ress as the matches did not last long. One
OF the hardest work ers struck at the sheriff
with Il chair but Il cooler man stopped the
blow and the striker fell over into Il tub.
The sheriff, at this stage, seeing that it was
impossible to save the man, sent for his dep
uty and handed over the keys. One turn OF
the lock- a wild rush, and big Red, y with
a rope around his neck and twenty men at
the other end, started on his last earthly
run. The leaders dragged him full quar-
ter Of a mile to Il grove OF trees, followed by
800 men on the dead run, and on arriving
IL nimble youth climbed Il tree, and tho
poor wretch, without Il PRAYER CT GOOD
word, was pulled up. As soon as the rope
was fast IL dozen revolver shots were fired
into his body. 1t is impossible to say
whether there was much life in him when
strung up, as such was the speed at which
he was carried along that part OF the time he
was dragged rather than ran. Twenty
minutes later the town see med deserted