Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-08
LYNCHING IN MISSOURI.
Two Alleged Murderers Hanged by
an Iamasked Mob.

LEXINGTON, MO, December L.
About 1 o'clock this morning a large mob
Of men from Ray county came into town
for the purpose of lynching Jesse Winner
and James Nelson, who were confined
here on the charge Of numbering Mrs.
Winner and her two babies, near Rich-
mond, Mo, october 18th. They broke into
the jail with little difficulty, and speedily
accomplished their object of melting out
punishment to the alleged murderers.
Lon Lackey, who has also been in jail
here under a charge OF completely In the
murder. was taken back 10 Richmond
Saturday. which alone saved his ne, as
ne would certainly have been lynchel
with the others. The probabilities are
that vengeance will be meted out 10 MIN
later.
The mob was composed of 2O men, All
unmasked. They overpowered the Jaher
and his guards. and demanded the keys
TO the cell that Nelson and Winner were
locked in. but were refused. The doors
were then battered down, and the prison
ers tied and led out. The leader OF the
mob was asked where he was going TO
hang them and he said that they were
going to Ray county, so that Lafayette
would not have 10 bear the expense OF
burying them. Winner came out, trem-
bling with fear. Nelson said not wora'
but clearly showed that he was not AFRAID.
Both men pleaded with the mob FOR tneir
lives and asserted their innocence, Dut
the mob paid no attention 10 their plead
ing. -,
Winner and Lackey while they were IN
iail at Richmond which led 10 thelr re-
moval here for safekeeping. Nelson mas
been in jail here ever since SATURDAY,
having been arrested on the strength OF
n confession made by Miss Maggie rat
ron. who made a sworn statement 'hal
she. Winner. Lackey, and Nelson COM
mitted the murder. o,.o~
The mob crossed the river. coming oNe'
at II O'Clock in skiffs. Al l:So they re,
crossed with the prisoners and hangeu
thern tn a tree. The mob made no effort
to conceal the identity of its members
and MANY of them could be easily recos-
nized. The overcoat worn by the leader
is in possession OF one OF the deputies
The majority Of the mob We're young men,
II IS said here that It was the Intention
Of the mob 10 burn Nelson and winner
Winner admitted to a prisoner III the
iaU last night that he was guilty
The bodies were found this morning
half a mile from the river in Ray county
hanging to an oak tree. Winners watch,
which had stopped at a. NJ, was SUN
in his pocket. 49,
Hundreds Of people are fiocking to the
scene of the lynching TO view the deau
bodies. which at 9 o'clock were still hahs-
ing to the limb.
Prosecuting Attorney William Aull says
81 have evidence sufficient TO idehuiy
some of the members Of the mon, ana
bave The names Of many others: also, pro-
...,..,- hoIongfng tO some of them lt II u
the last act Of my life. | expect to Dring
the perpetrators to Justice ana shah re-
ouest the assistance Of the Attorney
General and all the power that the STATE
can lend 10 see that such conspiracies
against the law are punished and the
conspirators brought 10 justice. Iney
treated one officer Ike n brute. and snow
ed that they had as little regard for law
as they claim had the alleged murcereis
thew were seeking Had they come Satur-
day night some OF them would now be IN
The hands OF the undertaken or In the
LAFAYETTE county jail. The officers did
their full duty but were helpless under
the circumstances"
LACKEY IN SAFETY.
RICHMOND. MO, December LION
Tackev one of the alleged murderers or
the Winners. who was secretly brought
10 this place last Friday night. IN the
hone that he would make a confession
~ his completely in the crime, has been
taken 10 a safer place. When II was re-
ported early this morning that The mob'
which lynched Winner and Nelson at
Lexington was on its way 10 this jail,
the Sheriff spirited Lackey away. and
refuses TO give any information regarding
his hiling-place.