The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1896-01-04
NO MERCY WAS SHOWN THEM
The Bloouthirsty Mob stood by ana "a"
Their Victims Perish Amid
the Flames.

Within two miles or THIS CITY 1des
night a relentless mob burned 10 oedth
a pregnant woman and riddled with
bullets her gray-haired paramour. Inc
blackened and disfigured corpses or the
Victims Mrs. Thomas West and VIII
linn Deveres, were found in the ruins OF
the womans home To-Day by the l4-year-
old daughter of the old man.
The tragedy was one of the most bru-
tai ever enacted under the gruesome
way Of Judge Lynch. Despite the plead
ings for her fathers life of half-clad,
frightened child, and the prayers of an
i'll and helpless woman, the mob went
through with its work with cold-blood-
ed deliberation and only left when GER
tain that both man and woman were
dead.
The affair was the outgrowth of an
old story of faithless wife and venge-
full husband. Several months ago De-
veres, middle-aged widower, was &C
cused by Thomas West, prosperous
farmer, of intimacy with Mrs. West. A
quarrel followed, which continued
throughout the fall until West institu-
ted divorce proceedings and declared
Deveres must die.
The men met in Lebanon. West
snapped his revolver, which missed fire,
while Deveres killed him on the spot.
On the plea of self-defense the murderer
secured bail and scandalized the neigh
borhood by Immediately taking his two
daughters and moving into Vests
house. The relatives Of the murdered
husband swore vengeance, and last
;rrbf - 81
band Of men rode up to the West home
stead and demanded admittance.
Tom West is dead. Now it is your
turn" the spokesman called, and De-
veres and the woman awoke to find the
house surrounded. Mrs West rushed to
a darkened window and began a wild.
hysterical plea for mercy. A dozen bull
lets answered her cries. and the demand
for surrender was repeated Deveres,
too, asked for hearing, but this re-
quest was greeted with a shower of
shots.
We'll give you 10 minutes to open UP.
Then you burn" said the mob's leader.
and his men quietly retired from the
door. A hurried consultation was held
inside the house, and then the white and
terror-stricken little girl of Deveres was
thrust out to plead with the mob. Clad
In her nightrobe, barefooted and nm
protected, she bravely walked out into
the moonlight and sobbed out prayer
for her white-haired fathers life.
Get out; you are liable to get shot
yourself" ruffian said, and, thorough
ly frightened, the child fled to the GA hi,
OF negro neighbor.
Mrs. West then appeared at the door
and, referring to her condition. made q
last appeal for mercy. It was unavail-
ing, and in another moment the honso
was fired. The shrieks of the imnrisoned
wretches failed to move their tortnrers
VINO, after the flames reached the LIVING
room, could see the man and woman In
the agony of death by the fire.
Just before the roof fell the woman
was seen to reel across the room and
plunge headlong into the firenlaoo
among the burning Goals, and there she
died. Wild with pain, Deyeres a. 80
last moment made dash for ,ihort-,
but a score of bullets stopped him bo1f
dozen steps from the door.
Hhis morning the little Dir, ,oa
negro protector to the scene, and there
the oodles, scorched beyond recoen,-
tlon, were found, untouched bv Tho
iynchers. There is but little doubt that
the members of the mob will he can.
tureo' as they were without masks ana
mace no attempt at secrecy. A0
me child of Deveres who was q wit
ness to the tragedy is dangerons,,, -, w
the result of the fright and evnos.,sH s
out upon her recovery she NAV he 49,
10 Identify some Of the lynchers. "''e