Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-06-04
FOUGHT LIKE A TIGER.
HOW GRANDSTAFF HELD THE VlRo-
QUA MOB AT BAY.

with Club He Defends Himslf for Over
an Hour-Hs Dies Declaring Himself In
nocent, but the Authorities Have His
Written ConfessIon-His Account of tho
Terrible Crime.
VIRooUA, Wis, June 4-The lynching Of
Andrew Grandstaff will be the talk Of the
town for months The sheriff had a dozen
deputies in the jail with him, and at first re-
pulsed the Infatuated mob that assaulted the
Jail Friday night, but they returned to the
charge and overpowered the posse. Then
the mob proceeded to Grandstatfs cell. A
breach was quickly made in the cell door
with a hammer, and then an awful struggle
for life began upon the part of the prisoner.
In some way he had secured large club,
and standing in the breach in the cell door
with club in hand he kept the crowd of vigi-
lantes at hay for ns,re than an hour. Every
attempt to enter or grapple him was met
with blows, and many were the wounded as
sailants who retired from the front The
situation at this time is described as some
thing terrible. 1t was Gagged murderer
fighting for his life, and IL was thought at
one time that he could only be secured by
manning him with bullet. At last, how.
ever, the pressure was so great that mum.
Der of the mob rushed in and managed to
grapple GrandstaR and he was soon secured.
Il rope thrown around his neck and
wounded and bleeding he was led down stairs
to the bowling multitude below. AT the front
entrance of the jail a halt was made and he
was confronted by James Dupee, the father
of the murdered children, who stood like an
avenging Nemesis.
~ am the father of the little children
want you to say if you took the lives of my
two little angels"
Grandstaf with dazed and wild look re-
piled: al was not there. did not kill your
children or know that they were there"
This the mob derided and proceeded to
string him up and let him down twice TO
force a confession from him. He protested
his innocence and the third time he was al
lowed to strangle. Grandstatf made a con-
fession to the officers who arrested him,
Which is as follows:
/ am "a years old and live in the town of Klcka-
poo at Kickapoo Center. / left Jennings place
in the town Of Liberty, about g. a, m, May "a;
went along the ridge through the woods and off
the ridge at MELVILLE, across the river at Gedder
bridge, and across the Kckapoo bottom, and
went on the ridge In the timber and then along
the ridge to the point above Reuben brakes
house got there, j think about, o'clock in the
afternoon of the same day; stad there until dark;
then went down into the bottom and up to the
house; stopped and looked into the window, then
knocked at the door. Drake said, Come
in" / went in and asked him for
a drink of water; took the drink and spoke
few words to him. They called me by name l
asked him if he had any money. He sa.l he had
not Then l drew revolver and told him
wanted his money. He said he did not have any,
but he looking for some. then shot him.
When first came in Mrs. Drake was putting the
children to bed She then went into her own bed
room to go to bed before shot, and after she put
the children to bed just after shot, she came In