The record-union., 1895-04-27
Special to the RECoRD-UNIox.


WEAvERvILLE, April 26.-An attempt
was made last night to lynch Charles and
Moses Williams, the former serving a
life term in Folsom, and who was
brought back to testify in the Hart muir
Ger case.
The latter was yesterday acquitted OF
the murder of Hart. Charles Williams
confessed to the crime and implicated
Moses Williams in the murder at his
preliminary examination, and pleaded
guilty at his trial before the Superior
Court. When put on the witness-stand
TO testify against Moses, he refused to say
q word about the case. instructions were
given to acquit Moses, which the jury
did.
The people became incensed and mob
was organized. Two ropes were taken
from neighboring butcher shop and the
mob went to the Jail. but when they en-
tered and made their way to the cell
where the Williams were confined, they
found them gone, and after vain scare h
dispersed.
Nightwatchman Field had received an
inkling of the proposed lynching and
"Old" Sheriff Bergin and two officers
quietly stole to the jail, unlocked the
cells, and took the two men out.
Young Williams was lifted over the
fence and taken up the creek back of the
town, where for several hours he was
guarded by the Sheriff and watchmau.
Old Williams, who in his fear had pre-
ferred to stay in jail. was told to get out
and hide himself He did so, and passed
out through the mob, who did not know
him.
Both men were badly frightened. The
mob was determined one, and but for
the inkiing given TO the Sheriff there
would have been two unsightly objects
hanging in front of the Courthouse this
morning.
The story of the murder of Hart is as
follows:
Last November John Hart, an old man,
was enticed from his home near Hay
Fork by a young man named Charles
Williams, Is years of age, under the pre-
tense of helping Williams carry in deer
he said he had killed. While on an old
trail in a secluded spot Williams shot
Hart in the back with a rifle and left him
for dead.
Hart reGained consciousness, and, with
great difficulty, Crawled back to his home,
where he informed the household of the
shooting.
Hart lived only few hours, and young
Williams was promptly arrested. Dur
ing his Imprisonment he was greatly
troubled and spoke of seeing the ghost OF
old John Hart, which he said was with
him always. The officer finally prevailed
upon him to make a confession, and he
told the story of the killing in cold
blooded and braggadocio manner.
He implicated Moses Williams, who is
no relation of the young man, as being
the instigator of the plot.
Moses Williams is about 60 years of age,
and young Williams said that the elder
Williams had entered into an agreement
with him TO kill Hart, and that the young
man was to receive some hogs, a young
colt and 500 for doing 1t. 1t was also
stipulated that young woman with
whom Hart was living was also to be
killed. After shooting Hart young Will
Jams returned to Harts house for the
purpose Of killing the girl. but, as he said
afterwards, she looked so innocent that
his heart failed him and he dropped his
rifle.
Young Williams pleaded guilty, and
only his youth saved him from the death
penalty. ne was sentenced to life i'm
prlsonment at Folsom.
The elder Williams was arrested at his
home and charged with being an accom-
plice in the murder of Hart.
The two old men were neighbors and
there had been ill-feeling between them
over the right to mining claim which
was the cause OF the murder.