Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-05-30
JUDGE LYNCH'S WORK
he HOLDS COURT At DANvll,r
ILL
1nfuriated Mob Of Farmers and CHI.
gems Hang Two Ravishers-JailD Door
and Walls Wrecked with Batterin~
Rams of Telegraph Poles and Iron.


ES1EAy SATURDAY uIOEuluB y WOO which
ut Danville, ILL.,, had been In possession
Of Vermillion County's Jail for several
hours, succeeded in locating John Halls,
Jr., and William Royce in their cells, took
them outside and hanged them for as
saulting Miss Laura Barnett. From mid
night, when the crowd first made its ap-,
pearance at the Jail doors, until the vic
Tins were reached, it was the determined.
desperate struggle of frenzied mob to
mete summary justice, battling against
heavy oaken doors and iron bars, and oc-
casionally halted by the grim stand of a.
little band Of defenders Of law and order
under the command Of Sheriff Thompson.
No amount Of parleying on his part anG
40 amount Of plea from his wife could
Withstand the mob which had but the one
object in view.
Vain Plea for Law ana Order.
At o'clock Sheriff Thompson sent for
Judge Bookwalter, of the Circuit Court,
who addressed the crowd from the jail
corridor. He counseled them to peace and,
order, and for a minute. and but minute
only, his words were needed. Then an
other desperate attempt was made tel
reach the cells where the two men were
secreted. Finally Royce was located
crouching and shiverinx with fear. A;
score Of hands dragged him unceremoni-
ously from his hiding place underneath,
the wooden bench which serves prisoners,
N their bed. Half dragged and half push
ed he was hustled into the dining room
and seated on the table. A rope was
placed over his head, and while part Of
the mob kept close guard over him the.
others continued the search for Halls until
he was discovered in another and more
remote portion Of the Jail.
At 3:15 O'Clock the mob secured both Of
the prisoners and started toward the
bridge with ropes about their necks. They
were hanged almost upon the scene Of
their crime. Citizens Of Danville joined
the Infatuated farmers in their work Of
vengeance. The story Of the crime had
been the topic of discussion all day. Bust
ness was practically suspended and shop
keepers and their clerks gathered in knots
on the street corners and discussed the
affair with farmers who focked to the
city during the day. Shortly after night
fall ominous mutterings were heard and
some openly counselel the more quiet Of
their neighbors to take summary ven
geance on the perpetrators of the crime
and not take the chances Of the laws
delay or the technicalties which might
arise and eventually free the men,
As early as 10 o'clock the crowd con-
gregated on the main street, and it only
needed a venturesome leader to proceed
to the jail at once. That leader was soon
found. From whispered threats the cry
arose for vengeance, swelling on the night
air until it echoed and re-echoed from one
end of Danville to the other. A rush was
made for the Jail. where under fear Of
Just such proceeding, the guard had been
REINFORCED, but constituted only a hand
full of men to face frenzied, bloodthirsty
mob, wrought up to an indescribable pitch
and bent only on having the lives of the
two covering men within. Clamoring at
the Jail doors, the mob was met by Sher-
if Thompson. who denied admission and,
retiring behind the doors, locked and dou-
BILE bolted them.
Rush for "a Gathering Ram.
This action of the sheriff only added
fuel to the already blazing fire of indig-
nation. A hurried search was made 70.
some instrument with which to batter
down the Jail doors. Part of the crowd
rushed away, returning in few minutes
With hemlock telegraph pole, which will
ing hands grasped as battering ram The
stout oaken doors Of the Jail were con-
structed to withstand any ordinary as
saults, however. and the efforts of the
mob proved futile until another party ar
rived with a steel rail-
Sheriff Thompson and his men warned
% rfy n. a. I.
met with boots and jeers. The little BAND
d oe1enders was powerless against the
last increasing mob. and when the furious
blows, urged on with vengeful hearts.
shivered the main door, they retreated be-
hind the inner Jail. The hallway was too
narrow to permit effective work with the
railroad iron. and shorter piece was
secured. With this the second door was
attacked, and at lis o'clock in the morn.
ing gave way before the impetuous mob
which surged through the gap and de-
handed the keys of the cell in which the
prisoners were confined
Halls and Royce were thoroughly
and covered in the darkest cor.
aer of their cells. shivering Mt the sonnd
II the imprecations on the outside and
the victorious acclamations of those who
found themselves in possession of n him.
erto impregnable fortress. They bepgea
for mercy. but Sheriff Thompson was ut-
terly unable in the face of the determined
men thronging the corridor to afford them
any relief. In fact. with him discretion
aad overcome valor, and he with his little
oano retreated still farther before the an.
cry administrators of lynch law. But
With their battering ram of railroad iron
me mob quickly wrecked the interior ~
me ]ail' and the end was soon over.
Thursday evening about 7:3O o.c,ocr
MISS Laura Bennett and a friend Mas
Ahhan Draper, were returning from an
evening stroll. They were crossing tho
ermliilon river foot bridge when thew
we're attacked by Halls and Royce M;.s
draper escaped and gave the alarm.
Halls and Royce were both well-knovn
'oung men of Danville, and for severa1
., had borne an unsavory reputation
1ney were arrested on complaint If M;s.
Draper, and further identification hv John
Towns, nm old man who met violence at
ne'r hands while endeavorine to assist
he girls " assis'
Telegraphic Brevitie..
The Merchants National RAM =. G.
title, Wash, failed. ~ 90
The first fler on the Yanlton ,.aa
rant was young woman.