The copper country evening news., 1897-12-31
lob DOES A MURDER.
~, Farmers Take the Law in
P Their Own Hands.
rrrnpr TO TAR AND FEATHER.

.a.a victims Resist and One of
Il slain by the vigiiance Commit
.a.-Ths Alleged Iii-rreat tent OF AN
-, rather by His Sons ,s Cause OF
IN. intended Punishment : Deathbed
statement Il Made
{o.,urova. Ia. Dec. 81 he Balm. a
er was mortally wounded by a
4 shed band of farmers bent on tarring
1 , Gathering him and his brothers
the ill-treatment of their father. in
Esont Ridge township. Lee county.
1 diving man made a statement,
ring TO the identity Of seven of his
ouants. and warrants for their ar
n have been sworn out, but the men
. not vet been taken into custody.
no Rolm and his two brothers con-
q large farm and are considered
4, % do. They live in a comfortable
orling. but permitted their aged and
renit father to dwell in abject pow
a, In a hovel on their property For
u rs their inhuman treatment OF the
rort has been source Of unfavor-
A. Gossip in the neighborhood. but
Il offorts TO induce the sons to make
-tter provision for the old man were
mvailing.
Saw He Starved to Death.
few days ago the father died and
Edents i'm a position to have accurate
nvIedge of the case declare that he
,ved 70 death, his children refusing
Lpive the slightest assistance. Wher
his deathbed the aged man sent re-
Isl for his sons to con- 2 and see him
his they declined to do. They als'
nsed to bury him or pay any part o
" Vfuneral expenses and the body wa
khrred by the county.
mis- was more than the neighpor
Ia endure and the leading farmer
hrmined to rid themselves of tn
nilv. Secret conference were hel
the best methods of accomplishin
r object considered and discusse
various standpoints. 1t was final
Vhetermined to tar and feather tn
81 and then drive them out or IN
btry. the penalty being death IL the
hid dare to return. A vigilance CON
ee was formed and action decide
March to the House.
Hfcordingly, at the hour appointe
Nv of the leading farmers, a
Ned. assembled at spot previous
led upon and began their marc
he home of the Balm boys. Arri
ht the house, the leader of the vi
he committee stepped to the do
knocked. Abe Balm respond
seeing the array of masked facS
ectured the intent of their missi'
retreated within doors. He call
Ais brothers, and hastily armil
selves, the three men left by
entrance and opened a rapid II
be mob.
LIZ unexpected resistance stagger
fingleaders for an instant, but tn
dly rallied, returned the fire WI
q effect, and Abe Balm, who was
lead, fell with a mortal wound. L
2ers then retreated and were so
fight OF in the darkness. Whetf
III their number was injured by I
IN fired by the Balms Is not c'
~ known.
Deathbed Statement.
Ia wounded man was taken into
by his brothers and died at ds
-. While on his deathbed he ms
uement in which he claimed to
|dentify seven of his assailants.
nom are we'll known in this vic
He claimed to recognize TN
agh their disguise. Warrants w
b by the authorities, but have
been served.
men named by the dead n
hosts of friends, who have
red their intention Of fighting
#seeing them in the custody OF
They make the assertion I
brought on his own death by
IN his visitors, who acted In
sse and for their own protect
big in the neighborhood aga
kmaining brothers is stronger I
land another visit from the vi
Naommittee is not at all imprC