Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1896-08-26
VENGEANCE IS QUICK
A Halt.Breed Fiend Lynched
at Asotin.
WAS DRUNK WHEN ARRESTED
He Committed Brutal Outrage ON -
Young Girl and Speedily
Paid the PenaIty.


Young Girl and Speedily
Paid the PenaIty. i
i Lewiston, Idaho. Aug. 21.-Frank
Biles, a half breed Indian from Nez
Peroe reservation, was taken from
Asotin Jail at / / O'Clock last night and
hanged by a mob of indignant citizens.
His crime was the brutal criminal out
rage of Miss Mary Richardson, young
woman 2 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 Blles left the
other Indians and rode back to the un-
fortunate young lady. Riding along
side of her, he grabbed her horse's
bride and attempted to lead the animal
away from the road into some bushes
She resisted, and then sLrang from the
horse. and ran screaming from the viii
her by the dress, fiourished 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
respectability and truthfulness If 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 ard 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, aud 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 jsiler
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
eulprit, the other end thrown over the
pole, and stout, willing hands quickly
]. drew up the dangling body. The ropt
was secured, and the party remained
in the Jail yard until all question o
the death of the prisoner had been re
moved. FROM first to last Biles wa
: sullen and silent, refusing to make an,
!, statement. He has always been re
garded as hard character. His hom,
is on the reservation near Genesee
where he had wife and children
The body was left hanging until thi
morning, and has been viewed by hun
!, dreds. Word was soon carried tc
: Biles' relatives, and this afternoon they
: are in Lewiston, on their way to Aso
tin for the body. Biles was drunl
when arrested.
1t is not known who were member
: Of the lynching party. The act meet
= with general approval both of Indian
: and white people. 1t is not expected
that any eteps will be taken to punisl
= the avengers.
Miss Richardson Is suffering from
severe nervous shock, but the physi
. oians believe she will recover. Th
affair has been the subject of universe
!. consideration today and the youn
lady has the sympathy of every body.