The St. Johns herald., 1888-08-30
UNLAWFUL HANGING.
Further Particulars of the Hang
 ing of Stett, Scott and Wilson.

ranch, one hundred and fifty head
 of horses and some fifty head of
 cattle. Now sir, does it look req
 sonable that he should be engaged
 in stealing horses? If the parties
 who committed that lynching out
 rage, were justifiable, then why SO
 much pains taken to disseminate
 false reports as to the standing and character of James Stott? Right
 needs no vindication; 'tis the wrong
 that requires a Nemesis. Right stands alone without supp ort-like the sun, it shines unblushingly up on all. On the contrary, wrong must need apologists, and it's agents run hither and tllither, trying to make people think that black is white. If those outlaws lad suifi- cient evidence against those unfor- tunate men to justify their hang ing, surely they had enough to con vict in the courts of law. An, m.
 friends, there were other motives, not the least of which, was person al revenge.
 l am ashamed at the attitude taken by the Prescott papers, that they should lend countenance to outlawry, and give their moral support to the worst of crimes. Yet, with my personal knowledge of John H. Marion, J. c. Martin
 Bucky O'Neil, 1 am sure neither of these gentlemen are guilty of such, through prejudice or spite, but have been basely deceived by persons guilty of the blackest of crimes, and done purposely, on the princi- pie of stop thief.
 The two gentlemen-one from New Hampshire and the other from Los Angeles-who are consumptive invalids and have resided at Mir. Stott's place for months past, both of whom testify to the hcnorabl, and gentlemanly character of Mir. Stott, say of their own knowledge, that Stott never has been absent over night since their adjournment with him, except when at Halbrook purchasing supplies. To See the gray-haired, armless old veteran, and his equally gray-haired wife, father and mother of Stott, who have come all the way from Boston to care for the last that remains ot their son-to see this, and then read the scurrilous reports ill the press, with not a scintilla of truth in their support, is really shocking to all honest citizens of thls coun,y. Who knew Stott better than h.s neigh bors and daily associates? Surely not gang of criminals, themselves outlaws by their own acts. II the friends, neighbors and acquain- tances of Stott knew him to be an honorable man, (Brutus was said to have been "an honorable maI., and upon the same hypothesis, every mothers son of that gang of assassins, were all honorable CD men. 'I had rather be dog and bay the moon," than be class, d with such. how is 1t that mob of con cealed, unidentified, midnight as sassins, know so much more of his business and character?
 Mir. Alfred NJ. Ingham. one of the consunIptive invalids, made q state ment in which he says: "On the morning of the 11th of August, be- fore daylight, and before any one had arisen, an armed party of ZS men, headed by James D. Houck. came to the house of Mr. Stoit; talked with Mir. Houck, and asked him il he had warrants for the par ties; Houck seemed to hcsi tate, and finally said: Yes, but l lett them in my coat pocket at he 'abln where we stopped last night The weather was quite chilly, the alti- tude being high, and it struck me as being rather strange procedure, that if he had warrants and had a coat. that he should leave both be- hind, and travel several miles dur ing the coldest part of the night without coat. I do not believe he, nor any one in the party, had war rant for James Stott." The fore going is the version of an eye wit ness. and of one who cannot be call ed a horse-thief, as he is unable to walk but little, nor can he speak above a whisper. Let the press do \ justice to the memory of the dead {; 1 if they cannot, do not do so much | 1.,,s-