The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-22
A COURT ROOM LYNCHlNG.
4 MON OpERPOWERs 1HE coURr
OFFICERS AND HOLDS IHE MIrOR

The Victim, who Assaulted n Four-yesr-
old GIrI aud Was on TriaI, Dtazsed TO
IN Outside stairway and Hanged from
the RaiIinw-The Mother OF the Girl Fur
nishe- - Rope and the white-h.ired
Grandfather Cries Practically Tor Ven.
geance-A wEd MONDAY scene In lows.
Or1uMwA, Nov. 21.-Frank Gustafson last
night met on Main street two four-year. old
girls. Mary Lewis and Sarah Sax. tho latter
the daughter OF Jonas Sax. n merchant With
candy and fruit he entlced the Sax chilli to his
room and cruelty assaulted her. When the
little girl was released she managed TO get to
her home and tell the story. Cant. Dan Han
non Of tho police force arrested Gustaison In
his room.
When the story was nosod about the town
this morning there was talk Of lynchinR. In
order that there might be no doubt as to the
identity OF the assniant. the officers took him
TO tho Sax home at an early hour this morning
Tor Identification before the girl might die. as
she Is in very precarious condition. When
the little sufferer saw her assailant she was
terrified. and called for protection. Her father
and grandfather. who are Russian jews. en-
deavored TO get at Gustafson, but were de-
TERED by officers. Gustafson was returned
to Jail. and his trial set for o'clock at Justice
Truths court. which is in q second story of1lce
at the corner OF Main and Market streets. in
the centre OF the city. An outside stairway
with iron railing leads to the ofIlce. shortly
after . o'clock the deputy sheriff. city
marshal and one OF tho constable escorted
the prisoner to the Justices office.
As the prisoner was going up the steps, the
grandfather attempted to strike the prisoner
with his fist but was held back by the officer
ha plI fa han IN
mother of the child. and her husband aud
"" Hang hint Kill him" they shouted. To
Justices room a fight began. There were not
more than twenty persons IN the room. Sui
white haired grandfather, Jacob Provoski
HysTsS hs sraRaShld The STREETS were sHa
force rushed to the aid OF the oilicers in the
The sheriff stood on the outer porch. and in
the name OF WapeLlo county Justice called on
pushed on. Mayor Laiorce was thrown over r
tho stair railing and held by men in the crowd
who took care that he suffered no other vio-
lence. some OF the officers were treated in the
The handful OF officers in the court room
were endeavoring to protect their prisoner.
and he fought like demon for his own safety.
woman rushed down the stairway and back
again with conm9n clothes line furnished by
wa the child's aunt. Name provalski. noted
beauty OF the city.
A blow felled the prisoner to the floor. The
officers were overpowcred. and tho rope Be-
cured about the prisoners neck.
lie was ragged to tho stairway and thrown
over the balnstrade. where he hung TIL he was
dead. Finally the rope broke. precipitating
the corpse to the sidewalk. from which II was
picked up and thrown into IA wagon by the
police amid the boots and cries OF the mob.
The wagon was driven to the Jail.
The mob surrounded the jail entrance and
demanded to know IL the victim was dead or
alive Mayor Laforce mounted q high box.
and said:
Men OF Ottumwa. the man is dead. now
quietly dispense You have done all you can
do. He is dead man. Now quietly dispense.
Do nothing now to Disgrace yourselves"
I'VE don't believe he Is dead" shouted a
stout built parsonage.
well. will you dlsperse II a committee of
three VIII 20 into tho iail and report to you
That will satisfy u.s." shouted chorus OF
voices.
Choose your own committee" said the
Mayor, and Messrs .Hainee, Frey. and PATROL
man Pittel were selected. They went into the
Jail and brought the report that he was dead.
When the committee had reported the crowd
dispersed. and tho body, was taken to the
viewed by the Board OF Supervisors and pre-
pared for burial.
Gustafson WAS known by some as Johnson
and had come from Minnea polls to this city
Only last week. Nothing beyond this is known
OF him.
Ed. Walton. who was on trial at the City Hall
at the time OF the lynehing on the charge OF
was after him. The Judge dismissed court
and Walton was spirited away,