The record-union., 1895-08-27

morning mob of $50 determined men
gathered in Yreka from all sections OF
Siskiyou County for the purpose OF
lynching the four murderers in the
County Jail-Johnson, Senior. Null and
Moreno. So quietly were their plans
consummated that the Sheriff and his
deputies received no warning whatever
and knew nothing OF what was going on,
Small groups from different sections
began to arrive on the outskirts OF Ireka
about o'clock. They stopped everyone
they met, compelling them to remain
with them. At o'clock, the crowd hav-
ing gathered, an old rail was secured at
the depot and carried to the Courthouse
square. 1t was placed between two trees
and the gallows was ready.
In order to get him out of the way City
Marshal Parks was called down to the
foot OF Miner street about 1890 o clock by
sham fight between a couple Of men.
When he arrived there he WAS told that
there was more trouble down by the
Burgess place, on Main street. The
Marshal went down there and finding no
one he returned, and then for the first
time it dawned on him that there was
something wrong. He rushed to No.
engine-house with the intention OF alarm
ing The town by the ringing OF the ire
bell. but found that the ropes had been
tied to prevent them being used. he
then Went up toward the jail, hrlng
couple of shots to alarm the OfhcerS. but
the mob had already arrived, and in such
mum bers that the officers were poweriess
to resist.
4 number OF the men, all of whom
were masked, awakened Under Sheriff
Radtord at the Sheritf's Office IN the
Courthouse and demanded the keys from
him. lie positively refused TO open the
door or give the keys up, telling them
that if they broke i'll the doors he would
blow their brains out. Finding that RAD
ford was determined not to give them the
keys they went across TO the jail and got
on top OF the stone wall which surrounds
the jail.
Deputy Sheriff Henry Brautlacht, who
has been sleeping in the jail since the
commitment oil so many murderers
thinking some one was escaping from
the iail. fired two shots out OF the window
TO alarm City Marshal Parks and Deputy
Sheriff Kadford. He thon opened the
doors and was Immediately held up by
the mob, who took the keys from him
and entered the jail. Having no keys to
the different cells they were compelled
to burst the locks with ledgehanmers,
=. which they proceeded to do at once.
v Lawrence Ii. Johnson, who brutally
stabbed his wife TO death at Etna on sum
day evening. July 18th. was the first TO
receive the attention OF the mob. They
broke the lock from the door of his cell,
and placing d rope around his neck, led
him out of the jail and across the street to
where the iron rail was laid between the
forks of two locust trees. johnson
pleaded for mercy. but the silent gath
erIng gave no heed to his appeals, and he
,t,.tyt ytx-
strangulatiOn in a few minutes.
The mob returLed to the jail and next
broke into the cell of William Null, who
shot Henry Hayden at Callahan's on April
list in dispute over some mining prop
erty. Null desired TO make q statement,
but time was too valuable to permit any
such preliminarles, and he was soon
hanging alongside Of Johnson.
Louis Moreno, who was charged with
having killed George Sears on the 9Th of
this month, was then taken from his cell
and was soon swinging with ohnson and
Null.
The last and youngest of the four muir
derers to pay the penalty OF his crime
was Garland Semler, aged about IS, who,
in company with Moreno, was charged
with having killed Casper Meierhaus at
Bailey Hill on the 9TH of this month. y
rome was placed around Semler's neck and
he was led from the Jail in his bare feet,
panions.
About this time Sheriff Hobbs, having
been notified, arrived on the scene. and,
startingsior the jail door, was Commanded
60 halt, the command being emphasized
by the display of several revolvers. He
was told that the Job had been DONE"
Bv this time The greater part Of the mob
had dispersed, leaving only about thirty
or forty men on guard, who soon lett
after the Sheriff arrived.
The mob comprised men from different
eections OF the county, ana was well or
eauized. 4 squad OF seventy-hve came
along Fourth street from the Scott Valley
and Shasta Valley roads. and others came
from the north end of town by the Hawk
iusyille and Shasta Valley roads, while a
number followed the Yreka railroad track
and wagon road from the Montague di-
rection. a number coming in on a hand
car.
inst before the lynching a man with a
team nut up at Martins stable and said
he would be back in an hour The night
hostler thought it strange for visitor at
that hour OF night, and inquired If some
one was sick. He answered that he came
in for doctor 10 see very sick man at
PoIsegama Returning in an nour and a
quarter he apoIogiZed to the early morn
ing hostler, Bob Morton, Tor not pelng on
time. and soon disappeared. Bob knew
nothing of the occurrence then, and said
that no apology was needed, as he was
there to attend TO customers at any ana
all hours.
The bodies were taken down by Coro-
ner Scbotield and Marshal Parks, VINO
removed them in a wagon to No. En-
yine-bouse. where they were laid side by
side, making CHASTITY looking sight.
The body OF young Semler IS now peing
prepared for shipment to his brother S
home at Merced. His brother is here ac-
companied by lawyer. He came to at
tend the examination, which was APP
pointed for this (Monday) morning.
August Goth.
The Coroner has summoned jury 10
hold an inquest, which is now in progress.
Knots of men are congregated Oh the
main street. discussing the summary
lynching. 1t seems like pioneer days,
when Judge Lynch attended to ali cases
of murder, while the citizens. waxing up
for breakfast, were thundersiruck Win
the sensation of the night. no one dream
ing or suspecting such an occurrence.
LYNCHING IN KENTUCKY.
SPRINGFIELD (ky.l, Aug. pa mob
composed of a dozen negroes TOOK har-
rison Lewis (colored) from jail here last
night and hanged him to tree IN the
Courthouse yard. They attacked The
Smith, who, having been warned that
they were coming, escaped aud took the
KEYS with him. The mob. nothing
6aunted, repaired to the neighborlng
blacksmith shop, procured sledge-
hammer and other tools and began bat
seriug down the doors. It took three