The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1896-08-27
VENGEANCE IS QUICK
A Halt.Breed Fiend Lynched
at AsOtin.
WAS DRUNK WHEN ARRESTED
He Committed Brutal Outrage on q
Young Girl and Speedily
Paid the Penalty.

Lewiston, Idaho, Aug 21.-Frank
Biles, half. breed Indian from Nez
Peroe reservation, was taken from
Asotin Jail at l l O'Clock last night and
hanged by mob of indignant citizen.
His crime was the brutal criminal out
rage of Miss Mary Richardson, young
woman II years of age. Miss Rich
ardsOn, whose home is in Enterprise,
Or, was in delicate health, and had
been visiting friends in this vicinity.
Yesterday she started from Lewiston
for Asotin. She rode horseback, and
was unattended. On the road she was
overtaken by Biles and two Indians
from the reservation. They passed
her, but in little while Biles left the
other Indians and rode back to the un.
fortunate young lady. Riding along
side of her, he grabbed her horse
bride and attempted to lead the animal
away from the road into some bushes.
She resisted, and then sprang from the
horse, and ran screaming from the viii
lain. Biles ran after her and caught
her by the dress, flourished a revolver
and threatened to kill her. He then
forcibly dragged her into the bushes.
and in spite of the fierce resistance Of
his victim, succeeded in his damnable
purpose.
The vile deed accomplished, he left
his victim, remounted his horse and
rode on to Asotin. Miss Richardson,
weak and trembling with horror and
Indignation. made her way TO the
roadside, where she was found by Mr..
Van Arsdale, who was passing in a
buggy. He took her to Asotin, where
she told her story. News of the out
rage spread like wildfre, and officers
went Immediately in search of the
criminal. They found him in an In.
dian camp in the outskirts of Asotin,
and placed him in Jail. Meanwhile
indignant, determined men were gath
ering for vengeance. They took Miss
Richardson before the prisoner, and
she promptly identified him as the viii
lain who had outraged her. They
then satisfied themselves of the entire
responsibility and truthfulness of the
young lady. The next step was to
have two local physicians testify as to
the nature of the outrage. By this
time dusk had deepened into darkness.
About II o'clock an orderly, deter
mined band of about thirty citizens
marched to the Jail and demanded the
keys of the jailer. That official re-
fused to comply, and the keys were
taken from him by force. He was
then placed in corner of the Jail yard,
with his face to the fence, and directed
not to interfere with the proceedings.
The determined band then went to the
Jail and unlocked the door, took out
the prisoner, carefully relocked the
door to prevent the escape of another
inmate held for horsestealing, and then
returned the keys to the jailer.
The Jail is surrounded by a high
board fence. Across one corner of this
long, stout pole was laid. A rope
was then noosed around the neck of the
culprit, the other end thrown over the
pole, and stout, willing hands quickly
drew up the dangling body. The rope
was secured, and the party remained
in the Jail yard until all question of
the death of the prisoner had been re-
moved. From first to last Biles was
sullen and silent, refusing to make any
statement. He has always been re-
garded as hard character. His home
is on the reservation near Genesee,
where he had a wife and children.
The body was left hanging until this
morning, and has been viewed by hun
dreds. Word was soon carried to
Biles' relatives, and this afternoon they
are in Lewiston, on their way to Aso.
tin for the body. Biles was drunk
when arrested.
1t is not known who were members
of the lynching party. The act meets
with general approval both of Indians
and white people. 1t is not expected
that any steps will be taken to punish
the avengers.
Miss Richardson is suffering from a
severe nervous shock, but the physi-
clans believe she will recover. The
affair has been the subject of universal
consideration today and the young
lady has the sympathy of everybody.
Fight With Yaquis.
Tusoon, Ariz. Aug. 2O.-A courier,