The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-15
LYNCHED, Then SHOT.
The Career of a Bad Kentucky
Man Ended.
Had Already Killed Two Men
but Wanted Another.
KILLED THE SHERIFF.
Then the People Took Him and
Hung Him.

LEXINGTON, KY, Oct 15.=Another
Iynching was added to the fall series
of blue grass lynching bees yesterday.
Saturday at the close of the Beatty
vile fair, Oscar Morton, the most
prominent citizen Of Morton, in
Powell county, went on the war path.
Only two weeks ago Morton killed
his man at Stanton and was out on
S., 600 bond to appear at the Powell
circuit court When Morton arrived
at the fair he proceeded TO get drunk
and then went to hunt for Sheriff
Simms, who was his deadly
enemy. a feud of long stand
ing existing between the two.
Simms and Morton met near the en-
trance to the fair grounds and after
a few words both of them drew their
guns and a quick exchange of shots
followed, Morton using two guns.
His first shot broke the sheriff's right
arm at the elbow, and John HOgg, a
friend of Simms. whipped out his
gun and Joined in the battle When
the smoke had cleared away It was
found that Sheriff Simms was dead,
having been shot through his breast
one in his abdomen and another
through his arm Morton was shot
through the neck, while HOgg was
unhurt. Before a crowd could collect
Morton was hustled to the county
Jail and placed under guard.
The people became infuriated and a
big NEE ting was at once held on the
public square. Colonel John Drum
mond mounted barrel and made a
speech in which he said that the muir
derer must be hanged, but that the
work must be done quietly and with
perfect order; Morton had killed two
men in less than two weeks time and
he must die by the rope. A mob was
quickly formed and marched to the
jail The JalIOr was OverpO Wered and
the keys to MortOn's cell obtained.
He was found lying in his shirt
sleeves on the floor of his cell and af-
ter bitter struggle was seized and
dragged out. He then became very
imprudent and told the mob that he
did not care what they did with him,
provided they did their work quickly.
After a short parley, he was taken
to a bridge some distance from town
and a rope was placed around his
neck. The leaders drew their guns
and told him to jump, or he would be
rlddled with bullets. Turning around
the doomed man cursed his captOrs,
and uttering wild imprecations,
1eaped into space. The jump broke
his neck, and after dangling in the
air for some minutes he became still,
and a volley of bullets was fred into
him. The mob then dispersed and
the body was left dangling from the
bridge
None of the mob made any attempt
to conceal their identity, and the
hanging was conducted with as much
formality as if it had been a legal az
fair. The dead sheriff was only re-
Gently married and leaves a young
wife
The murderer was a wealthy man
who lived near Stanton. He has
killed three men Coming to the fair
Il Ill =
the train because he would not in
crease the speed the locomotive was
running. This is the eighth lynching
in Central Ken lucky in the past three
months, and the people have deter
mined to put down murder if they
have to take the law into their own
hands every time a man is killed.
Morton's relatives are lncensed over
the lynching and it may be that some
of the old feuds will be reope ned.