The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-05-25
DIED At DAYBREAK.
Two Young Men Lynched at
Danville, Ill.
They Assaulted Two Young
Women of the Place.
PUSHED OFF A BRIDGE.
Both of Them Expired in Fear
ful Commissions.
Mob Made Fearful Fight to
Get Into the Jail.
Said Altgeld Would Pardon if
Men We're Convicted.
PUSHED OFF A BRIDGE.


and VIM Royce, the two young men OF
unsavory reputation who assaulted MISS
Laura Bennett and Miss Lillian Draper,
were hanged to the Gilbert street bridge.
the scene of their crime, at $3.50 a. m
today. just as the first streaks of daylight
were seen in the east
On the way to the bridge from the
jail procession was formed, taking the
boys through the main street. Halls and
Royce both walked with a firm step and
a rope around their necks Royce
wanted to see his father, and delay fol
lowed. His father did not come. Halls
said he was not ashamed of what he had
done They would not jump and both
were thrown over the bridge railing at
3:45. They dropped thirty feet and
death followed.
Both expired in fearful convulsions.
Their faces were not covered They
hung side by side on the east railing.
From midnight, when the crowd first
made its appearance at the Jail doors
until the victims were reached, it was
the determined. desperate struggle of
frenzled mob to mete SUNNI arv justice,
battling against heavy oaken doors and
iron bars, and occasionally halted by the
grim stand Of little band of de-
lCu0oAS VI law dH0 Ol0OA 0hOJA INC
command of Sheriff THOMPSON. 4 tele-
graph pole was used as a battering ram.
No amount OF parleying on his part and
no plea from his wife could Withstand
the mob, which had but one object in
view.
At o'clock Sheriff Thompson sent
for Judge Bookwalter, of the circuit
court, who addressed the crowd from the
jail corridor. He counseled them to
peace and order, and for Il minute. and
but minute only, his words WIRE heed
ed. Then another desperate attempt
was made to reach the cells where the
two men were secreted.
Finally Royce was located crouch
ing and shivering with fear. His
cell door easily battered
down. A score of hands
dragged him unceremoniously from his
hiding place, underneath the wooden
bench which serves the prisoners as their
bed. Half dragged and half pushed he
was hustled into the dining room and
seated on the table.
A rope was placed over his head, and
while part of the mob kept close guard
over him the others continued the search
for Halls until he was discovered in an
other and more remote portion of the
jail
Perhaps the most sensational Incident
of the lynching occurred during Judge
BoOkwalter's address to the mob. At first
his words produced a telling effect. But
the leaders, who are the most prominent
men IN the county, replied:
es, we know the jury will convict
them and give them a severe sentence,
but Governor Altgeld will pardon them
out He recently pardoned three brutes
you sent up from Champaign county for
twenty years and he will pardon these
men. If any other man than Altgeld
was governor we would not lynch these
men. But we are determined he will
never have chance to turn them loose"
The lynching followed in short order
The mob was composed of a thousand
people, mostly farmers from near the
village OF 1ndianola, where Miss Barnett
lived. In the Jail, before being taken
out, both boys protested their innocence.
although they had been identified by
MISS Barnetts companion Yesterday at
the jail
Royce was most slowly strangled. His
struggles lasted for fifteen minutes. The
mob then quietly disappeared. The cor
oner was notified and the bodies were
cut down and taken to an undertaking
establishment Miss Barnett. one of the
victims, hovers between life and death.
While the sheriff and his wife were
DSSSeCALng tn0 moo TO Q05Ist, +. v Bar
nett, the father of the injured girl. said
to Mrs Thompson: MADAME. YOU
never had daughter outraged, and her
blood demands vengeance" His reply
was wildly applauded
The assault was made at 1880 o'clock
Ihursday evening on Miss Barnett bv
Halls and Royce. Miss Barnett, in com
pany with Lillian Draper was walking
on the Vermillion river bridge, when ac-
costed. The girls started to run.
One man knocked Miss Barnett down
Miss Draper made her escape up Main
street aad her shrieks collected )
crowd who started in pursuit ot
Halls and Royce who dragged Miss Bar.
nett with them. They passed John
Downs, an old man who attempted to in.
terIere. He was knocked down by Halls
1he men took the girl to the river hot.
toms where they outraged her.
MISS Barnett was found unconsciou,
several hours later. Halls and Royct
were arrested, waived preliminary er
animation and were bound over to tn,
grand jury. ~ 'A4'
AGtfCR,