Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1890-08-20
MURDER In NEBRASKA,
A FARMER NEAR ARLINGTON
CRUELTY SHOT DOWN.

the Murderer From jail and Hang Him
History Of the Crime.
One Of the most deliberately planned a.
well as most cody executed lynchings in
the history Of the state was carried out
about mile from Blair shortly before
miduieht Of the 10Th.
1t was just 1850 when . crowd Of
mounted farmers rode into the town, and
were speedily joined BY fully 200 citizens.
No time was lost and they proceeded to
the Jail, where the sheriff and about fifteen
deputies were keeping guard over Charles
Pratt, the murderer of N. r. Iowne.
The sheriff ordered them to stand back
and positively refused to turn over tho
prisoner. The mob was heavily armed,
bat made no demonstsatioas with their
Nespons, The rarlsyiae - u short
duration and the sheriff was overpowered
and his keys we're taken from him.
A rush was made for the cell room and
In an incredibly short time Pratt was
Jerked outside the Jail. He was surrounded
BY the lyncaers, who at once started with
him for small grove about mile from
town. The lynchiug party was led by
Harry Towne, son of the murdered man.
Arriving at the scene of the intended
lyncbing, Towne was given tho privilege Of
tying
Tho Rope About the Murdercr's Neck,
and also OF having the first pull ON the
rope.
Towns was not bashful about accepting
the honors offered, and tied knot that
would have done credit to professional
hangman. The end Of the rope was
thrown over limb and hauled taut.
Pratt was then told If be had anything
to say be had better say it quickly. He
replied that he would say few words if
the rope was loosened little, and then
they might pull away
''Just As Hard as They D-d Please"
The rope was Stacked and Pratt then
stated that he killed Towne and meant to
kill the whole family. He declared that
he came up from Missouri purposcly to do
the job, and firmly intended to kill every
one Of the Towne family. He was sorry
that be had failed. He said he had owned
sfarm near the one owned by the Townss,
and worked hard to make living, but the
Tovns family imposed upon him to such
IN extent that he could not save . cent.
At this juncture some one in the crowd
wanted to know what that had to do with
the girl. Before Pratt could respond the
rope was given q pull, and he was
Jcrked Into tho Air.
He struggled frantically for few sec.
.onds, but the lynchers grimly held his
neck tightly against the limb, ard in two
or three minutes tho lifeless corpss Of the
murderer was swinging lightly to and
fro in the night wind.
Toe rope WAS made fast to tho trunk OF
the tree and the crowd OF vigilantes came
quickly back to town. In about fifteen
minutes the farmers left for their homes,
but little knots Of citizens gathered on the
corners ana discussed the event.
No one was heard to regret the occur.
renee and the general verdict Was one OF
satisfaction.
Tho sheriff. Frank Hartman, followed
the crowd to the scene Of the lynchipg and
was witness to the banging. None OF
the lynchers make any effort to conceal
their identy.
Not mask was worn, and no Iendeavor
was made to keep the affair quiet. The
lyncbers we're determined. and il is not be-
lieved that company OF militia could
have saved Pratt's life.
Pratt stated in Jail in the afternoon that
he had no regrets for what he had done,
and public indignation ran 30 high that il
would have been possible ct uuy time to
have raised crowd inside OF five miautes
to have done the work that was done At
! night.
Tho body OF Pratt was left swinging un.
til this morning.
1t was Just ten minutes before midnight
when Pratt was lynched, and at O'Clock
the town was almost as quiet and peaceful
| as If nothing had happened.
why the Crime Was Committed.
When asked why he did it be said: u
am even now. expect to go to hell and
may - well 20 now as any time"
Pratt talked freely. said he came al the
: way up from Kansas City to kill Towne
| and was not sorry he did Il. He claimed
he had IN old grudge against Towne fol-
the way he Was used when In his employ
| in 1886.
Three doctors sxamined Pratt snd they
all thought he was sane. Pratt said he
came up to Blair on the Sioux City pas
senger, got to Blair at 2 p. M, walked dur
Ing the night ont to Towpe's residence and
reached there IN the morning; saw Towns
and his daughter ont doors, inquired il
that was Towne aud then shot him; said
the girl started 20 sun and scream and be
shot her; said be 6dnt know Why he shot
the girl. - be hadnothing against her.
Il 10 mot known yet whether the aisl will
live o. mot. The doctors fail TO hnd ths
ball. An OMaha physician has bssn sent
Tor.
a.stsry q the Crime.