The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-10-15
A HUMAN TIGER STRUNG UP.
The Murder Of a Sheriff Followed by a
LynChilg.

The Sheriff the Third Man the Murderer
Had Killed-His Last Previous Vic
tim Killed Only Two Weeks Ago-The
Sheriff Slain at Fair and One of HIS
Friends Took Hand in the Fusillads
After tho Sheriff Had Been Wounded.
Louisville. Ky, oct. IA special to the
Commercial from Lexington. KY. says,
Another lynching is added to the unusu-
ally large fall series Of the blue grass
lynching bees to-day Yesterday at the
close of the Beattyvllle fair, Oscar Nor
ton, prominent citizen of Stanton, in
Powell county, went on the warpath. Only
two weeks ago Morton killed a man at
Stanton, and was out on 5000 bond to ap-
pear next week at the Powell circuit
court When Morton arrived at the fair
he proceeded to get drunk and then went
to hunt for Sheriff William Simms, who
was his deadly enemy, a feud of long
standing existing between the two men.
Simms and Morton met near the entrance
to the fair grounds, and after a few words
both of them drew pistols and a quick ex.
change Of shots followed, Morton using
two pistols. His first shot broke the sher.
ms right arm at the elbow, and John
Hogg, friend of simms, whipped out his
pistol and Joined in the battle. When the
smoke had cleared away it was found
that Sheriff Simms was dead. having a
shot through his breast, one in his abb
domen, and another through his arm
Morton was shot through the neck
Whlle 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
Dig meeting was at once held in the pub
lie square. Col John Drummond mounted
barrol and made a speech. in which he
said, the murderer must be hanged. but
that the work must be done quietly and
with perfect order, Morton has killed two
men in less than two weeks time, and
ne must die by the rope" A mob was
quickly formed and marched to the iaII.
Ihe Jailer was oVerpowered land the
Keys TO Morton's cell obtained He was
found lying on the floor of his cell, ana
after bitter struggle was seized and
dragged out. He then became impudent
and told tho mob that he did not caro-
what they did with him, provided they
did their work quick.
After a short parley he was taken To
| a little bridge some distance from the
| town and rope placed around his neck.
Inc leaders drew their pistols and told
him to jump or else he would be riddled
with bullets.
Turning around, the doomed man
| cursed his captors and leaped into space.
! The jump broke his neck and after dang
| ing In the air for few minutes he
became still, and a volley of bullets were
fired into him. The mob then dispersed.
and the body was left dangling from the
| bridge.
AT noon to-day II was still there.
| None Of the mob made any attempt to
conceal their Identity, and the hanging
was conducted with as much formaiity
| as II IL had been a legal affair.
| The dead sheriff was only recently
| married and leaves a young wife.
THE murderer was wealthy man who
| lived at Stanton. He had killed three
men. While coming to the fair he at
! tempted 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
into their own hands every time q man is
| killed.
! "Morton's relatives are incensed over
| the lynching, and It may be that some
old feuds VIII be reopened."