Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-07-09
DES MONIES IN A RAGE
OVER A MURDER BY SEARcHER
FRANK PIERCE.

~
Momentariiy Startled by Threats of
Lynching. but Soon Receivers His Nerve
Frank Pierce fatally wounded E. II.
Wishart, at Des Moines, and narrowly
escaped lynching Intense excitement
prevailed when he was arrested, and
cries OF "Bring rope!" and Lynch
him!" were heard on every hand. Forty
policemen were necessary TO escort him
to the jail The feeling is so strong
against Pierce that trouble may come at
any moment Wishart was hit by four
bullets, and crowd of 500 people gath
cred at the City Hall when Pierce was
placed In jail. For three years Pierce
was the leader OF the Des Moines search
ers. He has shot several persons in that
city, and on three occasions mobs have
been organized to lynch him. The cases
of Harry Lloyd and Terry Chambers
attracted great attention at the time
Another of his victims is in the insane
asylum from injuries received at Pierces
hands. Heretofore Pierce has received
the support and sympathy of the tenn
perance people, but this crime is the
last straw which any kind of public
opinion can stand.
Pierce, who is q scavenger, drove one
OF his wagons toward the customary
dumping grounds on lower West Ninth
street The officers had notified him
that he had no right TO use the ground
used by another or that which was
owned by the city. Driving down Ninth
street. he came about opposite the new
crematory. Mr.. Wishart, who is the
legal guardian OF the property in behalf
OF the city as foreman of the crematory,
ordered him not to dump there. On
Wighnrt'S ofa ~ 20
thority as an officer. The two men fell
into sharp dispute. Pierce ordered his
men TO dig again. They hesitated. Mr..
1HlshaEt. revolver hanging at his
i have orders to allow no man to dump
in the street. They are goiRg to pave
and will not allow dumping" Pierce
said he had right to dump somewhere,
and that he would tear down the fence
which blocked the street. it being still
unopened. Wishart said: II have no
authority over the fence. You can tear
that down at your own risk, but the
street / am here to defend" Pierce
seized a shovel and made an attempt to
dig, when, his rage overcoming him, he
whipped from the holsters at his belt two
revolvers and jumped toward Wishart
~Consider yourself under arrest" he
screamed "Pll shoot you or any other
man that tries 10 stop me-" and fired.
Wishart raised his revolver to fire back
In doing so his revolver came in contact
with Pierce's and was broken. Whether
a bullet left 1T is matter of doubt.
Wishart, seeing his revolver was useless,
let il drop to the ground The first
bullet of Pierce struck Wishart in the
arm. But Pierce, seeing his victim lm
armed, did not desist his murderOus
work. He fired three more shots, one,
according to the statement of an eye-
witness, after Wishart had dropped to
the ground.
To the crowd which gathered and was
gathering in he said: "Stand back, or
there will be some more dead men. {"
With revolver in hand his wagon was
driven down toward the river where he
had concluded TO 90 and dump The
patrol was sent for and Wishart was
taken to the City Hail. Doctors were
called in am made an examination. Be
sides the In the arm q hole was
found in al, all )men. One of the other
shots hau ,nteret .,Iittle to the right of
the middl and lodged somewhere in his
back. WLile In the City Hall Wishart
lay i'm great agony on a pallet until Mrs
WUudu was OCA a iOfc 'gc~s" kk~
-four the sake Of her husband she was in
OF the dying man also was there. He
had happened to be at the City Hall as
his father was brought in He pushed
up to him to speak. Mr.. Wishart said
nothing, but raised mp his lips to kiss
! him. lie was manly little fellow OF
about twelve years and struggled hard
to keep back the tears. He kept con-
tinually asking: "Tell me how he is,
please. VIII he ,die?" While Wishart
was lyingiin the City Hall basement the
officers arrived with Pierce. The crowd
had collected In great numbers at the
first intimation that the notorious Pierce
had killed man. They were jammed
about the City Hall SO thickly that the
officers had difficulty in opening a way
through the mob. AS be slipped out of
his buggy the Marshal demanded his re-
volvers. He gave them up A voice in
the crowd cried out: "Mhere is the
rope?" A look Of dismay flashed over
Pierce's features. lie gave one look at
the angry crowd. another at his weapons,
now out of his hands, and then bounded
up the steps lie was carried down the
stairs On the way he was cursing and
swearing continually. He said "You
can't put me in jail You've no right to.
i demand bonds" But, bonds or-nU
bonds, he was hustled down. When he
came TO the door of the cells he was
searched The holsters were still on
him. Then turning to the officers who
were searching him he said: what are
you trembling for? Why, you shake
like leaf Does IL take six or eight
men TO arrest one man? can arrest
a man alone and he will come"
After few hurried words, In which he
said he had acted in self-defense, Pierce
was taken to the cage and put in. When
brought down the lower hall he passed
by the head of his groaning victim, but
he did not deign TO give him glance,
and seemed actually proud OF his deed
He was cool and collected, having recov-
cred from his fright, and continually
taunted the officers His lean, cadaver.
Gus features and furtive eyes did not
quail as he looked at any one, and his
whole appearance was one OF daredevil
defiance.