The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-18
A LYNCH JURY's QUEER VERDICT.
They Loaded Mccall Up With Bread
and Cheese and Bade Him Ride for
His Life.
From the Minneapolis journal.


His Life.
From the Minneapolis Journal
1T was in 1876 that Wild Biz Cwn-
liam Hickol) was murdered in Deadwood
by Jack Mccall. Nearly every one has
heard the story of wild Bill but I am
of the opinion that the story Of the trial
of Mccall by a lynch court, and his mar
velous escape. has never appeared in
print"
So said Judge Shannon OF Canton the
other day. 1t was early in the seven
ties when the judge came to Dakota UNI
der appointment by Gen. Grant as ter
1itorial chief justice, and probably no
man is so familiar with the thrilling in
cidents connected with the early settle
ment by the whites.
Mccall was afterward tried before
me- he continued, found guilty of muir
der in the first degree. sentenced to the
gallows, and subsequently hanged at
IanSton. During his trial all the Incl
dents of the murder and his escape were
brought out. Wild BIZ was playing
cards. when Mccall walked up behind
him and shot him dead. The assassin
was instantly seized by those present,
and mob soon assembled that cried for
blood. IL was finally decided to organize
"a court and give him a trial for his life.
A judge was selected, jury of twelve
men was empanelled, and counsel was
appointed for both the prosecution and
the defense.
THE prosecution made out a strong
case of cold-bloodcd deliberate murder.
When it came to the defense. Mccall, who
was man of some education and ability,
addressed the jury himself He struck
the only chord that was likely to Vibrate
to his interest when he said he had
known wild Bill down in Texas; that
they We're friends, and that he had intro
duced him 90 his family Wild Bill he
stated had abused his friendship and be-
trayed his sister. For that crime he had
visited vengeance on him. That began
10 put new phase on matters. While
they condemned him for shooting a man
without giving him a chance for his life,
they regarded the killing as justihable.
But just then the attorney for the prose-
cution came In. He asked for proof of Nc
Calls story, and alleged that McCalis
evidence should have no weight. Mccall
said he had been hunting for Wild Biz
ever since the occurrence, and that he
had no proofs OF his statements beyond
his own words, and that no sane man
would walk up in crowd and shoot an
other down unless he had cause for so do
"The jury took the case and dellberated
on IL for some time, and finally returned
with one of the queerest verdicts that has
ever been heard of by any one they
were not sure of his guilt so they had de-
cided to give him chance for his life.
They put him on fast horse, nlled his
pockets with bread and cheese, and gave
him one minute start, after which they
would kin him If they could. They were
all armed with winchester rifles ana re-
Volvers, and were horsemen and excellent
shots.
"When the word was given Mccall
started for his life Before the minute
was up he began throwing himself rapidly
from one side to the other to divert the
aim of his pursuers. At the end of the
fateful minute the word was given. and
the pursuit and fusilade began. IL seems
almost incredible, but he escaped. He
ran into wyoming, and after about three
weeks turned up in Cheyenne, where he
was arrested by a United states marshal
and turned over to a marshal in Dakota.
on trial il was shown that the story Of
the seduction of his sister was false
hood. cunningly devised to save his neck.
He murdered wild Bill for the notoriety
of having killed the famous scout, and
thoroughly deserved the execution that
followed his conviction. But the verdict
of the lynch jury was unique and original
in criminal trials :"