The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-18
T,YNCHING IN KANSAS.
Four Cases in the State Within
Twenty-four Hours.

Twenty-four Hours.
A mob at Minneapolis, Kan, took Chubb
Mccarthy, murderer Of Mike Dorsey, from
Jail early the other morning and hanged him
to tree. This was the last of four lynch
ings in the State within twenty-four hours.
The others were Wallace Mitchell, who was
strung to telegraph pole at Syracuse,
and John Risbee and Wyley Lee, negroes,
who died together at Chetopa. The State
law in Kansas in relation to capital punish
ment is peculiar one. According to
the statutes, person convicted of
murder in the first degree is sent to
the penitentiary for one year, and at
the expiration of the period is liable to be
sign the death warrant. No Governor has
ever signed warrant under such circum-
stances, and as result there are fifty-four
mUrderers under sentence of death in the
State prison.
About two weeks 80 Waslace Mitchell as
SaSSinated q man and boy at Syracuse. be
escaped to Colorado, but was captured and
brought back. He confessed his crime with
GOODNESS and deiberation. This so enraged
the citizens that they took Wallace from
the officers, and, dragging him half dead
to the scene Of his crime, hanged him to the
cross beam of telegraph pole and riddlei his
limp body with bullets, The news spread
from village to village and town to town,
throughout the State, and the sentiment Of
the commonwealth seemed to be that lynch
law was the only remedy at hand.
At Minneapolis Chubb Mccarthy was in
Jail awaiting the action of the Grand Jury.
His crime had been most fiendish, and he
had been caught in the very act. There
was no question about his guilt, and
no circumstances tending to extenuate
the crime. At midnight an armed band
numbering 200 silently rode into the
streets of the town. Guards were posted
at the doors Of the residences Of all the
officials, and the streets leading to the Jail
the doors of the prison and the jailer was
compelled to give up the keys to the culpr.ts
cell. The murderer was taken to the bridge
crossing the Soloma River and suspended high
in the air over the swollen stream.
At the same hour at Chetopa another scene
was witnessed. John Risbee and Wyley Lee
had been arrested by the Marshal and his
deputy. In making q desperate attempt to
escape they had shot both officers. The Sheriff
captured them and held them in the City Hall
until the arrival Of thetrain that was to carry
them to the county seat. A turbulent crowd
gathered about the hall At 1880 word was
brought that the deputy was dead and the
Marshal dying. A special guard had been
placed about the building. Suddenly the
electrlc llGnG went OUT. Inc OfncerS
were speedily overpowered by a
quiet but irresistible mob of 300 men.
The prisoners were dragged from under q
table, where they had crawled in a vain
hope of saving their wretched lives. They
begged for mercy. For reply they were
dragged into an adjoining room, the win
placed on the sill Ropes were fastened
to heavy timbers and around their
necks, and against the muzzles of Winchester
rifles they were ordered to jump into the
street. The strong rope was slack, and as
they tumbled from the window they fell a
distance of thirty feet, almost to the ground.
Risbee's neck was broken. Lee strangled to
death. Then the crowd dispersed. The dead
bodies hung from the ropes until 8 o'clock
next morning, when they were cut down by
the Coroner.