The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-02
Taken from a Carriage After HIS
Horses Had Been Killed and Him.
self and a Girl Wounded.
HIS FATE NOT YET KNOWN
BUT TT is SUPPOSED HE WAS PUT TO
DEATH BY HIS CAPTORS.
Long Legal Battle That Incensed the
PeOpIe-An Innocent Negro Hanged
by a Kentucky Mob.

O'NEILL, Neb, Jan. 1.-The defaulting
treasurer of Holt county, Barrett Scott is
supposed to have been hanged by mob
last night He was captured about mid
night in a lonely part of the county north
of this city. He was returning with his
wife, baby, hired man, named John
Schmidt and Miss MeWharter, from a
trip to relatives about thirteen miles from
O'Neill when six masked men Sprang from
the roadside, where they had been con-
cealed, and, covering the carriage with
winchesters, ordered Scott to surrender.
Scott seized the reins and attempted to
drive over the men. The masked men then
fired into the carriage, killing the horses
and shooting Scott in the neck and wounds
ing Miss McWharter, though not seriously.
The first party was then Joined by
larger force, when had been placed across
the road further on, to intercept the car
riage had 1t escaped the first volley. Scott
and Schmidt were taken from the vehicle.
blindfolded and thrown into wagon, and
the ladies' were told to go on. To-day
Schmidt returned. He had been taken to a
sod house in the northwest part OF the
county, with Scott. Schmidt was released,
with the injunction to go out of the coun-
try. 1t is believed that Scott has been
hanged, as the farmers of the county are
jncensed over his work
= Scotts defalcaton as county treasurer OF
Holt county, his flight to Mexico, his sub
sequent arrest, the strong fight made
against extradition, his return in irons, in
generation, trial, conviction, sentence, ap-
peal and release on bonds two weeks ago.
have been told at length from time to time
since year ago last August, when the
discovery of his crime was first made
public. Scotts troubles began in January,
1892, at the close of his first term, when
he was asked to allow the commissioners to
see the cash that the books showed to be
in his hands. Scott did not have the money
on hand, there being but $7,348 in the vault
when the commissioners made their first
visit. They then gave Scott ten days in
which to make the showing, and money was
secured from Omaha for that purpose.
When the borrowed money was shipped
out the next day, and the board learned of
it, and that SIS was paid for the use of it,
an investigation was started and Scott was
removed from office.
1t was ascertained by the commissioners
in June of that year. some time after the
beginning of litigation, that number of
the sureties on Scott's bond were trans
ferring their property, and he was notified
that he must secure additional bonds. This
he failed to do. When the board met again
1t declared the office vacant and appointed
r. j. Hayes, Republican, TO take the
place in june 1892. Scott refused to sur
render and Hayes began mandamus pro-
ceedings to get possession of the office,
but the case went to the district court,
where it hung up for year awaiting
the decision of the Supreme Court in the
case started few months before. and it
was not definitely acted until after Scott
had gone to Mexico. Judge Marshall, of
the Fremont district, was invited by Judge
Kincaid to pass upon it, and he declared
Scott removed from Office, practically con-
firming the voluntary abdication of the
defaulter.
When the Holt county bank failed on
June 2, 1892, Scott asserted that there was
about $40, 600 of the county funds tied up
there, but after statements was made by
the bank officials he gradually modified the
amount to $4,000 The statements of the
bank examiner and receiver were to the
effect that the sum was but $4,000 and of
this amount $1,000 was deposited by Scott
to his private account. After Scott had
been placed in Jail at OneiH legal machinery
set in motion to effect his release.
Hebeas corpus proceedings failed. His bail
was originally fixed at sI9,000 but was later
raised by Judge Kincaid to $4,000. This
amount was asserted to be excessive, but
the court refused to lower it. Recourse to
the Supreme Court gave no relief and
finally, after Scott had been nominally in
Jail for several months, he was liberated on
bail. His was taken to Antelope coun-
ty, on change of yen1e, and the trial last
September resulted in his conviction and
sentence to five years Imprisonment. Pend
ng an appeal his bond was fixed at $4,000.
This he could not secure and the matter
was taken to the State Supreme Court.
On Dec. that body decided that the bond
was excessive and reduced the amount
from $4,000 to $4,000. In a day or two
Scott secured the necessary bondsmen and
was released on bail. On his release Scott
returned to Holt county