San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-12-07
A LYNCH JURY's VERDICT.
They Loaded Mccall up With Bread
and Cheese and Made Him
Ride for His Life,

'hlQe 1Or Dis Lie.
Minneapolis Journal.
cit was in 1876 that wild Bill'
civilian Hickok) was murdered
in Deadwood by Jack Mccall.
Nearly every one has heard the
story of wild Bill but l am of
the opinion that the story of the
trial of Mccall by a lynch court
and his marvellous escape has
never appeared in print"
So says Judge Shannon, of Can
ton, the other day. 1t was early
in the seventies when the Judge
came to Dakota under appoint
ment by General Grant as terri
torial chief justice, and probably
no man is so familiar with the
thrilling incidents connected with
the early settlement by the whites.
"McCall was afterward tried be-
fore me, "he S5ntinued, "found gull
ty OF murder in the first degree, SEN
fenced to the gallows, and subse-
quently hanged at Yankton. Dur
ing his trial all the incidents of
the murder and his escape were
brought out. wild BilP was
playing cards, when Mccall walked
behind him and shot him dead.
The assassin was instantly seized
by those present, and a mob soon
assem- bled that cried for blood. 1t
was finally decided to organize
court and give him trial for his
life. A judge was selected, jury
of twelve men was impanelled, and
counsel was appointed for both the
prosecution and the defense.
"The prosecution made out a
strong case Of cold-blooded, DELHI
crate murder. When it came to
the defense, Mccall, who was a
man of some education and abili-
ity, addressed the jury himself. He
struck the only chord that was like
ly to vibrate to his interest when
he said he had known wild Bill'
down in Texas; that they were
friends, and that he had intro.
duced him to his family. wild
BILL he stated, had abused his
friendship and betrayed his sister.
For that crime he had visited VEN
gesnce on him. That began to put
a new phase on matters. While
they condemned him for shooting
a man without giving him a chance
for his life, they regarded the
killing as justifiable. But just
then the attorney for the prosecu.
tion came in. He asked for proof
of McCalPs story, and alleged that
McCall's evidence should have no
weight. Mccall said he had been
hunting for wild Bill' ever since
the occurrence, and that he had
no proofs Of his statements beyond
his own words, and that no sane
man would walk up in a crowd
and shoot anther down unless he
had cause for so doing.
"The jury took the case and de-
liberated on it for some time, and
finally returned with one of the
queerest verdicts that has ever
been heard Of by any one. They
were not sure of his guilt, so they
had decided to give him a chance
for his life. They put him on a
fast horse, filled his pockets with
bread and cheese, and gave him
one minute start, after which they
would kill him il they could. They
were all armed with Winchester
rifles and revolvers, and were
horsemen and excellent shots.
"When the word was given Nc.
Call started for his life. Before the
minute was up he began throwing
himself rapidly from one side to
the other to divert the aim of his
pursuers. At the end of the fate
full minute the word was given and
the pursuit and fusilade began
1t seems almost Incredible, but he
escaped. He ran into Wyoming
and after about three weeks turned
up in Cheyenne, where he was ar.