Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-04-25
TAR AND FEATHERS.
Gus Braman Waited on by a
Select Committee.
A TRIP AGAINST HIS WILL.
He is Bound to Telegraph Pole
and DecOrated-Origin of
the Affair.
TRIP AGAINST HIS WILL.

| since the publication OF the Jane
scandal at Long Beach, the residents @
the other side of the bay at San Pedr,
have felt little bit sore to think tha
they should have to take second plac
on any proposition, criminal or otherwise
They got even, though, in the small
hours of yesterday morning. for they sub
jected one of the members OF their com
munity to the process of tarring ans
| feathering.
The affair arose out of a little occur
renee that happened on Wednesday last
On the morning of that day Captain
Koughan, of the bark Lillian, which
last year piled between San Pedro and
Catalina returned home UNEXPECTEDLY
from Santa Barbara. He had gone to
the northern city in his little ship, and
made the passage home again in the
Santa Rosa. Knowing that his wife did
not expect him for several days, be
thought what glad surprise he was
giving her as be opened the unlocked
door and went in to his hearth and
home. The tables were turned COM
pletely on him, however, for he was the
one that got the surprise, and an un-
pleasant one at that. Although the
hour was very early, he found the part
ner of his bosom in loving converse with
Gus Braman, Swedish carpen-
ter, whom he had noticed hanging
around the house for some weeks before.
The skipper demanded an explanation
and was told that Braman, happening to
be on his way to work, had just dropped
in for a minute. 1t was rather lame
excuse, but the mariner had to accept it
for he had no proof that anything was
actually wrong, although matters GER
tainly looked very queer. 1t would sp.
pear, however, that an alteration fol-
lowed, for the next day Braman went to
the District Attorney and made charge
of threatening, with intent to kill, against
Koughan, who, he said, had sworn
that he would have his life's blood.
Meantime Koughan is said to have made
the affair more sensational by attempt
ing
TO COMMIT SUICIDE
By hanging himself to the kitchen raft
ers, but his efforts were foiled, for he
was discovered while at the ropes end,
and cut down and restored to his natural
condition. His reasons for desiring to
find relief from his troubles by getting
out of the world are readily apparent.
He had married his wife in Australia
while on o visit there some three or four
years ago. They came to America, and
settled at first in British Columbia, but
Mrs. Koughan, happening to take trip
to San Pedro, in the "Southern Cali
fornia," she became so enamored
nf thn r1loan hot ohn haonad
her husband to move Edown there.
He acceded to her request, and, pur-
chasing lot on Vinegar Hill, the fiat
overlooking San Pedro, had a dwelling
erected, and started housekeeping.
There was baby in the family, and
this. kept Mrs. Koughan at home good
deal, and Gus Braman, who had formed
her acquaintance, made frequent calls on
her. Captain Koughan placed too much
confidence in his wife to imagine that
there was anything wrong, and it was
the discovery of her treachery that
doubtless induced him to attempt sui.
eide. He had recovered however, in
both mind and body by Tuesday morn
ing last, when he was placed in the box
to answer Braman's charge of threaten
ing to kill. The trial was short and sweet,
resulting in the acquittai of the Captain
in very few minutes.
Braman knew that he had made for
himself good many enemies by press
ing the charge against Koughan, but he
seemed to enjoy the unpleasant notoriety
he had received. When talking,about.the
matter in saloon during the course OF
the evening, he suddenly made the
statement, eyes, have been sleeping
with her, and what is more, boys, there's
four or five more up there that l am
staying with, too"
This remark incensed his auditors,
many of whom were married men living
in the locality he indicated, and there
fore coming under the slur he had cast.
What action they took is best explained
in an account of what transpired few
hours later.
THEIR REVENGE.
Braman, who dwelt in a little house
about mile out of town, was awakened
about midnight by loud rapping at his
door.
"Open up" said a gruff voice, eve are
officers, and have got warrant for your
arrest"
Braman, not daring to resist the law,
jumped from his bed, and lighting q
lamp, threw open his door. In strobe q
dozen men, the foremost of whom held
in his hand paper, from which he read
as follows: "In the name of the Lord,
| it is decreed that you be tied
to pole and tarred and feathered.' y
AS the last words were uttered someone
blew out the light and Braman was sur.
rounded, blindfolded, gagged and his
hands bound behind him. His captora
then led him forth and marched him to
the water front. They stopped on arriv.
ing at telegraph pole directly overlook.
ing the ocean, and to it firmly bound
their prisoner. A couple OF buckets o.
warm coal tar and several feather pillows
were then produced, and Braman was
stripped and prepared for his decorations
One of the vigilantes wanted to com
mence by tarring his head, but this wal
overruled and it was decided to tar hin
from the waist down, When this wal
done, his body was smothered in feath'
ers, and the finishing touches put on by
painting his face with tar, after thI
manner of an Indians war-stripes. TIL,
performance being then over, the actor
| took their departure, leaving BramaI
tied TO the pole, with only the consola
tion that he would be certain not to tax
cold, as his body was too well protected
HE is DISCOVERED.
Just before daylight yesterday morn
ing a couple of the city officials har
lpened along the scene of the ordea
Al