The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-24
SERIES OF TRAGEDIES.
ROBERT HEPLER TAKEN ER0MJALL NJ
Mon AND LYNCHED.

Mob Was TravellnnG-Ihey XIII . rolaee.
nau-Ons or Them rinsity KilitA asa the
Other wounaea-A I.ene right with Then
PLEAsANroN. Kan. Jan. 23.-Lsst evening
200 mon from Barton county boarded q Mis-
souri, Pacific train and went to Nevada, where
they took Robert Hepler. who murdered Mrs.
Cooley and her child on last Sunday near
Lamar. from jail. returned to Lamar with him
and hanged him to tree in the yard Of tho
Court House.
The lynchine and train robbery together
have greatly excited this part OF tho country.
Tho lynchers numbered $50 mon. They de-
manded that the Sheriff should turn over to
them Hepler. who murdered Mrs. Goodly and
hor little son.
The Sheriff made some resistance. but the
mob proceeded to knock In tho door with tools
which they had secured by breaking into .
blacksmith shop near by. The sheriff. having
been previously warned that the mob was
coming. had secreted the prisoner IN an out
house. but the mob soon gained admittancs
and brought Hepler out.
They hurried him down the railroad to Mas
sau Junction. expecting to board the train and
take their prisoner back to Barton county
where they intended to burn him at the stake
About half an hour after the mob took the
man Sheriff White gathered posse. including
Company II. First Regiment, NJ. N. G.. and
started to overhaul the mob. In order to shut
OF communication to this place the mob In
coming to this point tagged the train between
here and Lamar. and boarded II.
The mob made no noise or demon stration
while getting the prisoner. Sheriff Garrett Of
Barton county to-day had talk with Hepler
in Jail. and the prisoner confessed to having
murdered the woman and child. but said he
did not know what he did it for Tho mob
took Hepler back to La Mar and hanged him in
the Court House yard Immediately on arrival
there.
The mob in returning to Lamar boarded the
train at Nassau Junction. two miles south Of
Nevada. As the train slowed up at Sheldon
two masked men entered the express car and
ordered the occupants to hold up their hands.
keeping them covered with revolvers while the
train travelled nearly twelve miles to Lamar.
They riHed the pockets Of the trainmen. TAX
ing SIS from Baggageman Hull. Pacific Ex-
press Messenger Houck was forced to give the
combination Of his safe. and the bandits went
through the safe. 1t contained little Of value.
however.
When the mob alighted at Lamar the ban
ditti did the same. and mingled In the crowd.
The excitement over the approaching lynch.
ing was SO intense that little attention was
paid to the news Of the robbery. The train
men. however. sent the following despatch to
Fort Scott:
Watch for two men: no baggage: rough
appearance: one somewhat taller than tho
other They are wanted for robbing Pacific
express train here this morning. Are coming
toward your city on a freight"
At o'clock this morning Policeman 8. B.
McLemore. colored. while on duty at the Fort
Scott and Gulf depot, saw two men get OF tho
north bound freight train. which had just ar
H. hol kaA< ho 80 No. "a
him dead.
Both strangers then ran away. Afew min.
utes after the shooting q brakeman discovered
the two supposed robbers hiding In freight
car. and notified Railroad Detective Ches-
ter. who had come from Lamar in pur.
suit of the men. Detective Chester, aa-
compsnied BY United States Marshal and
City Marshal Abbott of Fort Scott,
Immediately gave pursuit on the passenger
train. the freight train with the bandits
aboard having pulled out In tho mean time
The officers overlook tho freight train at
Mama station. five miles south Of here. whore
1t stopped for a few moments. The MUIR
derers suspected that they were followed. and
made an effort to escape.
The passenger train. however. was close be-
hind the freight train when It stopped. and the
officers quickly surrounded the car and
called upon the two men to surren-
der. They refused The officers remain
ed on the freight train and hold the
two men prisoners in the box car. They ex-
changed shots almost continuously between
Mama and this place through the ends Of the
car. One Of the men was shot BY load Of
buckshot.
A despatch was sent to this city asking that
posse meet the freight train at tho depot.
The posse was on hand and surrounded
tho car. Again were the men COM
manded to surrender. and again they refused.
Firing WAS then resumed. The two imprisoned
men fred through the sides of tho car at ran
dom. and the posse returned the Are with Win
chesters and revolvers. The fusillade lasted
| nearly an hour.
The man wounded BY the buckshot was In q
critical condition. A ball from q Winchester
killed his companion. and he then surren-
| dered. He was also wounded by rife ball.
The wounded man says he is Charles Meyers
Of $50 Reynolds street. Kansas City. The
name Of the dead man Is unknown as yet The
Coroner is holding an inquest on the body Of
the dead man. and Meyers will be taken te
| Fort Scott to-day.
| LAWYER HUBBELL VIOLENT.
1