St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-10-15
JUMPED TO HIS DOOM
Wealthy Kentucky Double
Murderer Hanged by a
Mob.
He SHOOTS DOWN A SHERIFF
Citizens Coolly Hold a Meet
ing on the Public
Square,
He SHOOTS DOWN A SHERIFF
BREAK INTO THE JAIL,
Seize the Cursing Prisoner
and Hang Him From a
Bridge.

LEXINGTON. KY, Oct. 14.-Another
lynching was added to the unusually
large fall series of Bluegrass lynching
bees today. Yesterday al the close of
the Beattyville fair Oscar Morton,
prominent citizen of Stanton, in Powell
county, went on the warpath. Only two
weeks ago Morton killed his man at
Stanton and was out on s., coo bond TO
appear next week at the Powell circuit
court. When Morton arrived at the fair
he proceeded to get drunk, and then
went 10 hunt for Sheriff William Slmms,
who was his deadly enemy, feud of
long standing existing between The two
men. Simms and Morton met near the
entrance to the fair grounds, and, after
few words, both of them drew guns
and quick exchange of shots followed,
Morton using two guns. His first shot
broke the sheriIf's right arm at the
elbow. and John Uogg, a friend of
Simms. whipped out his gun and Joined
In the battle. When the smoke had
cleared away it was found that Sheriff
Slmms was dead. having shot through
his breast, one In his abdomen and an>
other through his arm. Morton was
shot through The neck, while Hogg was
unhurt. Before crowd could collect
Morton was hustled TO the county jail
aud placed under guard.
The people became lnfuriated and
big meeting was at once held on the
public square. Col. John Drummond
mounted barrel and made 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
Swo weeks time and he must die by the
rope. 4 mob was quickly formed and
marched to the jail. The jailer was
oyerpowered and the keys to Morton's
cell obtained. He was found lying in
ms shirt sleeves on the floor of his cell
and after bitter struggle, was siezed
ard dragged out. He then became verv
impudent and told the mob that he did
not care what they did with him, pro-
vided they did their work quickly.
After short parley he was taken to a
little bridge some distance from town and
the rope was placed around his neck.
The leaders drew their guns and told
MIN to lump, else he would be riddled
With bullets. Turning around the
doomed man cursed his cap.ors: and.
nttering wild imprecation, leaped into
space. The jump broke his neck; and,
after dangling in the air for some
minutes, he became still and a yolley of
shots was fred into him. The mob
then dispersed and the body was left
dangling from the bridge. At noon to-
day 1t was still there. 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
legal affair. The dead sheriff was only
recently married and leaves a young
wife. The murderer was wealthy
man who lived at Stanton.
He has killed three men. Coming tC
the fair he attempted to kill the fireman
because he would not increase the
speed at which the locomotive was run.
ming. Ihls is the eighth lyuching in
Central Kentucky in the past three
months, and the people are determined
to put down murder if they have tc
take the law in their own hands every
time man is killed. Morton's rela-
tives are incensed over the lynching.
and it may be that some old feuds vii
be reopened.