Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-08-27

.RAIDED THE JAIL.

Nrvh1, cal, August -Four muir
derers were taken from the county
jail by mob Ut $50 men this morning
at 4 o'clock and lynchcd. \ band NJ
citizens fearing the law would not ia"
carried out ana angercd over the atrnc-
ity of recent crimes determined to take
matters into their own hands The
lynchlng was the CHASTITY climax go
the reign OF hwlessness which has
prevailed In Siskiyu county for some
months past
one OF the victims was Lawrence
Johnson, who on the evening OF July
~ stabbed his wife 10 death In the
town Of Aetna. Another was william
Null, Who shot Henry Hayler In the
back with a rifle near Galatians On
April "a. Louis Moreno and Garland
Sereno, who are supposed To have KIN
ed George Sears and Cnpcr Merchants
at Bailey nm In August.
At fl o'clock last night farmers be-
gan TO drive into town, and hy mid
night the mob was ready Va march ON
the county jail. Before taking step.
however, every preCaution wlH taken
to prevent the plans " the lynchrn,
from being frustrated by the officers
Of the law. The sheriff aud one OF
his deputies were docoyed 10 another
part Of town by two members OF the
mob, who were engaged IN u sham
light, and the fire bell was mudled
~ prevent All llhllA hfllk ElNAH
In that way.
when the iali was reached "a number
OF men, all masked. awakened Under
Shcrin Radford aud demanded the
keys from him. lilo refused TO open
the door aud give up the keys, telling
them that II they broke Ia the doors
he would blow their brains out. Find
ing Rudford was determined not to
give up the keys they went acrosh 10
the jail and got mp on the top Of "a
| stone wall which surrounded the jail
Deputy sheriff Henry Brallacht, who
| has been sleeping In the jail since the
commitment OF no many murdcrcrs
! innKlng some one was escaping from
| the pail fired two shots 10 alarm city
Marshal Parker ana Deputy Sheriff
| Radford. He opened the doors and
WAS Immediately held up by the mob.
| who took the keys from him aud en-
tered the jail Having visited the DIFF
feront cells they were compelled to
| burst the locks with a sledgc hammer,
which they proceeded to do at once.
Lawrence Johnson was the first to
receive the attention OF the mob They
broke his cell door and placing a rope
around his neck, they led the wife
murderer across the street to whore n
rail was laid across the forks of trees.
johnson pleaded pltcously, hut the 81
lent gathering gave no heed 10 his
appeals. and he was quickly strung
up. dying from strangulatlon In a few
minutes.
The mob returned and breaking into
the cell OF VIM. Null. who shot Henry
Haylor in u dispute over mining prop.
erty, took him out Null desired 10
| make statement, but time would not
permit. and he was soon dangling By
the side OF johnson.
Louis Moreno. charged with the Kill.
| Ing OF George Sears ON the 9th OF this
| fhgn tuK0u frnuu his cell
and was soon swinging with John
| son and Null.
The last aud youngest OF the -four
| murderers TO pay the penalty OF his
crime WAS Garland Serene. charged
| with having Killed MelrehRns. a rope
| was placed around Sereno's neck. and
he was led from the Jail In his bare
feet, Serene begged for mercy. and
his last words were: Tell my dear
old mother / am Innocent OF this
crime
been notified, arrived on the scene
and. starting for the jail door. was
commanded TO halt. the command be-
ing emphasized by the display or re-
volyers. He was told that the JOB
had been done BY this time the
greater part OF the mob had dispersed
leaving only about 80 or 40 on guard
who soon left after the sheriff ar.
rived. The bodies were taken down BY
Coroner Sheffield and MnrHhal Parks
who summoned jury TO hold an In
Yreka ia q little mining town, and
years ago was frequently the scene Of
mob violence The summary manner
In which justice was meted out to ths
four murderers this morning reminded
the pioneers OF similar scenes duIinl
the gold excitement ~ years ago. whsr
n was not an uncommon spectacle tf
awaken In the morning and see ths
body OF notorious criminal danshns
from tree.