Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-08-12
wouLp-eE LYNonERs SLAIN.

and Fatally wounding Anothor-Thoy
Escape.
CoRYDoN, Ind, Aug. 7.-Boone town
ship, not far from here, was the scene
of a terrible tragedy early Sunday
morning, four men being killed and one
fatally wounded. The dead are all
farmers, as follows: Edward Houston,
Isaac Howe, John TimberlalSe and Will
liam Wiseman. William May, also
farmer, was fatally injured.
Four months ago Samuel and William
Conrad, farmers, aged 81 and 81, living
in Boone township with their mother
and sister, were suspected of killing
their father, who was fouad in field
with his head crushed and bloody
club lying near by. After short time
the boys were arrested and charged
with the crime, the supposition
being that they put their father out of
the way in order to get his property,
the old man being pretty well off.
| There was a good deal of excitement at
the trial, the court room being crowded
| at every sitting, but the state could get
no proof and the prisoners were dis,
| charged. This angered the farmers in
| the community where the Conrads lived
| and it was determined to raise a body
of men and try the young fellows in
the court of Judge Lynch
But the neighbors had misjudged the
metal of the suspected brothers. The
latter said nothing when they heard
| that a mob was proposed, but quietly
loaded up their shotguns and waited
| About midnight Saturday 100 men
or more assembled at a small school,
house not far from the home of the
Conrads and marched to the house,
reaching there about l o'clock in the
morning. Some of the members of the
mob were masked and others made no
attempt at concealment.
After the Conrads had received warn
ing of the visit they hid themselves
under porch on the front part of the
house. They had made several auger
holes in the flooring of the porch,
through which the muzzles of the guns
could be thrust and fred at close range
with deadly execution. When the gang
approached the house and stepped on
the porch they demanded admittance-
At that moment the Conrads fred. The
contents found lodgment in the bodies
of the mob and two men fell dead on
the porch. Two others were found sew
eral hours later few hundred yards
from the house stone dead. 1t is also
reported that Mrs. Conrad was injured
in the fight.
Finding it impossible to dislodge the
brothers the mob withdrew to the
woods and held a consultation. The
lynchers hadn't expected such a de-
termined resistance and didn't know
exactly what to do. 1t was final
ly decided to wait till daylight
and then make another attack.
When the dawn came and it was clear
daylight another advance was made
upon the house, but everything was
still and the house appeared deserted.
The mob approached the place unmo-
Tested and meeting with no resistance
broken open the front door. No
one was in the lower part of the
house and search was made
of the upper story. Some
: blood was found upon the floor, and it
was evident that one or both of the
brothers had been wounded. A search
of the stable showed that the two horses
were gone. The brothers had fled.
AS soon as word reached this city Of
, the killing the sheriff and several dep
uties, accompanied by the coroner, set
, out for Boone township to make an in
vestigation lnquests upon the bodies
, of the dead men will be held to-day. 1t
is probable there will be five bodies to
sit upon. The buckshot with which
the shotguns were loaded tore a great
, hole in William Mays left breast and
almost severed his left arm from the
; shoulder.
r Word has been sent to New Albany,
r Jeffersonville, Louisville and other
$ towns on the river to be on the look
out for the Conrad brothers. Should
e they be caught and brought back hero
y their fate would soon be sealed, as the
: farmers of Boone township are deter
e mined to hang them. The sheriff and
t posse are now searching the country
between Boone township and the Ohio
: river
i, At the preliminary trial of the Con-
Y rad boys for numbering their father it
was said that while out in the woods
chopping dispute arose among them,
in which the old man was killed by his
: sons. The brothers testified at the trial
that the old man fell against
u the stove in their house and sus-
u tanned injuries which caused his
/ death. Mrs. Conrad's testimony was
e in favor of the boys story, and
IS while it was generally believed they
e were guilty the justice could do moth.
IL ing under the circumstances but dis.
e charge them. The Conrad boys always
u had borne good reputation prior to
l. the murder of their father, and by
IF many of the best people in their neigh
u borhood the suspicion of guilt for that
deed was not entertained. Both men
are unmarried
7. The country around here is frequent.
l. ly the scene of white cap visitations.
Is 1t is known that some of the mel who
1t took part in the mob of this morning
v belonged to the white cap order, bal
le how many has not yet been ascertained.
l. In the main, however, the mob was
| aIaaSnl laf fal.Ia,.aI.. li.riI,1c