Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-05-29
JUDGE LYNCH RULED.
Illinois Farmers Avenge an Outrage
by Taking the Law in
Their Hands.

Danvir1e, ILL.,, May 25-At midnight
mob appeared at the door of the Vermilion
county jail and demanded admission. It
was composed of farmers from Indianola
township, and they came to lynch John
Halls and William Royce, who assaulted
Miss Laura Barnett in this city Thursday
night
When no answer was obtained to their
summons a telegraph pole was obtained
and for half an hour the iron door was
battered without result. The sheriff ap,
peared at a window and besought the
crowd to cease. The farmers listened to
the sheriff while they rested, and then,
with cheers, proceeded to batter at the
door.
Firemen Refuse to Interfere.
A fire alarm was turned in, but when
the department arrived at the Jail and
found the cause of the alarm the firemen
returned to their houses. The police
force massed at the Jail, but was unable
to do anything. 1t was not believed the
mob would succeed in getting into the
Jail, and if it did get into the first door
it WAS thought the six others to be bat
tered Gown before the prisoners wanted
could be reached would prove a success
full obstacle. The sheriff informed the
mob he would defend the prisoners at all
hazards. The wife of the sheriS; tried
to address the mob, but her voice was
drowned out by cries of Give us the
keys" and Bring them out" There was
some talk of using dynamite, but this
was not resorted to.
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 promising, if the men were
duly convicted of the crime, to intlict the
m hut FOR
minute only, his words were needed.
Then another desperate attempt was
made to reach the cells where the two
men We're secreted. The doors finally
gave way and Royce was located, crouch
ing and shvering with fear His cell
door was quickly battered down. A score
of hands dragged him unceremoniously
from his hiding place underneath the
wooden bench which serves 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 con-
tinued the search for Halls until he was
discovered in another and more remote
portion of the jail.
Lay the Blame on AItge1d.
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 proml-
nent men of the county, replied: Yes,
we know the jury will convict them and
that they Will get Il severe sentence, but
Gov. 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 COVER
nor we would not lynch these men, but
we are determined he will never have
chance to turn them loose
On the way to the bridge from the
Jail procession was formed, taking the
boys through Main street. Halls and
Royce both walked with a firm step.
Each had a rope around his neck. Royce
wanted to see his father and a delay fol-
lowed. His father did not come Halls
said he was not ashamed of what he
had done. They would not jump and they
were both thrown over the bridge rail
ing at $40. They dropped tnIrty feet
and death followed, both expiring in
fearful commissions. Their faces were not
covered. They hung side by side on the
east railing.
The mob quietly dispersed The coro,
ner was notified and the bodies were cut
down and taken to an undertaking estab
lishment.
The Crime o the Men.
The assault was made at 7:3O o'clock
Thursday evening on Miss Laura Barnett
by Halls and Boyce, who bore an un-
savory reputation. Miss Barnett and
Lillian Draper were walking on the Yer
million river bridge at the foot of Main
street when they were accosted by two
men, The girls started to run. One Of
the men knocked Miss Barnett down.
Miss Draper escaped up Main street.
Their slrieks collected a crowd which
started in pursuit of Halls and Royce,
who dragged Miss Barnett with them.
They passed John Downs, an old man,
who attempted to interfere. He was
knocked down by Halls. The two men
subsequently, escaped, dragging the girl
with them She was found at II o'clock
unconscious. Halls and Royce were ar
rested waived preliminary examination,
and were bound over to the grand jury IL
$4,000 Both girls belonged to respecta>
BILE families Miss Barnett hovers be-
tween life and death.