The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-17
A H1eH.rosED LYsoHrNa BEE.
All the Best People of Fort Collins Termed
out TO See q Wife-slaYer Hanged.

All the Best People of Fort Collins Turned
Out to See Wife-SIayer Hanged.
Fort Collins COLI Dispatch to Denver Republican
The lynching of j. H. Howe last night pricked
the bubble of public suspense and excitement.
and to-day feeling Of relief pervad~d he COM
munity. It is singular fact that there is little
conflict of opinion to the proprlety of the
awful deed which launched human soul from
time into eternity. Unlike similar occasions,
uAually-where the law and-order elements of
society favor upholding the dignity OF the law
and allowing courts OF justice to assume the
responsibility of deciding the matter. the aggra-
waited and causeless nature of this case was so
evident that the outraged people took justice in
to their own hands
Not only laboribg men aud merchants. but
professional men. doctors. lawyers and clergy
mrn. strange a. It may appear. attended the
the exception of the sheriff and bis posse. the
execution of the nnwrittsn warrant
A meeting of citizens was held early in the
evening in vacant business room on Linden
street, whsrs the murder and the details for the
Iyncning we're discussed and the plans fcrmu-
lated Shortly after o'clock the electric lights
were extingniehed by disconuecting the wire
from lamp. and this was the signal for opening
the chastity programme. Sheriff Davy appre-
hended trouble. He had guards stationed about
the Jail and FIVE or six men of nerve within. but
the attack sudden and the darkness 80
intense that resistance impossible.
About thirty men advanced 1T double-quick
across Oak street to the front door of the stone
Jail. and, while three or four pinioned the burly
sheriff the balance forced the outside door. and
In TWO minutes they had broken the huge lock
which fastened the strong door Of the jail
the attacking party had all the necessary
tools, and their entrance was almost unimpeded.
AS Howe heard the doors being broken down no
cried for mercy, and continued his beseeching
till at the sraEold- AS his cell door opened no
walked into the arms of his exeeutioners, who
speedily bore him 10 the rear of the new court
house, where stands a scAffold about 30 feet
high, used for hauling up mortar for the work
men. A rope dangled from the pulley. just as
it had been left by the masons Howe was
placed under it. hia feet and hands pinioned and
q moose adjusted about hiR neck in less time
than it takes describe it.
At this juncture voice cried: Let him
speak," As the opportunity given he only
said: ..Gsntlemeu. once more ask You TO spare
my lifsr His request was crested with howl
Of derision, and a moment later he leaped into
the air as two scores OF strong arms tueged &C
the further end of the rome He kicked and
drew himself up three four times. and several
minutes elapsed before life extinct. The
body cur davn and taken to the hose house,
which crowds visited to view the body during
the day.
The poor wife's remains lie at under
takers Raiph's and many have been attracted
thitner 10y morbid curiosity. az also TO the srena
OF the tragedy. where the lIfe-biood of Howe's
victim stains the carpet. doorsll. gate and fence
for thirty feet
Probably no community IN the West lie more
disposed to be la~-abiding and peaceabs than
Fort Collins, bnt the extreme cruelty and need
lesanefs OF Howa's act so inhamed the public
mind that resistance was useless. Possibly
after few days elapss and sober accom- q