The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-01
OZARK MOUNTAIN CRIME
A Mob that Consulted Two Murders b
o. der that IL Might Avenge Another.

o. der that II Might AvenGe Another.
FoRsrTH. fancy County. NO.. March al
Tho murder Of Mrs. John Wesley Bright and
the lynchinR TINT followed. illustrate the
curious mental conditions that prevail here In
the heart Of tho country where the Bald
Knobbers originated and 80 many murders
were committed In consequence. 1t Is not I'M
likely that the lynchers were animated by the
hates growing out Of the lights that the Bald
Knobbers were responsible for.
John Wesley Bright was . ranchman living
on Roark Creek. q tributary Of White River. In
the western part OF fancy county. He did
not live on good terms with his wife. the
trouble growing. 1t Is alleged. out OF his liking
for another woman. To end that trouble and
clear tho way for q marriage with another.
Bright determined to kill his wife. He could
do that with comparative safety from observa-
ton. because his place was isolated. That he
was not deferred by the fear Of punishment
may be inferred from the fact that, while doz-
ems OF deliberate murders have been committed
in the county since the war. 1t has had no legal
hanging re n the
household purposes. and shot her to death
III" He Was vas snsSIe TO conceal the crime. He
pretended that he had been away IN the woods
oa hs "Ssrs had s as
SsS Been sSpSSI Sas ssas ,hs
Who Who iivod near. refused 70, believe. BrighFs
ssss aas as assd mi sG
s:sss ~ y u: sssss x: Xii
tss1S 9Sss u Ss1 bee b K: BE- Be-
fOrneye, aB first step In securing delay, asked
Tor q change Of venue. which was ers,99tesd1.
Jones'. There fa -" was no charge or belief that
either yustiSe would treat the prisoner I'M
PIT ss s S e tie f. aay
snS sssf the ss
mardered one to the prisoner lying In peril Of
his life. Then aoquittal or INADEQUATE punish
Two witnesses were heard by Justice Jones
NEXT day day. Deputy sheriff, HeerFe +. Williams
woman S 5 relatives s we're Dissatisfied and that
lynchtng, impended. and he was In eonse;;
a%sns t the es s Chat and
McConksy; Of the prosecution SO had determined
Ss i ,Sas ns sRsy IL tss Ss
but the Ozark mob needs , something more:
the ses ssp
hand. placed himself before the door. The
yelled s aS Srdsa Fed h Ds sa d
he would shoot the flrst man who tried to force
the door. and. to show that he was armed. fred
one shot over the heads OF the mob
The mob had come TO the Jail that they
might adequately. II unlawfully.. punish q man
oiilcsr in their way He was there performing
his duty as he had sworn to do. but they de-
lberately murdered him in order that they
might get at and punish another man Tor muir
der As soon as Williams h T some e one In
taineers are the best kind OF marksmen. Will
liams fell dead with bullet through his heart
The jail is little old plank concern. with
wooden doors secured by paddock put through
staples. A few blows OF n pick opened the
and sghs was dragged out carried to
1t should be said also that nearly every man
in that mob honestly believed he was justified
in what he did. A NUM- er-perhaps half OF
them-were church members. Three. fourths
OF the members OF this o9m n, belong to
more public discussions over doctrinal points
OF religion held than In Tanoy county,
The editor OF q newspaper In the adjoining
(Christian) county. who knows the people hero
well. for he lived here once. says:
But why single out fancy county, 1t Ii no worse
other counties In this Slate in crime. and
does not deserve the stigma that is thrust upon It,
That is the way people feel here. They are
indignant that people elsewhere should call
the county lawless because murder or a
six months
Sheriff Cook. fearing further lawlessness.
teleGraphed to Gov. Francis. who replied that
the State militia would be sent II needed to
order. But nothing has come Of it., Both Will
liams and Bright have been buried, and the
killing the officer.