St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-06-02
STRUNG UP TO A TREE
The Brutal Murderer Of the
Drake Family Lynched
by a Mob.
After Confessing His Crime
He Cheekily Protests His
Innocence.
All Of Gull Rivers Population
Engaged in Fighting a
Prairie Fire.
The Boiler Of the Steamer
Evansville Explodes With
Serious Results.
lpecial to the Globe.

!pecial to the Globe.
VIRoQUA, Wis, June 1.-The muir
derer of the Drake family, which was
committed in the town of Kickapoo,
Vernon county, May "a, has been ap-
pretended and made a full confession
of the horrible deed. His name is
Andrew Grandstaff, hard character
twenty-four years of age, who lives in
the immediate neighbOrhood where the
dastardly crime was committed. He slew
the brakes in the belief that the family
had large amount OF money in their
possession. His confession is to the eff
feet that he went to the house about
O'Clock in the evening, looked in at the
window and then knocked at the door,
when old Mr.. Drake said "COme ill.,"
and he entered asking for drink of
water. He then demanded OF Mr.. Drake
that he give up his money, and the old
man said that he had none, but eX-
pected some soon. This did not satisfy
Grandstatf and he shot Drake twice.
He shot the old lady as she was coming
out of a bed room with a Winchester
rifle in hand. While he was ransacking
the house the two title grandchildren
of the old people got partly out of bed and
recognized him and he cut their Threats
to make sure of removing all trace of
his identity. Officers arrested Grand
staff Oh suspicion last night and brought
him to this city to-day, He made full
confession while en- route here.
Grandstatf was found at shanty in
the back woods. He travelled ten miles
after the murder before morning, and
washed his clothing in the Kick
apoo river, afterward retracing
his steps and discussing the
tragedy with people along the road
Gradstaff has been known as an igno-
rant but cunning and caring semi-deS-
peradO, who made his living as a lum-
herman and hunter. He has been par
ticipant in several ARRAYS, and an
associate of hard characters. Little is
known of his antecedentS except that
was of .illegitimate birth. The people
were greatly excited by the capture, and
the first opportunity. Troops were
promptly ordered out by Gov. Rusk.
At a late hour tonight 1000 determined
men surrounded the Jail, but the
authorities refused to give up the
prisoner. The barbados were broken
down and the officers were over
powered. An hour was spent
in breaking down the steel
cage, and then the prisoner
fought with desperate fury against the
mob that sought to enter. The struggle
did not last long and he was taken out,
bound hand and foot, led to the porch
below and there preparations were made
to hang him. A rope was
PLACED AROUND HIS NECK
and the prisoner was asked what he mad
to say. He protested innocence, but it
was known that he had made a full con-
fesSion in the afternoon, and he was
not believed. The scene at the
Jail is horrible. The prisoner is covered
with blood, having been terribly man.
gled while the steel cage was being bat
tered down. Grandstatf is still in the
halter pleading for his life.
HUNG TO A TREE.
The mob, at 12:45 this morning, hung
the prisoner to tree in front of the
court house, and let him down to see if
he would confess. He will probably
not come to.