The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1895-01-19
Masked Men Drag a Juliaatta
Citizen Out Of His House.
ORDERED TO LEAVE TOWN
The Vic i'm Saves His Life by Putting His
Fingers Inside the Moose
Around His Neck.

Juliaetta was treated to sensation |
the other night which came very near |
being a hanging bee" and would have |
ended fatally for the victim but for the
members of the hanging party weak
ening, says the Kendrick Gazette. About
l o'clock a rap on the door at the resi-
dence of Fred j. Bratton, called him
out of his bed and on opening the door
he was confronted by five masked men.
Thinking it 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.
c. Bing, editor of the Press, calling
him by name and inquiring the cause
of their presence, not receiving any re-
ply from Bing, Others of the party
sprang upon their victim saying they
had come to hang him, and proceeded
to 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 it tight
around his neck. Then they dragged
him from his home and repeatedly jerk
ing him upon his face, kicking and
beating him on the route to the bridge
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 tirnbers and he was quickly
drawn up, but by a fortunate circum-
stance Mr.. Bratton succeeded in get
ting his fingers on the inside of the rope
around his neck, and thus saved his
life. After hanging 10 or 20 seconds
one of the party weakened and he was
let down with the information that if
he left town within an hour his life
would be spared but replying that it
would be impossible for him to do so,
they exclaimed, eve 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 still alive.
They then told him to leave the country
within 4S 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. AT
the hanging only four of the party were
present Bing having dropped out or
their leaving the house. During the
next day Bratton met Bing and de-
manded an explanation from him, and
being told he was forced to enter the
mob, but refusing to give the names OF
the party Bratton secured a warrant
and Bing was arrested for conspiracy
to take his life. The trial took place
and terminated by Bing being bound
over to the grand jury under a bono
of $500 which was furnished by Julia
eta parties.
CAUSE OF THE AFFAIR.
Bratton's offense. according to prom
inent citizens is alleged cruel and in
human treatment of his wife, who il
now an inmate of the Medical Lake
asylum for the insane. The story told
by a neighbOr is as follows:
"BrattOn is and has been for years {
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 if the chang'
would not benefit her, and in compan!
with her husband some time afterwarC
went to Kendrick to a dance where h
(Bratton) got so drunk he had to be pu
to bed by his male acquaintances. Thi
preyed upon her mind to such an eX
tent as to drive her insane and she il
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. Thi
accusation, however, was never mad
public until after the threatened lynch
ing.
LUREO 10 DEATH