The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1888-04-18
4 HIGH LICENSE ARGUMENT.
A Double W hisky Tragedy at Fort
Collins.
Rev. e. G. Harbert, Former West
Nsrginian, sends back from the
West "A Specimen of
High License Fruit.

West a Specimen of
High License Fruit.
Fort COLLINS, COLORADO, |
April z, 1888.
DEAR FREEMAN:
We have just been shocked with
the most terrible tragedy that over
occurred in this city.
A man by the name of James H.
Howe, while in state of intoxice-
ton, killed his wife by cutting her
throat with a pocket knife.
The result of High.license whis-
ky. Another High.license argu-
ment for Prohibition.
A little before o'clock, p. m. Of
Wednesday, April 4th, James H.
Howe, a citizen of this cisy, re-
turning home from the saloons cut
his wife's throat, from which she
died in q few minutes. The muir
derer was arrested by one of the
Sheriff's deputies, and marched of
to Jail, where he was incarcerated.
Great excitement prevailed all the
afternoon, in all parts of the town.
1t was evident by tho converse
ton that plans were icing made
to execute summary vengeance upon
the wife-murderer. About s o'clock
p. m. the electric light wires were
cut, and the lights suddenly extin-
gulshed, when bands of men, some
of them masked, began to gather
from every direction, until there
were about 500 about the Jail. The
Sheriff and his assistants were put
under guard then they proceeded
to break open the jail doors, and in
about 10 minutes the prisoner was
in the hands of the Infatuated mob.
Trembling from head to foot, and
crying piteously for mercy, the
guilty wretch was led to derrick
about 200 feet away, which had
been used for handling large blocks
of stone in the erection of the new
Court House, where, without cere-
mony, he was swung into eternity.
During the excitement which
prevailed, the pastor of the Presby-
terrain Church ran out, and seeing
what was going on, said you
would better hang the saloon-keep-
ers," whereupon, some Of the mob
cried out: "Better hang the preach
ers, and let the Saloon keepers
alone" This is the element nj
society, which breeds lawlessness
and crime ;..and how strange, that SO
many of our preachers and church
members will still vote with
this very class, that would eater
intimate the churches and the preachers
and foster the saloons, Nth all their
corrwptimg and crime breeding IN
fuenceI
When shall the Chrietian con-
science be properly awakened to
the enormity Of this awful curse!
Mr.. Howe and his wife were both
# good families, and brought up
with care. They came to this place
from Fredonia, N. Y, in 1880; he
was a respectable citizen before he
began to visit the saloons. Both
him self and his wife moved in the
best society. until he started on his
downward course. He was mill
wright by trade, and is said to have
been one OF the best mechanics in
in the West. But how quickly
rum ruins all!
Fort Collins, the scene of this
double tragedy, has $1,000 High
License law. This revenue can
never atone for this awful crime;
but it serves to deaden the public
conscience and 80 perpetuate the
Ubiquitous system.
GLOW long, o Lord, how long"
until the Christian men and Wo.
men shall rise up in their righteous
indignation, and in the name and
strength of Jehovah, wipe from the
face of the earth this blacklist and
most damning cursel May God
speed the day when the Saloon
mast and shall gol
Yours for Prohibition, National