The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-11

I quietly dispersed.
For some reason past finding out. the
night OF sunday was passed away quiet
~, and the highwayman in the city Jail
was not molested.
On Tuesday evening. Nov IS. two large
/ bodies OF citizens met in different parts
Of town and determined to strike terror
10 all evil-doers by making an example
Of Stuart. Some differences sprung up
between the two bodies on Tuesday night,
however. and no action was taken at
that time, although the night was full
Of rumOrs which kept the reporters on
the alert until Wednesday morning at
o'clock, when the papers went TO press.
On the evening Of the same day a noted
character about Leadville was an inmate
OF the county Jail This man was Ed
ward Frodsham, an Englshman by birth,
but reared on the frontier among a com
munity in which he soon distinguished
himself as an unscrupulous ruffian and
desperadO One week after his arrival
in Leadville he opened a watch -tinker's
shop in a little quarter-story log cabin
near the corner of Spruce and Pine
streets. While he Piled his trade his
faithful spouse added TO the income of
the family by taking In washing. Frods-
ham did not stick 10 this long. He soon
branched out into the real estate bust
ness. buying, selling and jumping lots.
In fact appropriating whole town dis
TO the authorities and all rules of topO-
graphical engineering. whole plats an:
sections of stolen real estate. Associa-
ted with a gang as desperate as himself
TO which the acting city marshal and
other city officials were suspected TO be-
long in secret. he escaped punishment
for a long time Always well Supplied
with money, he was ready TO give bail
whenever arrested for a breach of the
law. and people wondered in their terror
how long this man would be suffered
to set justice at defiance.
A bold lot-jumping case on Capitol Hill,
in which FrOdsham was as usual the d.
recting spirit, brought matters to a eli
max, and those on the inside knew that
his days were numbered unless he took
alarm and left the town. He had ample
time to do this opportunity to escape being
ing purposely given him, but with charac-
teristic bravado Frodsham chose to grit
his teeth in defiance Of the warning
At 30 on the morning of Thursday,
Nov 20. the slumbers of the watchers at
the county jail were disturbed by a knock
ing at the iron door Of the Institution.
as though one of the deputy sheriffs de-
sired to gain admission. and as those Of
ncials, In view of the excited feeling
that prevailed throughout the camp,
alone had access and exit at all times. the
door was Immediately opened. The first
man who stepped inside the Jail was I'm
der Sheriff Il. II. Watson, and alongside
OF him came convoy Of men with pistols
in their hands pointed at his head.
1t consisted of fifteen men in masks,
who demanded that the sheriff throw the
jail door open to them on penalty of
Watson's life.
Ever since the hold-up and shooting of
the previous Saturday two ex-
ira men had been engaged as
special officers at the jail to
assist in repelling any attack that might
be designed upon the Jail for the purpose
or Selling Stuart. who, for safety's sake,
had been removed from the city to the
county prison. The Jail officials certainly
had no choice but TO surrender, for the
moment the jail doors were opened every
man was covered with a gun Watson
had been lured out of the house of a
friend, where he was spending the even
ing, and had suddenly found himself in
the midst Of a band of vigiIantes, who
marched him to the jail and compelled
him to give the signal that would open
the door, Deputy Sheriff Miller was ly-
ing on cot outside the cage, and the
moment the masked invaders were in pos
session of the premises, three of them
made a rush al him, and before he could
explain his official capacity he was bound
with small cord and gagged. They were
putting the rope around his neck when
somebody shouted they were hanging the
wrong man. This stopped the vigilantes for
minute, and discovering their mistake
they turned around to see where the men
We're TO whose presence the jail was in
debted for their visit
The deputy sheriff was unbound, and
without an apology, left to apply friction
to his bruised wrists. under the protec-
ton of couple of frowning six-shooters
In the meantime Is vigilantes had filed
into the Jail and 20 more were outside to
protect their companions or take a hand
in the shooting, If any was necessary
While the trio was busy preparing Miller
for the cross-beam another party diseov-
cred Frodsham. AS the Jail was running
under its usual full pressure, and Fords-
ham was rather a more respectable pris-
oner than the average cut-purse, he had
not been put to the indignity of breathing
| the congested cell air, but had been given
the privilege of the corridor.
He had no sooner been spotted than a
rope was fastened around his body, and
| the vigilantes began to acquaint him with
the purpose of their late call.
| Are you going to see me die, boys?'
| he cried
You've got to look out for yourself. old
man, one of the deputies shouted in re-
| ply; they've got the drop on all of us
| just nowr
Wont you let me see my wife frst?"
Fordsham cried in the last despair OF a
cowardly ruffian.
You'll see hi firstw was the consoling
! reply, and with that he was collared by
the hemp and dragged out of the prison.
As he was being pulled out he shouted
| 'Murderw Justify.
The slack end of the rope was then
thrown over the transom of door which
| was part of the unfinished framework of
a small addition to the jail near the cook
room. 1t broke under the strain of the
body, and Frodsham landed on his feet.
| Quicker than thought the rope was thrown
| across another crossbeam and the body
| drawn into the air The end of the rope
| was then made fast to the side of the
| framework and the struggling wretch was
left to die at his leisure Not a sound
escaped from him as he was drawn up;
his neck stretched considerably however,
and when the reporters appeared on the
| scene the toes of the dead man were iust
| touching the ground.
The next victim was then prepared. and
this was Patrick Stuart, a boy of 20. and
beardless. When the vigilantes came to
him and made him walk out he PRAYED
for his life and besought them not to kin
him. But mobs have less pity than the
professional red ak man. and the youthful
criminal was soon made ready to meet
his fate.