Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1896-01-02
CREMATED BY A MOB.
A WOMAN BURNED ALIVE
IN KENTUCKY.
The Home of Mrs. West Set Aflre and
PIteOus Appeals for Mercy Not Needed
The WOman's Paramour RIddled
With neutrality-suspicious. Crime.


LEBANON, KY, Dec. 30.-Within two
miles of this city Saturday night re-
lentless mob burned to death woman
who was in delicate condition and
riddled with bullets her gray-halred
paramount. The blackened and dis
figured corpses of the victims-Mrs.
Thomas West and William Deveres-
were found in the ruins of the
woman's home by the l4-year-old
daughter of the murdered man.
The tragedy was one of the most
brutal ever enacted under the grue-
some sway of dread Judge Lynch.
Despite the pleadings for her fathers
life of half-clad frightened child
and the prayers and tears of the i'll
and helpless woman, The mob went
through with its work with cold
blooded, cruel deliberation, and only
left when certain that both the man
and woman were dead.
The affair was the outgrowth of
the old story of faithless wife and
vengeful husband. Several months
ago Deveres, a middle-aged widower,
was accused by Thomas West, pros
porous farmer, of intimacy with Mrs.
West. Quarrel followed quarrel
throughout the fall, until West lnstl-
tuted divorce proceedings and de-
clared Deveres must die. The men
met at Lebanon and West snapped his
revolver, which missed fire, and De-
veres killed him on the spot. On the
plea of self-defense the murderer Sc
cured 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 Satur-
day night it came.
Close to 10 o'clock a band of men
rode up to the West homestead and
demanded admittance. '"Tom West is
dead. Now it's your turn" the spolSes-
man called, and Deveres and the
woman awoke to find their house sur
rounded. Mrs. West rushed to dark
ened window and began wild,
hysterical plea for mercy. A dozen
bullets answered her cries ans the de-
mand for immediate surrender was
repeated. Deveres, too, asked for a
hearing, but his request was greeted
with shower of shots.
"Well give you ten 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 outside the house, and then,
white and terror stricken, the little
girl of Deverers was thrust out to
plead with the mob. Clad in her night
robe, baretooted and unprotected, she
bravely walked out into the moon
light and sobbed out a prayer for her
white-haired fathers life.
"Get out. You're liable to be shot
yourself" ruffian said, and thorough
~ panic-stricken, the child fled to the
cabin of negro neighbor
Mrs. West then appeared at the door,
and referring to her condition. made
last appeal for mercy. 1t was I'M
availing, and in another moment the
house was fred. The shrieks of the
imprisoned wretches failed to move
their torturers, who after the flames
reached the living room, could see the
man and woman in the agony ofdeath
BY fire. Just before the roof fell the
woman was seen to reel across inc
room and plunge headlong into the
fireplace among the burn ng Goals,
and there she died. Wild 18th pain,
Deveres at the last moment made a
dash for liberty, but score of bullets
stopped him half dozen steps from
the door.
Yesterday morning the little girl
led her negro protector to the scene
and there the bodies, scorched beyond
recognition, were found, untouched
by the lynchers. There is but little
doubt that the members of the mob
will be captured, as they were with
out masks and made no attempt at
secrecy.
The child of Deveres, who was a
witness to the tragedy, is dangerously
i'll as result of the fright and expos
ure, but upon her recovery she may
be able, it is hoped, to identify some
of the lynchers. The night was brill
liant with moonlight and the un-
masked faces of the members of tho
mob could be easily identified as soon
as the child is able to appear in court.