The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-09-27
LYNCH-LAW INJUSTICE.
NARROW ESCAPE OF AN lNNO
CENT MAN AND WOMAN.
Hanged Ia Make Them Confess "a Crime
They Had Not Committed-A Child sup
posed to Have Reen Killed by Them
Found Alive and Wen.

KANSAS CITY. Mo-. September PA
despatch 10 the TnIEs from Eldorado
Nan. SAYS that the details Of the mob iria
under lynch law of AlOnZo Edwards and
his wife Mary. at R0salia. kans. are of th'
most revolving character. and reveal u
story OF inhuman treatment seldom met Will
even IN the administration of border Justice
Mr. and Mr.. Edwards and Henry Bloom.
cf and wife were engaged a. farm hands on
the farm Of George Dudley. ten miles from
l'osalla. Last Tuesday Mrs. Edwards was
left in charge Of the house. while the farm
hands were sent 10 the field Ia work. f.
her was intrusted the ear Of the thrce-ycar-
0ld child Of Mr. and Mrs. Bloomcr. When
the party returned 10 the house Tor supper
IN The evening. the child was missing
search was instituted. and no trace of the
child could be- found. The nearest neigh
Tors were summoned to join in the search.
and all night they frampcd over the fields.
Mrs. Bloomcr took mn active part. and when
the morning came and no trace of the child
had been found. She fell exhausted in the
field and had 10 be- carried 10 the house.
All day Wednesday and Thursday the
search WAS kept np. By this time one
thousand men women and children had
Joined the party. Dn Thursday night the
crowd was organized in q definite manner
ana placed four feet apart. The whole country
was then irampcd over for fully two miles
n every direction. During all this time Mr.
and Nr-. Edwards displayed an indifer-
ence 10 the child's fate that aroused >ll,-
picion. and they were questioned closely.
and their answers seemed fO be- indefinite tO
the excited people and they were taken in
charge by tho mob aud arrested under the
lynch law. The mob divided itself into two
parties: one took charge of Mr.. Edwards
and the other was given the wife.
Mrs Edwards il a large woman of emo
tional character. and when commanded 10
confess the crime under penalty of being
hanged. she finally said that she had killed
ihc child. Sic had thrown stick of fire
wood. she said. at a rat in the Kitchen. and
bad iii tine child hy mistake. killing il in
~tantly. and had thrown the body into the
creek. she WIS told to lead the party Ia the
place where tho body had been thrown.
The creek WAS dragged. but Mrs. Edwards
statement could not br verified.
>nc WAS taken iO the nearest tree and
rope placed ,round her neck >hcwa told
the fate that awaited her if She did NOT tell
where thr body was. but she repeated her
iounct assertion. Then she WAS given an
opportunity i0 offer PRAYER and was then
drawn nap from the ground. She wa. al
lowed tp remain suspended in the air for a
minute until her face became black from
impending -irangulation. Size WAS then
lowered 90 The ground in an unconscious
condition. When she revived sufficiently TO-
speak. she WAS asked il she was ready iO
tell the truth.
'.lf YOU are not" the leader said. ''you
Will hr hanged the next time until NOu are
dead. and Your husband will be burned al
thc stake" The poor woman was actually
foo badly frightened 10 speak. and a~>uu-
ing beer silence 10 Dee voluntary. the mob
a-ain fastened the rope about hor neck. and
She was again suspended IN the air. This
Time She WAS permitted tu remain longer.
and when ciii down she was moro dead than
alive. The mob was about io hang hcr thc
bird iimr when Boomer the father Of the
mis- in- child. persuaded the mob io de>i~i.
0uly. however. because il Mr.. Edwards
lii. was taken mae body OF the child could
never hr found. N~. Edwards Was then
taken iu the house and placed IN charge Of
"a guard.
I'm ihe meantime that part Of the mob
which lad Edwards in charge attempted 90
'Niurl confession from him. He protested
bis innocence. and he too was hanged from
"a tree and cut down. >till ho maintained
Dat he was innocent. Again he WAS strung
'p and again cm down. lIe could moi be-
made t0 confess.
On Friday night the prisoners were placed !
n the Jail. From that time until Yesterday |
nornn. "a mob VARYING in numbers from
500 to 800 has continually surrounded the |
ail. clam0rimg for the lives of the accused. !
lhe sheriff haFficaded ihe doors, and aIn- |
n- himself and the iailcrs. kept them at
l1l.
Early Yesterday morning the missing |
.hild WAS found alive and well. sitting ON !
he doorstep Of farmer near R0salia. |
" here 10 bad been an the time j. my--
cry. II was unable 60 speak plainly and /
'an give no account OF itself II j. SLIP /
posted That it Was kidnapped and returned /
when ID wa, found what excitement it~ div |
appearance was causing. When the new, /
If the finding Of the child was brought 10 /
hc city. tine mob could not bee made 10 be- /
iesc the truth until the child itself was pro- /
lucod and was recognized by iis mother a. /
irr own.
Mr.. and Mrs. Edwards We're then re- /
eased. They are sill suffering frem the /
fleets of their harsh treatment. The marks /
If the rope where il had cat intsjhcir nccks
lre plainly visible. and indicate that their /
ullcring- must have been great. An al /
empl viii hc make ia prosecute the leaders /
II The mob