The sun., 1895-05-26
LYNCHED TWO YOUNG MEN.
AN ILLINOIS MON FEARED THAT
ALIGELD WOULD PARDON THEM.

A Determined Assault on q jail ana the
Prisoners Taken Ont Despite JudGo's
Assertions that Justice yvoula BE Done
Hanged Mt Tho Scene OF tho Crlne.
DANvILLE. H.. May 25.-Early this morning
mob which had been In possession of vermilIion
county's jail for several hours succeeded in
finding two young men, John Halls, Jr., and
William Royce, in their coils. and took them
outside and hanged them for nssaulting Miss
Laura Barnett on Thursday evening last. From
midnight, when the mob first mado it's appear
ance at the Jail doors, there was determined
struggle to lynch the mon. For hours thoy bat
tied against heavy oaken doors and iron bars In
defiance Of Sheriff Thompson and his assist
ants. The mob openly declared that they
thought Gov. Altgeld would pardon the men IL
the law was allowed to take its course.
At 1850 o'clock on Thursday evening Miss
Barnett, in company with Lillian Draper, was
walking on the Vermilion River bridge at the
foot Of Main street. When accosted by Halls
and Royce the girls started to run. Ono Of the
men knocked Miss Barnett down. Miss Draper
made her escape up Main street. Her shrieks
collected crowd, which started In pursuis Of
Halls and Royce The latter dragged Miss Bar.
nett with them. They passed John Downs ON
old man. who attempted to interfere. He was
knocked down by Halls.
fields to the river bottom, where Miss Barnett
was found at 1890 A. NJ. in an unconscious con-
dition.
Halls and Royce were arrested, waived pre-
liminary examination, and were bound over to
the Grand Jury in the sum Of So. 900 each.
The mob to lynch the men had been forming
all day. but its presence was not known to any
Of the officials Of tho town. The rendezvous was
an old barn on the edge Of the town. and 1t was
N da hafpr I'm fpxvn nj Lad
many strangers had arrived in that neghbor-
hood. Early in the evening the mob seemed to
know no way Of identifying the prisoners. but
accurate information was furnished late In the
evening, when the assault upon the jail was
made. The mob consisted of between two and
three hundred mon. all masked.
After repeated efforts to break down tho outer
Jail door with telegraph pole, which produced
little or NO effect the crowd desisted for time
In their efforts to break into the Jail. Ed Mo-
Cueker stood on the Jail steps and addressed tho
mob, begging them them nc to desist. They laughed
Injured s1 s:,d e Mrs
and her blood demands vengeance" His reply
yay Psser THOMPSON sent for Judge
the crowd from tn. jan corridor. He made an
and they will get their just dues" said the
Know Il. usy w Convict them
and give them severe SENTENCE but Gov. Alt
doned three brutes you sent up from Cham
s:s m.n S.s shss 1s
But We arc determined he win never have .
| chance to turn them loose"
II want you men to quit this place at once"
as again
began work to get at the prisoners at ESQ A. AZ.
control control tho MOB, tsieTraphed The aovssnor, % ask.
ing that the militia be sent to his aid. Finally.
| after some hard work. the cells of tho mon wero
ering With fear His cell door was quickly bat
x A score @ Of hands dragged him unceremoniously
bench which served as his bed. He was hustled
into the dining room and seated on the table. Al
rope was placed over his head, and others Of the
| mob went for Halls. He was In O moro remote
| portion Of the Jail.
At 3:l5 the mob secured both of the prisoners,
and started ~ for the bridge where the girls were
streets sire s"so 70 tho bridge. Here delay W snsued,
ba to % ns e
mob waited until the day began TO break at $40
| o'clock. Then the lynchers became inpatient
and refused to wait longer. Royces last words
II am innocent. but I am prepared to die. I
have made my peace with Cod"
""Those are my sentiments. but am not
ashamed of what have done"
The ropes were fastened to tho bridge railing.
refused. Men seized each Of them and threw
them over the rail. The ropes were fifteen feet
long. stout, and well tied. After about ten min
men were not covered. Tho bodies were cut
down at o'clock. and taken to an undertaker's