The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-15
TAKEN FROM THE JAIL.
Determined Men OverpoWer
the Sheriff and His
Deputies.
SHORT sHRIFT FOR BOTH.
Willing Hands Pull the Rope That
Launches Them Into
Eternity.

ELLENSBURG, WASH, Aug. 14-Mur-
derers Samuel and Charles Vincent, father
and son, were taken from jail here early
this morning by mob and lynched. The
avengers were determined, and the Sheriff
and his deputies were soon overpowered.
The doomed men were given no chance
for parting words, and scores of will
ing hands launched the murderers into
eternity.
The Vincents were to have had hear
ing to-day, but the people of Ellensburg
decided to save the expense of trial. A
crowd gathered in the streets last night
and proceeded to put their plans into ex-
ecution. At least nine-tenths of the peo-
pie favored immediate action, and some of
the most prominent citizens were in the
crowd. A few were masked, but the ma
jority made no attempt at disguise.
1t was l o'clock this morning that the
word was given to move on the Jail.
Sheriff Stinson made brave effort to de-
fend his prisoners, but without avail. His
force was too small to have any effect
against the big crowd that demanded ad-
mittance, and the Jail was such weak
structure that it was impossible to keep the
crowd out.
AS soon as they entered the lynchers
made a rush for the cell in which Charles
Vincent was confined. 1t was one of the
steel cages, and for while it defed the ef-
forts of the crowd, but it was finally opened
and the prisoner dragged out. He made
little resistance, seeming to be overcome
with fear. He was dragged out of the jail
and to a small silver-poplar near by. A
rope was thrown over branch, tied around
his neck, and III another moment he was
dangling in the air. The crowd then rid
died the body with bullets.
| The mob had at first intended to lynch
| young Vincent only, but just at this time
news was spread that Burglin, the man
stabbed by the elder Vincent, was dead.
Then it was decided to make thorough
| job of it. The avengers marched back to
the Jail. Again Sheriff Stinson made a
brave but unsuccessful fight to save his
prisoner. Vincent, apparently half dead
with fear, made no resistance. He was
dragged out and soon was hanging beside
his son.
The excitement in town to-day is in
tense, but so far the authorities have taken
no action.
The crime for which the citizens of
ElleUSDuIS IOOh the law lHtO buelI OWN
hands was wholly unwarranted. On Sun
day, while drunk, Charles Vincent shot
Mike Kohlopp, the proprietor of saloon,
inflicting a wound which quickly proved
fatal. John Burglin, who. was in the sa-
loon at the time, tried to save Kohlopps
| life, but was stabbed and mortally wound
ed by Sam Vincent, father of Charles.
| Burglin fingered until last night, when he
| died.
| The killing caused an intense feeling of
| Indignation in the community. The VIM
cents were looked upon as bad men, and
there was determination to get rid of
them. Charles Vincent had a bad crimi-
nal record. He had served term in the
Oregon penitentiary for burglary and was
regarded as second-class crook. He
acted as stool-pigeon for the detectives
in proposed robbery of the Northern Pa
citc Railroad and exposed the plans of the
robbers. As soon as news of the killing
spread there was strong talk among the
citizens in favor of lynching. Lawless
deeds have been so frequent that it was
felt that a warning was needed.