The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-10-17
Made TO Hang Himself.

LOUISVILLE, KY, October IA spe-
cial to the Commercial from Lexington,
KY, says: Another lynching was added
to the unusually large fall series of the
Blue Grass lynching hees to-day. Yes
terday, at the close Of the Beattyyille
Fair, Oscar Morton, prominent citizen
ofStanton, in Powell County, went on the
war path.
ONLY two weeks ago Morton killed a
man at Stanton, and was out on $4,000
bond to appear next week at The Powell
Circuit Court. When Morton arrived at
the fair he proceeded to get drunk, and
then went to hunt Sheriff VIM. Simms,
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 pistols and quick
exchan 90 of shots followed, Morton using
two pistols. His first shot broke the
Sheriffs right arm at the elbow and
John Hogg, friend of Simms, whip
ped out his pistol and Joined in the bat,
tie. ;,
When the smoke had cleared away it
was found that Sheriff Simms was dead =
having shot thg.ugh his breast, ops in
his abdomen and anosher, tscc"ugh his
arm. Morton was shot through the neck.
Lille Hogg was unhurt. Before crowd
could collect Morton was hustled to the
county Jail and placed under guard. The
people became infuriated, and big
meeting was at once held in the PUBLIC
square, Col. John Drummond mounted
a barrel and made speech, in which he
said 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.
A mob was quickly formed and march
ed to the Jail. The jailor was overpower-
ed and the keys to Morton's cell obtain
ed. He was found lying on the, floor of
his cell, and after bitter struggle was
seized and dragged out. He tten became
impudent and told the mob that he did
not care what they did with him provid-
ed they did their work quick. Afeer a
short preliminary he was taken to little
bridge some distance from the town and
the rope was placed around his neck. The
leaders drew their guns and told him to
jump or else he would be riddled with
bullets.
Turning around the doomed man
cursed his captors aEd, uttering wild
imprecations, leaped into space. The
Jump broke his neck, and alter dangling
in the air for few minutes he became
still and volley of bullets was fired into
him. The mob then dispersed and the
body was left dangling from the bridge.
At noon to-day it was still there. None
of the mob made any attempt to conceal
their identity and the hanging was con-
Quoted with as much formality as if 1t
had been legal act. The dead sheriff was
only recently married and leaves young
wife.
The murderer was 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 ne
would not increase the speed of the loco
motive.
This is the eighth lynching in Central
Kentucky in the past three months, and
che people have determined to put down
murder if they have to take the law into
their own hands every time man Is
killed. Morton's relatives are incensed
over the lynching. and it may be that
some old feuds will be reopened.