Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1890-10-04
THE OLD MAN BEYANT.

THE OLD MAN BEYANT.
A somewhat impressive burlesque
| lynching incident occurred at Section
AZ, three miles south of this city on sun
day, the 2lst inst, in which one Marshal
| McCorkhill, former cook at the rail-
road bording house OF Mrs. King at that
| place. figured as the victim, and
one John Cummings, ahobo boarder. of
Mrs. Kings. as master of ceremonies.
1t appears that McCorkhill, who had
been absent from the camp for some
time, had on this occasion returned for
the purpose collecting a balance due
him from Mrs. King for services render
ed, and that for the purpose OF soaring
him off the premises, Cumming threw a
| rope about his neck and made pretense
| Of dragging him to tree for execution,
| McCorkhill in the mean time making
| frantic efforts to escape, which he finally
succeeded in doing, and with his neck
somewhat lacerated and swollen, he
inade his way through the woods, across
iedges over brush and bramble. 10 this
! city in a state Of excitement bordering
upon insanity, the most thoroughly
| frightened individual imaginable.
Cummins was arrested on Monday and
brought before justice Hitch at this place
to answer for the crime committed, the
trial resulting in fine of ten dollars
and accompanying costs. That's all
CHRONICLE.
That's all" is it2 Well, Mr.. Black
smith, the editor of the Democrat will
give you TO distinctly understand that
you do not know the facts surrounding
the case, and in trying to malign the
editor OF this paper in exaggerating the
case in question, you have failed, not
withstanding that you devote space in
your exceedingly valuable paper and
topping it off by going about the town
boo-hooing that the editor of the Demo-
crat is running down the town. Now,
that you do not know anything authentic
regarding this case, and TO prove it,
firstly, You were not present at the trial,
the Democrat editor was. He has the
evidence, aye, and the very words ut
tered by county attorney Reynolds in
his stenographic note book, which he
will produce at any time. Furthermore,
and based from the EDITORS law practice,
he believes it TO be the most damnable
case on record in fact, there was no
justice connected with il, and you with
such consumated gall shows your ignor-
ance or purpose of shielding some per-
son. In either case you are not excus-
nble. And in trying to shield the mat
ter and classifying the Democrat. it has
forced us TO the conclusion that it was
wrong and lie; therefore, you are,
coward and liar Hills Democrat.
Yes, that's all, and more than all that
transpired at the alleged lynching bee
at section ~, upon which the brilliant
~ editor of the Democrat based a half
column article of the most unadulterat-
ed, sensational rot that eyer appeared in
the columns Of any newspaper ~ in the
history of journalism. 1t now appears,
and is freely admitted by the victim,
that his neck was not encircled by the
deadly moose, but on the contrary,
nothing beyond blow over his head
and neck with rope halter was inflicted.
This much is fully corroberated by At
torney Reynolds, as well as by Justice
Hitch, before whom the case was tried.
The CHRONICLE is assured by Justice
Hitch that this case, over the descrip-
ton Of which the Democrat was so pro-
fuse with its flaming head lines. was of
the most trifling and unimportant char
acter, and that the degree Of prominence
given it bv the Democrats description
was wholly unwarranted by the sur.
rounding facts. We are further assured
by Attorney Reynolds, who conducted
the prosecution of the case, and who is
therefore familiar with all its features,
that the Democrats description did not
contain scintilla oftruth. We are also
further assured by Marshal West, who
made the arrest, and who is also familiar
with every phase Of the case, tina. the
CHRONICLES mention ofthe trifling fair
was substantially correct, and embodied
everything of interest connected there
with. Were it necessary to show the
ridiculous character Of the Democrats
sensational description, we might quote
a column of criticism made in our pres
ence upon the same within few hours
after the hand bill was isssed, but as the
wonderful production is still fresh in
the minds of our readers, it is deem ed
unnecessary.
1t is unnecessary to dwell longer upon
the silly, and we might well say sicken-
ing character of the Democrats exager-
ated and oyerdrawn write-up of the
averred exploits of Judge Lynch, Jr }"
as our readers are already familiar with
it, but in relation to the choice epithets
he is pleased to bestow upon us in clos
ing his mastery ~ comments in his
last issue, We feel that We are fairly
forced, Notwithstanding .our most pro-
nounced aversion to personal newspaper
controversy, to make brief reply.
During our experience as editor Of the
CHRONICLES, covering period of nearly
five years, we have been nnwillingly
and unavoidedly drawn into numerous
controversies, many of which have been
Of the most bitter and disagreeable
character, but We can truthfully say,
that during all these years, neither of
the delectable epithets used by the DEM
ocrat have ever been resorted TO by the
CnRosIcLE, or by any newspaper with
which it has been engaged In the dis
cussion Of any matter, personal or other
wise. Under any circumstances, it is,
to say the least, unpleasant to be called
coward or liar" and in this particular
| instance il il especially so. So far as
the charge of lying is concerned in this
particular instance, the force of the alle-
cation being broken by the evidence
adduced, we are not seriously affected,
but to be called coward under circum-
stances which do not, as in this instance,
bear the elements Of acquittal, il quite
another matter.
Coming to the Black Hills more than
fifteen years ago, when possibly the
now distinguished editor Of the Demo
80 &C., -.