San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-05-25
RAPISTS LYNCHED.
ILLINOIS CITIZENS THE LYNCHERs.
The Town of Danville Much Elk
cited Over a Brutal Crime
and Avenge 1t.

special says: AT mlonlgnt mop
of farmers attacked the Vermillion
county Jail to secure John Hall, Jr,
and William Royce, who raped
Miss Laura Barnett, last night.
Sheriff Thompson denied them ad-
mission. The mob procured tel
egraph pole, using it as batter
ing ram. After repeated efforts to
break down the outer jail door
with the pole,which produced little
or no effect, the crowd desisted in
it's efforts. Sheriff Thompson, his
wife, and Deputy Sheriff Stone Or
dered them to disperse. Mr.. Bar
nett, the father of the injured girl,
said to Mrs. Thompson: MADAME,
you never had a daughter out
ragged. Her blood demands VEN
geance."
His reply was wildly applauded.
By this time a railroad tie was Sc
cured, and with three blows the
outer door was battered in, and the
besiegers thronged in and COM
menced work on the inner door.
The workers were nearly all farm
ers from the southern part OF the
county, whore Miss Barnett lives.
The police at o'clock brought
Judge Bookwalter, the circuit
Judge, to the jail. He made an ear
nest, eloquent plea to let the law
take it's course, and not bring dis
grace on Vermillion county by the
first lynching in its history. He as
sured the men that Hall and Royce
would receive severe punishment
if found guilty; that at the trial
the jury would do its duty. AT
first his words produced a
telling effect, but the leaders,
who are among the most
prominent men Of the county, final
ly replied: eyes, we know the jury
will convict them and give them
severe sentence, but Governor Alt
geld will pardon them out. He re-
Gently pardoned three rapists you
sent up from Champaign county
for twenty years, and he will par
don these men. II any other man
than Altgeld was governor we
would not lynch these men, but we
are determined he will not have a
chance to turn them loose" With
these words they again commenced
work at 2:20 a. m.
The criminal assault was made
at $50 Thursday evening ON Miss
Barnett by Hall and Royce, well
known young mon Of unsavory
reputation. Miss Barnett, in COM
pany with Lillian Draper, was
walking on the Vermillion river
bridge. When accosted, the girls
started to run. One man knocked
Miss Barnett kown. Miss Draper
made her escape up Main street
and her shrieks collected crowd,
who started in pursuit Of Hall and
Royce, who dragged Miss Barnett
with them. They passed John
Downs, an old man, who attempted
to interfere. He was knocked down
by Hall. The men took the girl to
the river bottom where the accom-
plished their purpose. Miss Bar
nett was found unconscious several
hours later. Hall and Royce were
arrested, waived preliminary ex-
animation and were bound over to
the grand jury.
DANvILLE, May %, $3.50 a. NJ
The mob have finally gotten both
the men and taken them out to a
bridge in the east end of town to
hang them. The jail is now de-
serted and everybody has gone to
the bridge. Yells are heard from
the mob, and there is no doubt as
to the fate Of the men.
DANvILLE, May 25.-The men
were hanged to the Gilbert street
bridge, the scene Of their crime, at
80 a. M, just as the first streaks
Of daylight were seen in the east.
On the way to the bridge from
the jail, a procession was formed,
taking the boys through the main
streets. Hall and Royce both
walked with a firm step, and a
rope around their necks. Royce