The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-15
Oscar Morton, Though Shot Through
the Neck, Taken from Jail and
Hanged for Killing a Sheriff.
DIED CURSING HIS CAPTORS
Who Made Him Leap Into Space
with a Rope Around His Neck,
And Then Riddled the Dangling Body
with Bullets-Gibbs Murder Mystery
at Buffalo Probably SOlyed.

LEXINGTON. KY, Oct. 14-Another
lynching Has been added to the unusually
large fall series of Bluegrass lynching
bees. Yesterday, at the close of the Beat
tyville fair. Oscar Morton, prominent cit
izen of Stanton. Powell county, went on
the warpath. Only two weeks ago Morton
killed his man at Stanton and was out
Oh 5000 bond to appear next week at the
Powell Circuit Court. When Morton ar
rived at the fair he proceeded to get drunk,
and then went in quest of Sheriff William
Simms who was his deadly enemy, a feud
of long standing existing between the two
men. Slmms and Morton met near the en-
trance to the fair grounds. and after a few
words both drew their revolvers and a
quick exchange of shots followed, Morton
using two weapons. His first shot broke
the sheriffs right arm at the elbow John
Hogg, a friend of Simms, drew out his
revolver and Joined in the fight When
the smoke cleared away it was found that
Sheriff Simms was dead, having a shot
through his breast one in his abdomen and
another through his arm. Morton was shot
through the neck, while Hogg unhurt.
Before a crowd could collect Morton was
taken TO the county Jail and placed under
guard. The people became infuriated and
a meeting was at once held on the public
square Col. John Drummond mounted a
barrel and made a speech, in which he said
that the murderer 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 mob was quickly
formed and marched to the jail. The jaier
was overpowered and the keys to Morton's
cell obtained. He was found lying in his
shirt sleeves on the floor of his CELL After
a struggle he seized and dragged out.
He then told the mob that he did not care
what they did with him, provided they did
their work quick After short parley
he was taken to a little bridge some dis
tance from town and the rope was placed
around his neck. The leaders drew their
revolvers and told him to jump or else he
would be riddled with bullets. Turning
around the doomed man cursed his captors.
and. uttering wild imprecation. leaped into
space. The jump broke his neck. After
dangling in the air for some minutes the
body became still and volley of shots was
fired into it, The mob then dispersed and
the body was left dangling from the bridge.
At noon to-day it was still there. No one
in the mob made any attempt to conceal his
identity. and the hanging was conducted
with as much formality as if it had been a
legal affair.
The dead sheriff was recently married.
The murderer was a wealthy man. who
lived at Stanton. He has killed three men.
Coming to the fair he attempted to kill the
fireman of the train because he would not
increase the speed of the locomotive.
This is the eighth lynching in central
Kentucky in the past three months, and
the people have determined to put down
murder if they have to take the law in their
own hands every time a man is killed.
Morton's relatives are incensed over the
lynching, and it may be that some old feuds
will be reopened