The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-30
BURNED THE WOMAN.
She and Her Aged Paramour
Were Gagged i'm a House
AND THEN The TORCH WAS USED.
The Woman Died in the Flames. the
Man Met the Bullets OF "a Ken
tucky Mob.

Louisville, Ky. Dec. "a special TO the
Commercial from Lebanon. KS, says:
Within two miles Of this city last night a
relentless mob burned 10 death pregnant
woman and riddled with bullets her gray
haired paramour. The blackened and dis
figures corpses OF the victims Mrs. Thorn
a. West and William Deveres we're found
In the ruins Of the woman's home today
BY the i4-year-oId daughter OF the old man.
The tragedy was one Of the most brutal
ever enacted under the grueSome sway Of
Judge Lynch. Despite the pleadngs for
her fathers life OF half-clad. frightened
child. and the prayers and tears OF the
i'll and helpless woman, the mob went
through with its work with cold-biooded.
cruel elaboration, and only left when GER
tain that both man and woman were dead.
The affair was the outgrowth of the old
story OF faithless wife and vengeful hus-
band. Several months ago Deveres a mid
die-aged widower. was accused by Thomas
West q prosperous farmer. Of intimacy
with Mrs. West. Quarrel followed quarrel
throughout the fall, until West instituted
divorce proceedings and declared Deveres
must die. The men met IN Lebanon West
snapped his revolver. which missed fire
while Deveres killed him on the spot. on
the plea OF self-defense the murderer Sc
cured bail. and scandalized the neighbOr-
hood by Immediately taking his two
daughters and moving into Vests house.
The relatives Of the murdered husband
swore vengeance, and last night il came.
Close to 10 o'clock a band OF men rode up
TO the West homestead and demanded adj
mittance.
Tom West is dead. Now it's your
turn" spoke the leader, and DeVeres and
the woman awoke TO find their house sur
rounded. Mrs. West rushed to darkened
window and began a Wild. hystericaI plea
for mercy. A dozen bullets answered her
cries. and the demand for surrender was
repeated. DeVeres, too. asked for a hear
ing. but his request was greeted with a
shower of shots.
We viii give YOU ten minutes to open
up. Then YOU burn" said the MODS lead
CT. and his men quietly retired from the
door. hurried consultation was held in
SIDE the house, and then white and ter
ror-stricken. the little girl of Deveres was
thrust out 70 plead with the mob. Clad
in her night robe. barefooted and unpro-
tected, she braveiv walked out into the
moonlight and sobhel out a prayer for her
white-haired fathers life.
Get out; you're liable TO get shot your
self the ruffians said and thoroughly
frightened the child fled 10 the cabin Of
a negro neighbor.
Mrs. West then appeared at the door.
and referring 10 her condition made a
last appeal for mercy. II was unava:Iing.
and in another moment the house was
fired. The shreks OF the imprisoned
wretches failed 10 move their torturers,
who, after the flames reached the living
room. could see the man and woman In
agony Of death by fire. Just before the
roof fell the woman was seen to reel
across the room and plunge headlong in
20 the fireplace among the burning Goals.
and there she died. Wild with pain. De-
veres at the last moment. made a dash
for liberty, but a score Of bullets stopped
him half a dozen steps from the door
This morning the little girl led her negro
protector 70 the scene and there the
bodies. scarchei beyond recognition. were
found. untouched by the lynchers There
Is but little doubt that the members of
the mob will be captured, as they were
without masks and made no attempt at
secrecy.
II is not improbable that the scenes OF
last night will be re-enacted I'm the vi
cinity shortly. as the outrage has aroused
the most intense Indignation among the
people OF the country. Because of the fact
that Vests relatives had threatened ven
geance. there is a strong belief that they
were responsible for last nights crime
The uncertainty. however. as to Just who
was implicated has SO far prevented fur
Their trouble.
The child of Deveres. who was a witness
TO the tragedy. IS dangerously i'll as the
result Of the fright AMI exposure. but upon
her recovery she NAV be able, il is hoped.
10 identify some Of the lynchers.
The scene of the horror was visited by
crowds of curious people today. AMI il was
well towards noon before the bodies were
cared for 10y an undertaken. Mrs. Vests
corpse was charred almost beyond human
semblance Overcome by the flames. she
had fallen into the large. old-fashionei
fireplace Of the living room. and the head
was almost burned from the body. De
veres' body was pierced by at least twenty
five bullets. Before his desperate dash for
liberty he had been fTightfully burned,
and would probably have died without the
gunshot wounds. His hair and beard were
burned off. his clothes were In charred
shreds and his face blstered and black
ened
No arrests have SO far been made. but
developments are expected tomorrow
Justice Nave late this afternoon held an
inquest upon the bodies OF the victims.
Several witnesses We're examined. but
nothing tending 70 incrimiuate any one
was developed. The investigation viii
Doe continued tomorrow. peyeres former
~ lived in Knoxville, Tenn.