Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1895-01-19
HUNG TO A BRIDGE
Masked Men Drag a ,juliaatta
Citizen Out OF His House.
ORDERED TO LEAVE TOWN
The Vie Ian Saves Hts Lille by f"uihS Tvs
fingers Inside the Moose
Ar, und His y. Oh.

Jnltaetta was treated TO sensation
,na other night which came very near
beipg a Hanging bee and would nave
ended fatally for the victim but for the
members OF the hanging party weak
ening. says the Kendrick Gazette. ABOUT
| o'clock n rap on the door at the resi-
dence of Fred j. Bratton. called MN
out of his bed and on opening the door
he was confronted by Ave masked men.
Thinking II only a joke the MASKED
men were greeted and invited inside
and seated. Mr.. Bratton at once rec
ognized one OF the masked men as W.
q Ring. editor OF the Press, calling
him by name and inuuiring the cause
~ their presence. not receiving any re-
ply from Bling. others OF the party
snrang upon their victim saying they
had come to hang him, ana proceeueu
~ pinion his arms to his sides. while
another drew a rope from his pocket
with a moose already prepared. throw
ing Il over his head and drawing II tight
| around his neck Then they dragged
hin, from his home and repeatedly jerk
| ing him upon his face. kicking and
beating him on the route TO the bridEe
across the Potlatch east OF town. where
they proceeded To- carry out the act OF
hanging their victim without any mercy
whatever. The rope was thrown over
! the bridge timbers and he was quickly
| drawn up. but by a fortunate circun-
1 stance MIR. Bratton succeeded In get
| ting his fingers on the inside of the rope
around his neck. and thus saved his
| life. After hanging Is or 20 seconds
| one of the party weakened and he was
let down with the information that II
he left town within an hour his life
| would be spared but replying that II
| would be impossible for him to do so.
they exclaimed. I'VE will hang the -
--- - and quickly drew him up
again. His fingers again came handy.
and after hanging several minutes he
was let down and found to be stu alive.
They then told him to leave the country
within As hours or he would certainly
be killed; having so promised. Mr. Brat
ton was taken back to his home. The
party then searched the house for fire
arms. finding none. they departed. Al
the hanging only four of the party were
present, Bling having dropped out on
their leaving the house. During the
next day Bratton met Bing and de-
mandcd an explanation from him. and
being told he was forced to enter tbs
mob, but refusing to give the names OF
the party. Bratton secured warrant
and Bling was arrested for conspiracy
To take his life. The trial took place
and terminated by Bing being bound
over to the grand jury under bono
Of $500, which was furnished by Julia
eta parties.
CAUSE OF THE AFFAIR.
Bratton's offense, according 10 prom
| III fu al fsFffal and In
human treatment OF his wife. who Il
now an inmate of the Medical LAX,
asylum for the insane. The story tolS
by neighbor Is as follows:
"Bratton is and has been for years 1
very hard drinker and during his drunk
en- sprees beat and otherwise mistreatec
his wife until she was driven insane
, Some time In November, 1894. she wa
! taken to Spokane TO see II the chang
would not benefit her. and in compan.
! with her husband some time afterwar,
went to Kendrick 10 a dance where h.
, Bratton) got so drunk he had to be pu
, to bed by his male acquaintance. Thl
! preyed upon her mind TO such an ex
tent as TO drive her insane and she i
now an inmate of the insane asylum.
Mr.. Bling, the editor. does not den.
his connection with the lynching party
and says when the case comes to trial
some startling events as to the crue
way In which Bratton treated his wife
who Is much beloved and respected b
all who know her. will be brought out.
Bratton also accuses his wife of Grim
. inal intimacy with a physician. Thl
, | accusation. however. was never mad
public until after the threatened lynch
| inp