Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-03-08
THE Pamela TRAGEDY.
Lynching of Young Forsyth For tho MUIR
der and Robbery of Treasurer HllI.

Lynching of Young Forsyth For tho Muir
der and Robbery of Treasurer HILL
LoNGvIEw, Tex, March Last night,
while n ,ws of the arrest of Tom Forsyth.
his confession Of the murder and robbery
of ID. L. Hill, treasurer of Pamela County,
was being flashed over the wires from this
place, quite another scene was being en-
acted at Carthage, which has no tele-
graphic communication. About 400 men
were taxing him out OF jail by force.
Young Forsyth offered no resistance, but
begged to be spas ed death by fire. He
climbed up ladder while both of his
hands were pinioned behind HIM. and at
the word, jumped off, breaking his neck
and dying at the end of the lyncher's
avengng rope. All this was done quicker
than it takes to record it. No masks were
used and the moonlight at ten p. m. shone
as bright as day, disclosing the familiar
features of about 400 of Pamela County's
best citizens. The scene was in the court
yard, right IN plain view of the hotel. After
life was extinct, he was cut down and car
ried by the lynchers to the very spot still
stained with the blood of County Treasurer
ID. c. Hill, and laid down in similar posi-
ton and the mob quietly dispersed and
friends took the young mans remains and
prepared them for the coffin. His body
was taken TO Beckvile for interment. He
confessed to IL. E. Parker, who worked up
the case.
Mr.. Parker's first suspicion was aroused
when he took young Forsyth TO the spot
where Hill was murdered, and from that
time on he left nothing undone 10 find out
where the money was concealed. He first
succeeded in getting young Forsyth to
think he was after the negro. Carter lib
bett, thus luliing all suspicion. He brought
young Forsyth up TO his place ostensibly t.
ehadow Tibbett, whose father lives here.
While here young Forsyth gambled. ana,
beng broke, borrowed money from Mr..
Parker, which he paid back at Carthage
when he returned. The young man contin-
ued TO lose and replenish from the stolen
money each visit, which was closely
watched until the whereabouts Of the
money was located. MIR. Parker wishing
TO locate the silver which Forsyth never
seemed TO resort to, asked HIM If he
could get HIM some silver. as he could not
raise any in town, TO which Forsyth as
scented, and soon was Swallowed to a thicket
in the woods near Carthage. After some
search u broken pine limb was found un-
der whic Oh fresh dirt was discovered. Upon
digging the silver was found and guarded.
Then further developments were waited
till Monday, when the arrest was made,
and the lynchIng deferred by young For
syth making confession in open court The
money was found in Forsyth's trunk in his
room at his fathers. He said he killed
Treasurer Hill while no one else was at the
court house, and burned the money in an
old OUthouse near by, and rode out in the
country to see young lady that evening
Returning late at night, he took the bills 10
his room and buried the silver as stated
above. Forsyth had tried to implicate Car
ter Tibbets, by putting some OF the money
in his yard, and Tibet came near being
lynched.