The record-union., 1892-07-25
Summary Justice Dealt Out to
John and Charles Ruggles.
TAKEN FROM THE JAIL AND STRUNG
UP BY THE NECK.
Forty Men March to the Prison, Break
Open the. jail, Take the Murderers
to Death Without Molestation -
Many People, Including Women,
Witness the Lynching From Behind
the Trees.
Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN,

the Trees.
Special to the REcoRD-UN1oN.
REDDINa Cali. July 4.-John D. and
Charles Ruggles, the stage robbers and
murderers, were hung by an armed force
of about forty men at half-past o'clock
this morning. All day Saturday there
was something in the air. Quite num-
Der of determined men were here from
neighboring towns, and groups could be
seen talking earnestly on the street cor
ners. The persistency with which certain
women administered to the pleasures of
the Ruggles brothers, and the line of de-
Tense adopted by the attorney trying to
implicate and make Montgomery, the ex-
press messenger, who was killed, party
to the crime, was discussed and bitterly
denounced, and many believed that an
attempt would be made to satisfy justice.
At a quarter to l o'clock this morning a
number of men, masked and otherwise
disguised, were observed marching three
abreast down the hill leading to the Court
house from the west, they evidently hav-
| ing met at some rendezvous some distance
from town. There were at least forty
men in the company, and it looked like
REGULAR DRILLED ARMY OF KU-KLUx.
Arriving at the corner of Butte and
West streets, they marched across the
| square, entering the Courthouse at the
| north entrance. Scouts were stationed on
| the outskirts of the square, the Court
house being three blocks distant from the
business part of town. Guards were left
at the Courthouse entrance for few mo-
ments. The utmost quiet reigned, when
suddenly a Hare of torches was seen
through a window on the third floor of
the building, and ghostly spectacle was
presented of masked men marching
through the corridor, having in charge
the Jailer, who slept there. They had
aroused him from his slumbers and
forced him 70 GO with them.
The Sheriff and deputy in the meantime
were in peaceful slumber at home, while
the Under Sheriff was out of town.
The Janitor or Jailer was conducted to
the lower floor. The door to the Sheriff's
office was forced, and he was directed to
produce the keys to the Jail. He told the
men the keys were locked in the safe, and
the Jailer was then placed in corner,
blindfolded and guards placed over him.
With sledge, drills and powder they
forced an entrance through the side of
the safe and into the strong box. The
sound of the sledge could be plainly
heard from the outside as stroke after
stroke fell upon the safe.
In the midst of the work the Court
house bell sounded the hour of l o'clock,
which in the solemn silence outside
SOUNDED LIKE THE KNELL OF DEATH.
The hour of was sounded, and soon
the creaking of iron doors showed that
the keys had been secured and the Jail
opened.
Two shadowing forms were seen to
steal around the back end of the Jail, and
two women peeked through the iron graf
| ing on to the scene inside.
1 The doomed men heard these ominous
sounds, and knew that their end had come.
AS soon as the mob entered the second
iron door leading to the Jail proper John
Ruggles greeted them with trembling
voice, asking if they meant him harm.
Charley Ruggles said not word. Two
prisoners incarcerated for minor offenses
were badly frightened.
APPEAL FOR A BROTHERS. LIFE,
John Ruggles' cell was opened first,
and he was told to come out. He said:
Gentlemen, be lenient with my brother;
he is innocent of this crime" No atten-
ton was paid to him except to handcuff
his hands behind him, he making some
resistance.
Someone then said: "Lets get the
other one out" and the door was opened
and Charley Ruggles stepped forth. They
were both dressed only in pants, under
shirt and stockings.
About 2:15 o'clock, an hour and a half
after entering the Courthouse, the lynch
ers came out with the two prisoners. As
they hurried across the square Charley
was heard to cough once or twice, and
Johns voice was also distinguishable.
MARCH TO THE DEATH SCENE.
The crowd was silent and undemon-
strative. The party marched across,
through an alley, and down the next
street some two blocks. then turned to
the left, stopping at blacksmith shop.
located near the railroad company's large
woodshed, and halted. Here a cross
beam was suspended from two pine trees.
and which was used to elevate, by means
of pulley, large wagon-beds from the
running-gear.
The ends of the ropes, which had been
placed around the necks of the two men,
! were attached to this crossbeam, then their
feet were tied together, and their hands
behind their backs.
When all was in readiness the leader
said: eff you want to make a statement.
now is your time. and be damned quick
about it,"
John Ruggles spoke up and said: Seen
tlemen, spare him" (meaning his
brother).
One of the lynchers spoke up and asked
John if he had anything to say concern
ing the Cazadero stage robbery, when a
young girl was killed; also, about the
murder of drover in Sskiyou County,
supposed to have been killed by John
Ruggles.
He answered: 81 know nothing of
these affairs"
He was then asked where the balance
of the treasure taken was buried.
He replied: "Spare Charley, and will
tell YOU"
Another voice then said: ''Never mind
fthe treasure; tell us if you want to; if
not. say what you have to say quick"
SUSPENDED IN MIDAIR.
The doomed men refused to speak
further, and on signal from the leader
the murderers were suspended in midair