Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1895-09-01
ELKo, NEVADA, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER /. 1896
Four Men Lynehcd.

YREKA, (Cal.), Aug. 26-As ghost
ly climax OF the reign Of lnwlessness
in Siskiyou coounty for many months
past. were the bodies OF four accused
murderers lying this morning on the
floor OF the fire engine house in the
old mining town OF Yreka. 1t was
evident that Judge Lynch and his
jurors had been Mt work during the
night and their verdict was, death by
lynching" to four miserable wretchcs
III the county Jail.
Tho victims are Lawrence johnson,
who on July 2Sth stabbed his wife to-
death in the town of Etna; William
Null, who shot Henry Harper in the
back near Galatians, April 2lst; Louis
Moreno and Garland Scmber, who are
supposed to have killed George Sears
and Jasper Meirerhans, Mt Bal ly Hill.
August 9th.
There was apparently no excite
ment in the town early last evening.
About 0 o'clock straggler now and
then caught glimpses of dark objects
hanging around the suburbs OF the
town, but nothing was thought OF it.
The dark objects thickened until along
toward midnight they assumed the
shape OF silent and stern men, either
on horseback or foot. At midnight
prearranged plans or signals drew the
small army OF some two hundred and
fifty men i'll the vicinity OF the court
house square, while sentinels were
placed throughout the town to ward
off the danger Of discovery by the Of
iicers, the fire bells were tied up, night
watchmen sent to other parts of the
town on sham errands and stragglers
were detained.
At one o'clock, midnight, the aven
gers OF justice prepared to carry out
their plans. An old rail was taken
from the depot and stretched between
two ties in the Courthouse park, and
then began the descent upon the Jail.
y demand was made upon Deputy
Sheriff Radford for the keys. but Inc
did not yield. Henry Bradaucht.
who was sleeping in the Jail, heard
the commotion and opened the door
to SEQ what the trouble was and was
at once seized by the mob. The iron
doors were then forced open and John
son, Null, Scmber and Moreno were
marched out to the courtyard. The
condemned men were stolid and took
their fate without murmur, with the
exception Of youpg Sember, who
begged pit ously for mercy. His age
is 10. Ii is said the scene was indeed
heartrending one, rs young Scmbcr
broke forth in an agonizing appeal
and cried out: "Tcll my dear old
mother am innocent OF the crime
Sheriff Hobbs had given strict Or
ders that in case any attempt at lynch.
ing was made, to ring tho fire bells
and rouse the citizens, but the mob
anticipated this aud laid their plans
well. Every person about the streets
in the vicinity Of tho JUL was stopped.
S. +. Miles and Sam Koop were going
to tho house OF the latter's mother
and were held at tho scene of the
hanging.
Nearly every section Of the country
was represented in tho mob. In fact.
ever since Null's cold blooded murder
OF Henry Harper, lynching was freely
talked Of in the western end OF the
county, and when johnson killed his
wife tho avcnging sentiment kept on
fermeniing. After the Daily Hill
murder the feeling reached danger.
ous stage.
During the lynching some one
awoko Sheriff Hobbs, who hurried
down town, and rs he was going
through tho Courthouse u Winchcs
ter was stuck in his face and hc WIS
compelled to stand where he was.
The whole affair was carefully nr.
ranged and we'll cx> 'uted. and not
over twenty minutes elapsed from the
time tho keys woro surrendered unit
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