The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-01
JUST %ABoUTTOLYNCH HIM.
MARROW ESCAPE OF A ToUNG MAN
FOR A FAKE MURDER.
Crowd said LyuchinE was Too Good for Hin
and Decided TO HanE Hin Three fines
strung Up by the Heels First-rhcnh ne wakes
n statement That Proves His Innocence

Crowd said LJnchinE was Too 5000 Tor HIM
and Decided 10 Hang Mln Three fines
strung I'm by the Heels F~irst-Then ne wakes
n statement That Proves His hnnocence.
LITTLE Rock, Ark, Oct. 3l.-John Bryant
tho ciehtoen.year-old son Of q farmer living near
Slatonvillo, lust inside the Indian territory, on
tho Sebastian county tArk.) line, Just escaped
~lynching early on Friday morning at the nanus
OF a mob determined upon avcnging n muir
der with which young Bryant was charged he
was accused of n numbering John Edwards, Jr., for
the purpose Of robbery. There was reason 10 be-
liove that Edwards had been dragged from his
pony by two highwaymen while riding along
tho road, knocked senselcss with q club, after
which he was killed, the body robbed, and
thrown into tho river.
On Wednesday last Edwards sold his horse,
bride, and saddle for 1886, after which ne re-
turned to John Bryant's home, near SlatonVille'
where he was in the habit of stopping. lie col
lectcd some money there and borrowed q pony
from John Bryant to ride to his fathers house.
He showed young Bryant 500 in golc ana told
him he would return to his home that night' ana
Bryant agreed to accompany him to Fort smith
next day. Edwards rode to his father nome,
told his parents Of his arrangement with Bry-
ant, showed them his money, and started to re-
turn to Bryant's house. That was the last seen
OF Edwards.
Next day tho pony Edwards rode was found
wandering in the road, the saddle Delng covered
with blood. In n lonely spot u short distance
way there was evidence OF a terrihc struggle,
and appearances indicated that a body mad been
thrown into the river.
Suspicion pointed TO John Bryant, and the
mob took him in charge. When confronted by
the evidence against him. Bryant dctsd the
mob to prove anything against him. The an
CRY crowd decided to deal summary with nun.
The leader mounted n stump to address the
"Gentlcmcn, he said. you have seen every.
here. Now what shall we do with this pris'
oncrf'
Hang him" came the chorus.
Gentlemen" resumed the leader, hanging
is too good for this fellow. move that we hang
him three times over"
! The proposition was met with n roar of up
proval and Bryant was seized and ilrst suspend
ed by the feet, head downward. When he was
let down Bryant was asked il he wanted to
make a confession. Bryant protested that he
ceivcd with jeers. Bryant then told the leader
that he wanted TO make u statement and he was
allowed TO do so.
John Edwards
There was a chorus Of groans and c~at;calls.
amt dead. He run away
Bryant then declared that Edwards was undel
bond to appear ut court and that the two young
men had pretended TO kill another man in order
that Edwards might disappear and his bonds
men be released from liability. =,
Where did all that blood come from, then Z
demanded tho leader. Bryant declared that Q
beef had supplied the blood. He led thu
crowd into the brush and there lay the dead ami
nal. just as he had described it.. Bryant wal
the bond forfeited by the man they thought
was murdered.