The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-08-30
STRJNG UP BY IIGILMIES.
Four Hurderers Takon from the Jail and
Lynehed at Yreka, Cal

No Time Allowed Fer Speeches BY Judge
Lyneh's Acknowledgements Gal
lows Made and the Accused Men Hurried
Into Eternity-sheriR Decoyed Away
YREKA, Cal, Aug. 27.-Four murder
sFs were taken from the county Jail by
mob Of $50 men at o'clock Monday
and lynched. A band of citizens, fear
ing that the law would not be carried
out and angered over the atrocity Of re-
cent crimes, determined TO take matters
into their own hands. The lynching
was a CHASTITY climax to the reign OF
2aWlessness which has prevailed in Sis.
kiyou county for some months past,
One Of the victims was Lawrence John
son, who, on the evening Of July a.
stabbed his wife to death in the town
of Etna. Another was William Null,
who shot Henry Hayter in the back
with a rife near Callahan's on April 81,
Louis Moreno and Garland Soomler,
who are supposed to have killed George
Sears and Casper Meirerhans at Bailey
Hill on Aug. B, were also hanged
Atil at night farmers from ali parts
Of the surrounding country began to
drive into town, and by midnight the
mob was ready to march to the county
Jail. Before taking a step, however,
every precautiOn was taken to prevent
the plans Of the lynchers from being
frustrated by the officers of the law.
The sheriff and one Of his deputies were
decoyed to another part of town by two
members Of the mob, who were engaged
in a sham fight, and the fire bell was
muf1ed to prevent an alarm being given
in that way. When the Jail was
reached the mob, all of whom were
masked, awakened Under Sheriff Red
ford and demanded the keys to the jail.
He positively refused to open the door
or give the keys up, telling them that
if they broke in the doors he would
blow their brains out.
The mob got on top Of the stone wall
which surrounds the Jail. Deputy
Sheriff Henry Brahtlacht, who has been
sleeping in the Jail since the commit
ment Of so many murdeFers, thinking
some one was escaping from the jail,
fired two shots out of the window to
alarm City Marshal Parks and Deputy
Sheriff Radford He then opened the
doors and was Immediately held up by
the mob, who took the keys from Shim
and entered the Jail. Having no keys
to the different cells they were COM
PEELED to burst the locks with sledge.
hammer, which they proceeded to do at
once.
Lawrence Johnson, who brutally
stabbed his wife, was the first to receive
the attentidl of the mob. They broke
the lock from the door Of his cell and
placing a rope around his neck, led him
out Of the Jail across the street to
where an iron rail had been laid be-
tween the forks of two locust trees.
Johnson pleaded for mercy, but the
silent gathering gave no heed to him
and he was quickly strung up, dying
from strangulation in a few minutes.
The mob returned to the Jail and next
broke into the cell of William Null,
who shot Henry Hayter at CaIlahan's
on April q in dispute over a mining
property. Null desired to make q state
ment, but time was too valuable to per-
nit any such preliminaries and he was
sOOnI hanging alongside Of johnson.
Louis Moreno, who was charged with
having killed George Sears on the 9th
Of this month, was then taken from his
cell and was soon swinging with John
son and Null
The last and youngest Of the four
murderers to pay the penalty Of his
crime was Garland Seemler, aged about
10, who, in company with Moreno, was
charged with having killed Casper
Meirchans. a rope was placed around
his neck and he was led from the jail in
his bare feet. He begged for mercy
and his last words were: 'aTen my dear
old mother I am innocent of the crime. -
About this time Sheriff Hobbs, hav-
ing been notified, arrived on the scene
and starting for the Jail door, was com.
manded to halt, the command being
emphasized by the display of several re.
volyers. He was told that the ''iob"
had been done. By this time the greater
part of the mob had disappeared, leav-
ing only about 30 Or 40 men on guard,
who soon left after the sheriff arrived
The bodies were taken down by Coro-
ner Shofeld and Marshal Parks, who
removed them in wagon to an engine
house, where they were laid side by
side. The coroner has summoned a
jury to hold an inquest. Yreka is a
little mining town and years ago was
frequently the scene Of mob violence.
pfToo f2ive1 the Tleeisgo4 Ovsr Grfa7n