Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-08-22
MURDER IN NEBRASKA
A FARMER NEAR ARLINGTON
CRUELTY SHOT DOWN.,

Ills Daughter Also Shot With Probably
"i Nes"lt-Vigilantes Quickly Take
the Murderer From Jail and Hang Him
History of the Crime.
Une OF the most deliberately planned as
wen as most cody executed lynchipgs in
the history Of the state was carried ont
ABOUT mile from Blair shortly before
midnight of the 18th.
was just 1880 when o crowd of
nlounted farmers rode into the town, and
were speedily Joined by fully 200 citizens.
No !lme was lost aad they proceeded to
tne JAIL where the sheriff and about fifteen
ueputles were keeping guard over Char es
rta.t' the murderer of N. r. Iowne.
Inc sheriff ordered them to stand back
ana positively refused to turn over the
prisoner. The mob was heavily armed,
oue made no demonstrations with their
weapons. The parleying was of short
duration and the sheriff was overpowered
anu his keys were taken from him.
rush was made for the cell room and
IN an incredibly short time Pratt was
!efked outside the Jail. He was surrounded
oy the lyncners, who at once started with
MIN Tor small grove about a mile from
Town The lynching party was led by
Harry Towne, son of the murdered mon.
arriving at the scene of the intended
iynching, Towne was given the privilege of
tying
The Rope About the Murdercr's Neck,
and also of having the first pull on the
rope.
Iowne 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.
Frat was then told if he had ANYTHING
to say he 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 ID 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 purposely to do
the job, and firmly intended to kill everv
one OF the Towne family. He was sorry
that he had failed. He said he had owned
farm near the one owned by the Townes,
and worked hard to make q living, but the
Iowne family imposed upon him to such
an extent that he could not save a 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 pull, and he was
Jerked Into the Air.
He struggled frantically for few Sec
onds, but the lynchers grimly held his
neck tightly against the limb, and in two
or three minutes tbs lifeIess corpse Of the
murderer Was swinging lightly to and
fro in the night wind.
The rope was made fast TO the trunk of
the tree and the crowd Of vigllantes came
quickly back to town. In about fifteen
minutes the farmers left for their homes,
but little knots of citizens gathered on the
corners and discussed the event.
No one was heard to regret the occur
satisfaction.
The sheriff, Frank Hartman, followed
the crowd to the scene of the lynching 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
lynchers we're determined, and it 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 SO high that it
would have been possible at any time to
have raised crowd inside of five minutes
to have done the work that was done at
night.
The body of Pratt was left swinging un-
til this morning.
1t was just ten minutes before midnight
when Pratt was lynched, and at l 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 he said: II
am even now. expect to go to hell and
may as we'll go now as any time"
Pratt talked freely, said he came all the
way up from Kansas City to kill Towne
and was not sorry he did it. He claimed
lie had an old drudge against Towne for
VA0 way u0 was UoOO WAC0 Ill LID 0uplOy
in 1886.
Three doctors examined Pratt and they
all thought he was sane. Pratt said he
came up to Blair on the Sioux City pas
senger, got to Blair at p. M, walked dur
ing the night out to Towne's residence and
reached there IN the morning; saw Towne
and his daughter out doors, inquired if
that was Towne and then shot him; said
the girl started to run and scream and he
shot her; said he didn't know why he shot
the girl, as he had nothing against her.
It is not known yet whether the girl will
live or not. The doctors fail to find the
ball. An Omaha physician has been sent
for.
History of the Crlmo.
N. R. Towne, wealthy farmer whose
home is SIX miles from Arlington, was
drawing water at the we'll about o'clock
on the morning of the 18th, assisted by his
daughter, Miss Hattie, who is a school
teacher. Mrs. Towne and the other chill
dren we're in the house. On the platform
beside the pump stood small reservoir,
used in storing the cans of cream. While
Mr.. Towne was STOPPING over arranging