The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-26
ALTGELD CAN'T SAVE THEM NOW.
How the Farmers Lynched the Rape
Demons at DanyiIle, Ill.

demons at DanNltle, III.
DanviIle. H.. May 2s.-John Halls. jr..
and William Royce, the young men OF un-
savery reputation who assaulted Miss
Laura Barnett and Miss Lillian Draper.
were hanged TO the Gilbert street bridge.
the scene OF their crime. at $50 a. m. to-
day. On the way 70 the bridge from the
jail a procession was formed. taking the
boys through the main streets. Halls
and Royce both walked with firm steps
with ropes around their necks. and Royce
wanted TO see his father. and a delay fol-
lowed. His father did not come. Halls
said he was not ashamed of what he had
done. They woulG not jump, and both
were thrown over the oridge railing at
S:s5 a. m. They dropped thirty feet, and
death followed. both expiring In fearful
oonvnlsions. Their faces were rot COW
cred. and they hung side by side ca the
east railing.
From midnight, when ;he crawd FIRST
made its appearance At the jail doors.
until the victims were reached. il was
desperate struggle o. a frcnzieG mob
battling against a heavy oaken door and
iron bars. occasionally halted by the grim
stand or the little band Of defenders
under the comma nd of Sheriff Thompson.
A telegraph pole w,s used as hatterins
ram. At o'clockAherim Thompson sent
for Judge Rookwllter, OF the circuit
court who address d the crowd from the
Jail corridor. 'fe counselied peace aaS
order and for minute his words were
needed, then another desperate attempt
was made to reach the cells where the
two men were secceted. Finally Royce
wars located crou ,h:ng aud shiverins With
fear His cell door was quickly battered
down A score Of hands dragged him un-
tremendously from his hiding place
underneath the wooden bench which
serves the prisoners as bed.
He was hustled into the dining
room and seated on the table.
4 rope was placed over his head. and
while part of the mob Lspt close guard
over him. others continue searching -cr
Halls until he was discovered in anothe.
and more remote potion Of the jail.
The mob was composed CT 1000 peop'e.
most OF them farmers from near Indian
ola. where Miss Barnett lived. In Jail.
before being taken out. both boys pro-
tested their Innocence although identified
by Miss Barnett's companion yesterday
at the Jail. Royce was slowly strancied.
His struggles lasted firteen minutes. MiSs
Barnett one of the yict ms, hovers be
tween life and ieath.
Chicago, May 25.-Touchng the charge
made by one of the speakers at the
double lynching at Danville, Ill. last
night. to the effect that the mob did not
propose TO allow the law to take its
course because Gov. Altgeld would par
don the guilty men. the governor, who is
now here, said: This is simply the re-
suit of Republican vilihcation. and a part
of the system OF deliberate lying which
has been carried on for several years.
The Republican newspaper men know that
the records in the capital at Springfield
show that / have fallen far below the
average OF pardons and combinations
granted each year. while the number OF
prisoners has nearly doubled, and conse-
quently the number OF applications for
pardons has nearly doubled" The gov
ernor then proceeded to quote figures in
substantiation OF his statement.