Wichita eagle., 1889-09-24
THE GELD FOUND,
But It's Whereabouts for Several Days
Still Mystery.

Still Mystery.
RosALIA, Kan, Sept. 23-The details of
Che mob trial and lynch law of Alonzo
Edwards anG his wife Mary at Rosalia,
Kan, are of the most rev olting character
aud reveal story of inhuman treatment
seldom met with even in the administpa-
tion Of border justice. Mr.. and Mrs. Ed
wards and Henry Bioomer and wife were
engaged as farm hands on the farm OF
George Dudley three miles from kosalia.
Last Tuesday Mrs. Edwards was left in
charge Of the house while the rest OF the
Eaim hands we're sent to the fields
TO work. To her WAS intrEsted the
care of the year old child of
IIr ami Mrs. Bioom9r. 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 most active in the
search aud when the morning came and
no trace of the child had been found she
fell exhausted in the field and had to be
carried to the house Not until today did
and only then when the good news was
brought to her that her child mad 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 country had been aroused and fully
] 600 men, women and children had Joined
the party. Thursday night the crowd was
organized in definite manner and placed
four feet apart. The whole country was
tramped over for fully two miles in every
direction.
THE EDWARDS SUSPECTED.
During all this time Mr.. and Mrs. Ed
wards displayed an Indifference to the
child's fate that aroused suspicion, and
they were questioned closely. Their an
swers seemed to be indefinite to the eX-
cited people and they were taken In
charge by the mob and arrested under
lynch law. The mob divided itself into
parties. One took charge OF Mr.. Edwards
snd the other was given the wife. Mrs
Edwards is n large woman of emotional
character, and when commanded to con-
Tess the crime, under penalty of being
hanged il she did not. she finally said she
bad killed the missing child. She had
thrown a stick of firewood, she said, at a
rat in the kitchen and had hit the child by
mistake, killing it instantly. and had
n.
10 lead the party To the place where the
body had been thrown. She went to a
place about half mile distant from the
house and indicated ii 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.
THE WOMAN ALMOST sTRANGLED.
She was told the fate that awaited her if
she did not tell where the body of the dead
rhid was to be found. She re-
pcated her former statement. Then
Size was given an opportunity to offer
Irayer and was drawn up from the
ground. She was allowed to remain sus-
pended in the air for a minute until her
iace became black from impending strang-
ulation. She was then lowered to the
ground in an unconscious condition.
When she revived sufficiently to speak
the was asked if she was ready to tell the
truth. IF you are not, the leader said,
y on will be hanged the next time until
you are dead; 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
sgain fastened the rope about her
peck and she was again suspended
in the air. This time she was permitted
ID remain longer anu when cut down she
MRS more dead than alive. The mob was
npout to hang her a third time when
Iloomer, the father CT the missing child,
futerferred and persuaded the mob TO de-
slst only. however, because il Mrs. Ed
wards life should be taken the body of the
child could not he found. Mrs. Edwards
wss then taken 10 the house and placed in
charge OF guard. In the mean
time that part OF the mob
which had Edwards in charge
had attempted to eNtort q confession from
him. He protested his innocence He.
TOO, was hanged from limb of q tree and
cut down. Still be maintained that he
was innocent Again he was strung M
aud again cut down. He could net be
made to confess.
LYNCHlNG HOURLY THREATENED.
Friday night the prisoners were brought
to this city and placed in the jail under
guard OF the sheriff From that time uu-
I'll this morning a mob varying in dimen-
sions from SOC TO 1900 has continually
surrounded the Jail clam0ring FOR the
lives Of the accused The sheriff
parricaded the doors and arming himself
and Jailors kept the mob at bay.
THE CHILD ALIVE AND WELL.
Early this morning the missing child
was found alive ana we'll sitting on the
doorstep OF i farm house near Rosalia
Where it had been all the time is a mys-
tery. IL is too young TO speak plainly and
ran give no account OF itself Il
is supposed that it was kidnapped and
returned when II was found what
excitement its disappearance was causing.
When the news of the finding % the child
was brought TO the city the mob could not
be made TO believe its truth until the child
itself was produced and recognized by the
mother as her own. MIR. and Mrs. Ed
wards were then released. They are still
suffering from the effects o. their harsh
treatment. The marks of the rope where
IL had cut into their necks are pla My visi-
be ana Indicate the suffering they must
have endured. An attempt will he made
TO prosecute the leaders OF the mob.