The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1891-11-03

was opsned. not suspecting anythin
wrong. and in rushed an angry mob
overpowering the guards.
/ A man, long since dead, put the
moose over the head of Joe Wood and
shouted to those outside, who held
the other end of the rope, "all right,
boys, pull" and they did pull. It
was a fearful struggle.
As said before, Wood was q power.
full man and he intended to sell his
life as dearly as possible. He caught
hold Of the logs in the Jail and it was
question Of strength for sometime.
whether the Jail would 60 or whether
Joe would follow the men pulling the
rope. Strong men pulled at the Wis
wretch until he had but little CLOTH.
ing LETT on his person and away went
the crowd dragging Joe Wood
OVER THE FROZEN GROUND.
shouting vengeance! Veng ,ance y
He was dragged to Main street, thence
west to Kentucky street, thence north
on Kentucky street to the entrance Of
Billy Bloess lumber yard, where now
stands the lumber yard OF Central
Missouri lumber company. They took
him to the northeas: corner Of the
lumber yard. After stopping, and
while the men were arranging the
details Of the impromptu execution,
then entirely devoid OF clothing
perfectly nude, Joe Wood sat up
and took the rope from
over his head, and then stretched him.
self out sgain without saying a word.
1t is quite probable at that moment,
he Was in deaths throes. The rope
was quickly adjusted by those stand.
ing by and soon the lifeless body of
Joe Woyd, the slayer of Joe Geimer,
was hanging between heaven and
earth. A single pistol shot was fired
into the lifeless body as it swayed
backward and forward. the effect of .
slight breeze that famed the tragic
scene.
retired to their homes quietly and in
good order, for it was composed Of
the hest citizens of the then frontier
city. In the struggle for life Joe
caught in his mouth one of the fingers
of one of the men and he bit it to such
an extent that the owner experienced
very sore hand.
The next day was Sunday. 1t was
a bright sunny morn, with a crisp
air. The body of Joe Wood hung
IN the lumber yard until 8 o'clock a.
m, when John Wslde, constable,
who then kept a boarding house at
the corner Of Ohio and Pacific streets,
cut down the body and wrapped
it In u bed sheet
THE FUNERAL.
The funeral Of Joe Geimer was
held from the Presbyterian church
that Sunday afternoon, which then
stood where Hotel Kaiser now stands.
Rev. John Montgomery preached the
funeral sermon and an immense
throng attended the services. A
German singing society, COM
posed Of the most prominent citizens
of the town, furnished the music for
the occasion. He was buried in the
city cemetery.
JOE WOOD
had no funeral. His friends did not
dare to even have any religious SER
vices over his remains, as excitement
was at fever heat.
And thus ended the first hanging
in Petiis county.
Joe Geimer's widow married again
and resides at Pilot Knob, Mo-, He
has one daughter, a respected lady,
residing in Sedalia Mrs. Hermann
Stehn. There are two sons of the de-
ceased living somewhere, unknown tc
the writer.
The summary retribution and exc
cu:ion of Joe Wood, while terrible at
the time, had its good effect. Roughs
treated Sedalia better for long time,
in fact some Of them still stand in
awe of claw and order"