New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-15
SWIFT PRAIRIE JUSTICE,
A TRIPLE LYNCHING IN KANSAS.

THREE MURDERERs SWUNG FROM THE STRING
Frs OF UNION PACIFIC BRIDGE-rwo
OF THEM WERE FATHER AND SON.
Russell Kan, Jan. 14.-At 1 o'clock this morn.
ing there terrible exhibition Of prairie
justice here. and three men met death at the
hands of Judge Lynch. No such outbreak OF
the od-time, swift. frontier justice has been
witnessed in Kansas for years. The mob was
one of the quietest and most determined that
ever came together. It was hercely earnest
and wholly heartless mob. also for the victims
did not get even time to pray before they were
dropped into eternity.
The men hanged were j. c. Burton. William
Gay and the iatters son. John Gay. who had
lived together Burton's farm The men were
ccnfessedy guilty of the murder Of Fred" Dim
niny last July Dlnniny lived with T. w. Bur-
ton on farm eleven miles north Of here. On
July he disappeared Burton had the dead
mans team and even wore some Of his
clothes, but said he had gone to Oklahoma with
young Gay. Gay returned q short time ago. and
on close questioning. confessed that Burton had
poisoned Dinniny. The elder Gay attempted to
point out the place Of burial but failed Burton
then made a confession that the GAYS killed
Dinniny, and on Thursday he took the Sheriff
to a corniield in a ravine, where the body de-
composed and mutilated. was found Indigna-
tion ran high, and it with difficulty the three
men could be taken to the Jail
Last night number of men living I'm the
vicinity of the Burton farm came into town and
were reinforced by farmers from all parts Of the
county. The party appeared to have been picked,
for there only about l3O in all when AT
midnight, they surrounded the little jail and de-
manGcd the prisoners. They easily forced their
way into the jail and dragged out the terrified
trio from their cells.
The mob cool and well organized, and
made no attempt at cOnrealment. though there
were many on-lookers. They took the men out
through the streets and guarded them with ieal-
Gus care. leading them along the Union Pacific
track short distance from town, where little
prairie stream is crossed by the railroad and
wagon road about 100 rods east Of the Russell
depot
To the bridge this the mob went and
placed the trembling wretches near the edge
Ropes were ready. and one was put around the
neck or each Of the men and tied 10 the
stringers: There was no time given for prayers
or pleadings. but at n signal all three were
pushed off the edge and dropped eight or ten
feet with all the precision Of a regular hanging
To make sure of carrying out their purpose the
mob ilred two shots into each body, although
death came quickly by the rope. Then the
lynchers rode away quietly and the bodies
swung cold and stiff
Wien morning came passengers on the east
bound express train had plain view of the
bodies as they hung from the high bridge Hun
dreds OF people gathered around but it was not
until 1890 o'clock that the bodies were cut
down. The Coroner at once held an inquest
and without delay the jury returned a verdict
that the deceased men came 70 their deaths at
the hands Of persons unknown
There is little sympathy for the victims The
murder was a cruel and heartiess one. and the
murdered man had many friends Ever since
his disappearance suspicious have grown more
pointed, and the three men lvnched this
morning were considered guilty. Their mutual
recriminations and cross-confessions convinced
the people that all Of them were guilty, and
during the last week and while the inquest over
Dinninys body was being held, public attention
was given almost exclusively to the matter
The trivial booty secured, and the evidence of
mutilation on the body. robbed the murderers
OF all sympathy. II is not likely that any at
tempt will be made to Identify the lynchers.