The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1893-04-22
ALMOST A LYNCHING.
Rock County Murderer Saved from the Mob
bY Militia


by Militia.
CLINTON, Wis, April l5.-If the Clin-
ton farmers had had a leader to-day
they would have hanged Mathew Bitson,
the murderer, To- the nearest tree. not
withstanding the fact that the blood was
running from what was supposed to be
mortal wound in his throat, inflicted
by himself just before he was
taken. But the mob had no lead
er and tonight Adjt.-Grn. Doe
with fifty National Guardsmcn came
from Madison and took the murderer
from the lookup and started away
toward GAINESVILLE with him. When the
sheriff attempted to take the prisoner
to the noon train, armed men had stood
IN his way, but the mob did not attempt
to Interfere with the militia
The farmers had lacked Il leader all
day, but il was known that brothers of
Mrs Hern, one of the murdered wom-
en-, were coming on the evening train
from Dakota, and the word had been
passed around that they would take
charge Of the lynching. But when they
came they sided With the sheriff 1t
was strange scene for the
state of Wisconsin this evening.
For the life Of his sisters muir
dcrcr Walter Lawrence was pleading
Around him surgcd a crowd of 800
angry farmers who answered every ar
gument with wells of "liang him" In
side the little wooden lookup lay the
prisoner, Mathew Bitson, who shot his
own wife and Mrs. Arthur IIern, the
wife of a wealthy farmer, then soaked
their clothing in Kerosene, dragged
them into the cellar and burned them
and the house
N,t h., I, ~ l.
up at 10 . clock this morning had the
mob left for an instant. They lcsscned
IN numbers at supper time, but at
O'Clock the streets were more crowded
than ever. Everyone waited for the
arrival Of the Northwestern train from
Dakota. bn this train were Mrs. iIern's
brothers, Arthur and Walter Lawrence,
of whom much was expected. Both had
had the training of border life, and the
mob evidently expected them to take
the leadership. But when the train ar
rived and the brothers were found to
side with the sheriff, il did not produce
the expected result From the top of IA
lumber pile beside the lookup they ad
dressed the infuriated farmers
This is time when sober counsel
renee to his old-timc friends and neigh
be satisfied if | am satisfied. Let the
law take its course"
''GOu don't know this man. We do
Hang him, was the shout.
'lle advertised for week before
hand that he would kill his wife and my
slstcr-in-law. | want To see him
hanged, urged Charley Stoltcr, prom
inent stock man who refused to join the
brothers in their plea. \ great change
had come in the temper of the mob
since noon. At noon they demanded
simply to have him remain in the lock
up and bleed to death in peace. AS
forced to admit that Bitson's wound
might not prove fatal, the demand for
vigorous measures became more
marked.
As the excitement began to increase,
however, to a point where violence
must have been done, the governors
guard fifty strong, arrived by special
train from Madison. The train stopped
at 4 point near the lookup, the compa-
ny formed and marched to the little
prison and escorted Bitson back To the
cars. The mob stood back ovcrawed
by the military and no interference was
attempted. After the train had pulled
ont towards GAINESVILLE the crowd dis
pcfStu.
BAEABoo, Wis, April l6.-Mathcw
Bitson, the murderer, who 50 narrowly
escaped lynching at Clinton, Wis. was
brought here about 2::}0 O'Clock this
morning on a special train accompanied
by the sheriff Of Rock County and Mar
shal IIogcn, of GAINESVILLE. He was at
once taken to jail and locked upin a cell
after hc was laid on a cot. To all APP
pcaranceS ne seemed dead, but after
the officers departed he got up and
walked across his cell and took 4 drink
of water. This forenoon, when Il re
porter visited him, he was sound asleep.
Later he refused to talk to anyone
The report that the ball entered the
temple and lodged in the brain is not
true. The ball entered under the right
ear and came out on the other side,
passing through his mouth. The wound
is not fatal and the attending physician
SAYS he will recover.