The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-02
mob HAD HIM.
hieving Treasurer WayIaid
and Lynched.


X O'NE1LI, Nob., Jan. 2.--The deS-ulting
oHeosurcr OF Holt county, Barrett Scott,
Was hanged by mob Monday night. Hc
Was captured about midnight in lonely
+ port Of tho county north OF this city
he was returning with his wife, baby
hired man, named John Schmidt, and
Miss McWharter from a trip 60 relatives,
about 13 miles from O'Neill when six
masked men sprang from the roadside,
[ where they had been concealed and COW
oring the carriage with Winchesters, or
6crod Scott TO surrender
Scott seized the reins and attempted TO
drive over the men. The masked men
them fired into the carriage. killing tho
horses and Shooting Scott in the neck and
younding Miss McWharter, though not
0oriously. The first party was then joined
by larger force, which had been placed
B oCross the road farther on TO intercept the
Gnrriagc, had 1t escaped the first vollcy.
| Scott and Schmidt were taken from tho
vohiclc, blindfolded, and thrown into
|>wa9on, and the ladies were told TO go on.
. ohmidt and Scott were taken To SOD
house In the northwestern part OF the
\. Dounty Schmidt was afterward released
IN With the Injunction to leave the country.
Scott was hanged, as the. farmers were
1orribly incensed over his work.
~ Scott Has . lad Record.
6cott's defalcation as county treasurer
I,of Holt county, his flight TO Mexico, his
Subsequent arrest. the strong fight made
k&ainst his extradition, his return in
IRONS, incarceration, trial, conviction, sem
1onco, appeal and release on bonds two
weeks ago, have been told at length from
1l1no to time since year ago last August,
when che discovery Of his crlminality was
0rst made public.
Scott's troubles began In January, 1892.
~ the close of his first term, when he was
ooked to allow the commissioners 70 see
how his books showed In his hands.
He did not have the money on hand, thcrc
|6oiDg but $7347 in the vault when the
Ioom nsissioners made their first visit.
They then gave Scott 10 days in which to
mako the showing. and money was Sc
cGured from Omaha for that purpose.
|t When the borrowed money was shipped
out the next day, and the board learned of
~ and that s75 was paid for the use Of IT,
"a Investigation was started and Scott
lEas removed from Office.
It was ascertained by the commissioners
M June of that year, some time after tho
Beginning OF litigation, that number o.
1he sureties On Scott's bonds
Were Transferring Their Poperty,
and he was notified that he must secure
additional bonds. This he failed TO do.
Whom the board met again, it declared
tho Office vacant, and appointed Il. j.
8 Hayes. n Republican, to take the place in
4 June, 1902.
Scott refused to surrender, and Hayes
hoann nnndnmus proceedings to get pos
resslonof the Office. The case went to tho
dl6trict court, wi;ere 1t was hung up for a
4 Vear awaiting the decision of the supreme
zourt In tho case started few months bo-
l0rc, and il was not definitely acted upon
until after Scott lad gone to Mexico.
Judge Marshall OF the Fremont district
WAS Invited by Judge Kincaid to PASS upon
Z ~ and he declared Scott removed from
ofice.
When the Holt county bank feilcd on
< Time =, 1892, Scott asserted that there was
nbout $4,000 OK the county funds tied up
thsro, but after statements were made by
; 1ho bank officials he gradually modified
h 40 amount to $50, 900. The statements OF
80 bank examiner and receiver were 10
tho eject that the sum was but $4,000,
): md Of this amount $1,000 was deposited by
To His Private Account.
y After Scott had been jailed at O'Nein,
naohincry was set in motion to effect his
Y xoleasc, Habcas corpus proceedings failed.
~ bail was originally fixed at $1,000,
e but was later raised by Judge Klncaid 60
GIk 000 This amount was assorted to be
+. oxcessive, but the court refused to lower
4 81 Recourse TO the supreme court gave
\ - relief, and finally, after Scott had been
nominnily in Jail for several months, he was
liberated on bail.
His case was taken to Antelope county
"a q change Of venue, and the last report
xcsulted in his conviction and sentence ia
4 ~ ynnrs' imprisonment. Pending an an.
4 peol his bond was $4,000 This he could
s not secure, and the case was taken TO the
4 Gate supreme court. On Dec 0, that body
s. Hocidcd that the bond was excessive and
y xeduced the amou mt to $4,000. In day
'<or two Scott secured the necessary bonds.
nnon and was released OH bail.