Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-10-15
THE EIGHTH LYNCHING
In Central Kentucky in the Last
Three Months.
A PROMINENT NAN HANGED.
He Killed One Man Two Months
Ago, and Yesterday Added a
Sheriff to His Little List - The
People Took Him From Jail,
After a Mass Meeting Had
Been Held.

LOUISVILLE KY, October IA
special to the Commercial from Lexing-
ton, KY, says:
Another lynchiDg was added to the
unusually large fall series Of Blue
Grass lynching bees to-day.
Yesterday, at the close of the Beatty
vile Fair, Oscar Morton, prominent
citizen OF Stanton. in Powell county,
went on the war path. Only two weeks
ago Morton killed his 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 for Sheriff William 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 a few words
both Of them drew guns, and a quick
exchange OF shoNs followed, Morton
using two guns. Dis first shot broke
the Sheriff's right arm al the elbow, and
John Hogg, a friend Of Simms', whip
ped out his gun 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 alb
domen 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 be-
came infuriated and big meeting was
at once held on Public Square.
Colonel 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
aad with perfect order. Morton had
killed two men in less than two weeks
time, and he must die by the rope.
A - was quickly formed and
msrched 10 the jail The jsilor was
oVerpowered and the KEYS to Morton's
cell obtained He was found lying IN
his shirt sleeves on the floor or his coll,
and after bitter struggle, was seized
and dragged out. He then became very
impudent and told the mob that he did
not care what they did with him, pro-
vided the did their work quick.
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 him to jump or else be would be
riddled with bullets. Turning around,
the doomed man cursed his captors, and
uttering Wild Impressions, leaped into
space.
The jump broke his neck, and after
dangling In the air for some minutes,
be became still and 3 voley OF shots
were 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 identities, aud the hang
ing was conducted with as much form
ality as II il had been legal affair.
The dead sheriff was only recently
married, and leaves young wife. The
murderer was a wealthy man who lived
in Stanton. He has killed three men.
Coming TO the fair he attempted 10
kill the fireman OF the train. because he
would not increase the speed at which
| the locomotive was running.
This is the eighth lynching In central
Kentucky in the past three months
and the people have determined to put
down murder IL they have to take the
law in their own hands every time
man Is killed.
Morton's relatives are incensed over
| the lynching, and 1t may be that some
old feuds will be re-opened.