The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-06

door leading to the stage. There they con-
cealed themselves behind the stage seem
cry. which began to shake and move back
ward as the hidden crowd grew larger and
more eager.
Just as Justice Coombs finished stam-
mcring out the announcement that the
prisoners were committed for trial without
bail, the scenes were pushed backward.
and with shout Of long pent-up rage,
crowd of men rushed forward. Every man
had . hand stretched out toward
the murderers, and to the startled
spectators it seemed as though
seize the devoted men by the collars. The
crowd coming from behind the scenes was
REINFORCED by vast throng which had
gathered outside the building, expect
ing what was to happen, and all poured
into the hall to snatch the murderers from
the helpless hands of law. ALI who were
likely to oppose the irregular administra-
ton of justice were seized and rendered
helpless, Judge Greene having white
sheet thrown over his head. The prisoners
were run out through the alley to James
street, where an immense throng awaited
having spread like wildfire.
Resting on the boughs of the two middle
ones in that row of five maple trees on the
north side of James street, in front of Mr..
Yesler's old house, two scantlings had
been arranged for scaffold, and to them
were tied two ropes. At o'clock on that
memorable day the two ruffians were
dangling from the ends of those ropes, and
.rst
bodies A crowd of women on the steps
leading to the old Occidental hotel
looked on approvingly, as did the crowd
which blocked the square, James street,
Front street and Yesler avenue. Judge
Greene tried to cut one of the men down,
but was quickly hustled away.
The bodies had scarcely ceased twitching
when some one remarked that Benjamin
Payne, who was then in Jail awaiting trial
for having murdered Officer David Sires in
the previous October, was equally guilty.
-Four hundred men took the hint and
marched to the jail They tore down the
fence on the south side Of the yard, burst
open the heavy wooden gate and iron
doors, dragged the trembling murderer
from his hiding and strung him up beside
the other two criminals. Within half an
gallows the act of popular vengeance was
completed by the death of Payne.
The verdict of the coroner's jury was a
practical endorsement of the action of the
lynchers. 1t read:
We find that they came to their death by
hanging, but from the evidence furnished we
are unable to find at whose hands. We are sat
isfed that in their death speedy and substantial
justice has been subserved. C. d. Emery,
foreman; William II. Reeve, l. Otter, J. Z.
Floyd, o. Jacobs. H. A. Atkins.
s. T. Coonbs, justice OF the peace and acting
coroner of King county.
Endorsements also came from all along
the Coast. Captain William Renton tele-
graphed from Port Blakeley while the
hearing was in progress:
II the men arrested for the murder of George
Reynolds are proven guilty, and the citizens of
Seattle need any help to hang them, will shut
down the mill and furnish the men needed.
Other kilograms read:
Port Madison congratulates Seattle for the
prompt hanging of the desperadoes, Sullivan,
Howard and Payne.
Olympia congratulates Seattle on the prompt
manner Of supervising the lawless, rowdy ele
ment. CITIZENS OF OLYMPIA.
Other kilograms of congratulation came
from Portland. San Francisco, Vancouver
and Victoria, and the Oregonian published
an editorial approving the lynching.
l.. v. Wyckof, who had held the office
of sheriff for nearly twenty years, died two
days later from excitement growing out of
the event.
The scantlings to which the murderers
were hung remained on the trees for years
after, but were finally surreptitiously re-
moved by some relic-hunter in 1883.