The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-12-08
NO MASKS WERE WORN
e!Ono of the Body Of Determined Men At
tempted to Conceal His Identity.
PRISONERS SWORE THEIR INNOCENCE
ih the Shndow or Denth They
Vowed rheS Had Not, Commit
ted the Crime for which They
Wcre Givcn snch Terrible Pun.
ishment- Will BE Prosecuted.

Lexington. Mo-. Dec. 7.-About 1
O'Clock this morning a large mob of men
from Kay county came into town for
me purpose of lynchinE Jesse Winner
anu James Nelson, who were confined
mere on the charge of numbering Mrs.
w inner and her two babies near Rich
mond Mo-, on Oct. 26. They broke into
the jail with little difficulty ana speed
iiy accomplished their object of melting
out punishment to the alleged murder
ers. Lon Lackey, who has also been I'm
9aii mere under charge of completely
Ill the murder, was taken back to Rich
mond saturday which alone saved his
liie as he would certainly have been
iynched with the others. The probabili-
lies are ,hat vengeance will be meted
OUT 10 MN later. The mob was COM
posed OF 25O men, all unmasked
THE JAILER OVERPOWERED.
They overpowcred the jaller and his
guards and demanded the keys to the
cell In which Nelson and Winner were
locked, but were refused. The doors
were then battered down and the pris-
oners tied and led out. The leader of
the mob was asked where he was going
TO hang them, and he said that thev
were going to Ray county, so that In
fayette would not have to bear the ex-
bsnee e-ofTburylng them. s's ~ s'~-,'-a4 ~ r7'4
winner came out trembling with
rear Nelson said not IL word, but clear
~ showed that he was not afraid
Both men plead with the mob for their
lives and asserted their innocence.
SWORE THEIR INNOCENCE.
Standing before Almighty God T
swear | never murdered my wife," said
Winner
Il swear I'm innocent" added Nelson.
but the mob paid no attention to the
pleadings
Several attempts were made to lynch
Wlnnnl, Lar a.,
Jail at Richmond, which led to their
removal here for safe keeping Nelson
mas bcen IN Jail here ever since Satur-
day. having been arrested on the
strength of confession made by Miss
Maggie katron. who made sworn
statement that she. Winner. Lackey and
Nelson committed the murder
The mob crossed the river, coming
over at II O'Clock in skiffs. At 80 they
recrosscd with the prisoners and hanged
them TO a tree.
NO MASKS WERE WORN.
The mob made no effort to conceal the
Identity of its members. and many Of
them could be easily recognized The
oNercoat worn by the leader IS in pus-
session of one of the deputies. The ma
1orlty OF the mob were young men.
1t Is said here that It was the inten-
tion OF the mob to burn Nelson and
Winner. Winner admitted to a prisoner
III tHe jan laSt niBnt that he was guilty
Ihc bodies were found this morning
halt mile from the river In Ray coun-
W, hanging To an oak tree
Hundreds of people are fiockinc TO the
scene OF the lynching to view the dead
bodies.
WILL PUNISH LYNCIIERs.
Prosecuting Attorney William Au,l
says: II have evidence sufficient to
identify some of the members of the
mob and have the names of many
others, also property belonging to some
or them. If 1t Is the last act of my
life / expect to bring the perpetrotora
a inStica', . = - NO' =