The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-09-25
INHUMAN WORK OF A MOB.
TWO INNOCENT PERSONS TORTURED.
The Details of the Mob Trial Under Lynch
Law of AIonzo Edwards And His
Wife ReVealEa Most Revolving Story
The Missing Child Found.

KANSAS CITY, Sept. pa special to the
Times from Eldorado, Kas., says the details OF
the mob trial under lynch law of Alonzo Ed
wards and his wife, Mary. at Rosalia, Kas., are
of the most revolving character and reveal a
story Of inhuman treatment seldom met with
even in the administration of border justice.
Mr.. and Mrs. Edwards and Henry BloOmer
and wife were engaged as farm hands on the
farm of George Dudley, ten miles from Rosalia.
Last Tuesday Mrs. Edwards was left in charge
of the house while the rest Of the farm hands
were sent to the fields to work. To her was
intrusted the three-year-old child of Mr.. and
Mrs. Bloomer. When the party returned to
the house for supper in the evening the child
was missing. Search was instituted and
no trace of the child could be found.
The nearest neighbors were summoned TO join
in the search and all night they tramped over
the fields. Mrs. Bloomer was active IN the
search and when the morning came and no
trace of the child had been found, she fell ex-
hausted in the field and had to
be carried to the house. Not until
to-day did she recover sufficiently TO
rise from her bed and only then when
the good news was brought to her that her
child had been found alive and well. All day
Wednesday and Thursday the search was kept
up and still no trace OF the child was found.
By this time the whole county had been
aroused, and fully 1000 men, women and chill
dren had joined the party, Thursday nightthee
crowd was organized in definite manner and
placed four feet apart and the whole country
was then tramped over for fully two miles in
every direction.
During all this time Mrs. and Mr.. Edwards
displayed an indifference TO the child's fate that
aroused suspicion, and they were questioned
closely, and as their answers seemed to be
indefinite to the excited people, they were
taken in charge by the mob and arrested under
lynch law The mob divided itself into two
parties-one took charge of Mr.. Edwards and
the other was given the wife. Mrs. Ed
tional character, and when commanded
to confess the crime under penalty of
being hanged if she did not, she finally said
she had killed the missing child. She had
thrown a stick of frewood, she said, at rat
i'm the kitchen and had hit the child by mis-
take killing it instantly. and had thrown the
body in the creek. She was told to lead the
party to the place where the body had been
thrown. She went to place about half mile
from the house and indicated it as the right
place.
The creek was dragged but Mrs Edwards
statement could not be verified. She was taken
to the nearest tree and rope placed around
her neck. She was told the tate that awaited
her if she did not tell where the Oody of the
dead child was to be found. She repeated her
former statement. Then she was given an op-
pOrtunity to offer prayer and was then drawn
up from the ground. She was allowed
to remain suspended in the air for
a minute until her face became black from i'm
pending stranguatiOn. She was then lowered
TO the ground in unconscious condition.
When she recovered sufficiently to speak, she
was asked il she was ready TO tell the truth.
"If you are not" the leader said. you will be
hanged the next time until you are dead and
your husband will be burned at the stake"
The poor woman was actually too badly
frightened To speak, and, assuming her silence
to be voluntary, the mob again fastened the
rope about her neck and she was again sus-
pended in the air. This time she was per-
mitted to remain longer and when cut down she
was more dead than alive. The mob was about to
hang her a third time when Bloomer, the
father of the missing child, interfered and
persuaded the mob TO desst, only, however,
because If Mrs. Edwards life should be taken
the body of the child could not be found. Mrs.
Edwards was then taken to the house and
placed in charge of guard.
In the Meantime that part of the mob which
had Edwards in charge had attempted to extort
a confession from him. He protested his in
nocence He. too, was hanged from limb of
a tree and cut down. Still he maintained that
he was innocent. Again he was strung up and
again cut down. He could not be made to con-
fess.
Friday night the prisoners were placed in
tile mere. IEOlu ludt AlLlC ullll lHlo luOIn-
ing mob varying in numbers from 800 to 800
has continually surrounded the Jail camoring
flor the lives of the accused. The sheriff barri-
caded the doors and arming himself and Jail
ers, kept the mob at bay. Early this morning
the missing child was found alive
and well, sitting on the doorstep
of farmers house near Rosalia. Where it
had been all the time is mystery. 1t is too
young to speak plainly and can give no account
of itself. Ii is supposed that it was kidnapped
and returned when it was found what excite
ment its disappearance was causing.
When the news of the finding of the child
was brought to the city the mob could not be
made to believe its truth until the child itself
was produced and was recognized by its moth
er as her own. Mr.. and Mrs. Edwards were
then released. They are still suffering from the
effects of their harsh treatment. The marks of
the rope where it had cut into their necks are
plainly visible, and indicate that their suffering
must have been great An attempt will be
made to prosecute the leaders of the mob.