People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-05-18
GEORGE ROSE LYNCHED.

NUM- LLaHStu dA NOtNOANOO1 49,
~ STRONG Cry. Kan, May 15.-Karl
Kuhl, assistant postmaster at Cotton
wood Falls, Chase county, was shot
dead Friday evening last. while dis
tributing the mail in the Office by
George Rose, a printer in the employ
Of W. E. Timmons, the postmaster,
who Isl also editor Of the COurant
Both Offices are in the same building.
Rose, it IS claimed, expected the APP
pointment given TO Kuhl, and being
disappointed in obtaining it went to
drinking. While on his sprees ne
made frequent threats of killing some
one, and had two fights with kuhl,
who was young man Of about 10.
On Friday Rose entered the postotice
and without warning, placed a pistol
TO his victims back and shot him, the
ball passing clear through the
BODY near the heart and killing him
instantly
The tragedy was almost immediate
" discovered, and in a few minutes
over 200 men were hunting the as
sassin, who had fed. The search was
successful, and about II o'clock the
court house bell was hurriedly rung
announcing the fact that he had been
captured. He had quietly given HIM
eaI@ IN 70 Tho sheriff
Almost Immediately the place was
surrounded and the prisoner demand
ed. The sheriff refused and stood the
mob of with shotguns.
Saturday morning the excitement
was intense and was kept up until
noon. when it subsidized, and it was
supposed better counsel had prevailed
and no further attempts at lynch law
would be made.
At Il o'clock. however, the court
house and jail were quietly surround
ed, every avenue Of approach or exit
carefully guarded by masked armed
men, and Sheriff Murdoch was called
to MS door by few low raps, only to
be dragged outside, where several PTS
tolls in the hands of masked men were
thrust into his face, accompanied by
the demand that he open the cell
door and surrender Rose. He at
tempted to argue the matter, but was
instantly silenced, taken to the cell
and forced to open the door,
The masked mob took their prisoner
ont, surrounded him and started to-
ward the river.
{ Everything was done quietly and
coouy as if by military orders, each
man seeming to know what he was
expected to do. When outside the
jail yard, a large crowd which
had congregated meantime, made a
rush toward the prisoner and his
guard. A few shots were fired into
the air, and stern voice commanded
the crowd to stand back. The order
was obeyed, and guard and prisoner
quietly proceeded about a quarter of a
mile east to the center Of a railroad
bridge over the Cottonwood river,
where halt was made. The prison
er's hands and feet were tied and a
moose placed over his head He was
then asked if he had anything to say
Nothing, gentlemen" he replied
coolly, you are here to hang me, and
it looks as if you would do il. |
should have preferred to have been
tried by law, however"
He was then asked if he wished to
say anything else.
No, / guess not, said he, except
! hope God will have mercy on my
soul"
lie was then hurled from the bridge,
dropping about twelve feet. His neck
was broken and his head nearly
severed from his body. He died in
stantly and scarcely a tremOr was OBJ
servable. For few moments the
mob stood and watched the dangling,
turning piece of inanimate clay which
but moment before was cool, calm,
nervy, living man, then quietly dis
persed to their homes. The body re-
manned dangling over the water, Just
within the city limits, until nearly lC
O'Clock Sunday morning, surrounded
by curious, commenting crowd. 1t
was then cut down, coroner's in
quest held, and a verdict rendered,
Death at the hands of unknown
parties by hanging"
The men who did the hanging were
all masked. They are supposed to be
leading citizens of the place, and pub
lie sentiment is almost unanimous in
sustaining their action, as there is nc
law to hang murderers in the state.
-Four murders have occurred in this
vicinity within the past few years
which practically have gone unpun-
ished.
Rose was formerly from Syracuse,
! N. Y, where he has mother and two
children. His wife is dead. Kuhl
was considered one of the best young
men in the place, and exceedingly
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