The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-10-15
A DESPERATE LYNCHED,
Had Murdered Two Men Within
Two Weeks.
HIS LAST VICTIM TIE SHERIFF

A Mob Took Him from the ,E.;.s Carried
Him to q Bridge, Fastened N3pe Abou.
Hh Neck and Compelled Him to Jump
No Attempt at Secrecy.
LEXINGTON, KY, Oct. is. - Another
lynching was added to the unusually large
fall series Of Blue Grass lynching bees yes
terday. On Saturday at the close of the
Beattyville fair Oscar Morton, prominent
citizen Of Stanton, in Powell county, went
on the warpath. Only two weeks age
Morton killed a man at Stanton, and was
out on % 900 bond to appear next week al
the Powell circuit court.
When Morton arrived at tho fair he pro
ceeded to get drunk, and then went TIC
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 tho entrance to the
fair grounds, and after few words botl
Of them drew revolvers and quick ex
change of shots followed, Morton using
two revolvers. His first shot broke the
sherif's right arm at the elbow, and John
Hogg, friend of Simms, whipped out his
gun and Joined in the battle. When tn,
smoke had cleared away it was found that
Sheriff Simms was dead, having shot
through his breast, one in his abdomen
and another In his arm.
Morton was shot through the neck
while Hogg was unhurt, Before CROWD
could collect Morton was hustled to the
county Jail and placed under guard. A
big meeting was at once held in the public
square. Colonel John Drummond mounted
barrel and made speech, In which he
said the murderer must be hanged, but
1t 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 marched
to the jail. The jailer was overpowered
and the keys to Mortons cell obtained He
was found lying on the floor of his cell
and after bitter struggle was seized and
dragged out He then became impudent
and told the mob that he did not care what
they did with him, provided they did theiI
work quick. After short parley 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 rid
died with bullets.
Turning around the doomed man cursed
HIS tultbIst anu uuttflIp VIII I'M pTttutiOlls
leaped into space. The jump broke hi.
neck, and after dangling in the air fol
| some minutes he became still, and a vollcy
of shots were fired into him. The mol
| then dispersed, and the body was left dan
Cling from the bridge All day yester
day it was still there, but last evening was
cut down. None of the mob made any at
tempt to conceal their identity, and the
hanging was conducted with as much for
mality as if it had been legal affair.
The dead sheriff was only recently mar
ried and leaves young wife. The muir
derer was a wealthy man who lived al
Stanton. He has killed three men. Com
ing to the fair he attempted to kill the fire
man Of the train because he would not in
! crease the speed of the locomotive, This
is the eighth lynching in central Kentucky
J in the past three months, and tho people
have determined to put down murder, il
| they have to take the law in their owr
hands every time man is killed.
! Morton's relatives are incensed over The
lynching, and it may be that some ole
feuds will be reopened.