The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1897-11-27
Precautions have been taken now

Precautions have been X now
against any attempt at lynching the other
two men. Sheriff Taylor last night
guarded the Jail with an extra posse of
men until early this morning, and the
prisoners were stealthily removed from
the Jail by the sheriff and taken to the
state p~enitentiary, a mile east of the city,
where they are now safely confined with
in the massive walls n poDderous IRON
bars Of that institution and where they
will remain until their cases are disposeh
of in court.
There seems now to be but one course to
pursue in the matter. The only evidence
against the men upon which CONVICTION
could be hinged was that Of Holy Track
and Ireland, and both of these men are
dead. There is therefore no evidence
upon which the men can be convicted.
and when their cases are called the state
will have to turn them loose. If they ran
into the hands Of the people by whom the
three were hanged Sunday morning there
is no doubt that they will share the same
fate. The authorities will therefore have
a delicate matter to handle In releasing
the men if it is desired to avoid another
event like that of yesterday.
Black Hawk and Defender are visibly
nervous and frightened over the terrible
vengeance hat was melted out to their
three comrades. All last night they re-
manned awake, peering occasionally out
Of their cell doors. listening intently and
starting at the slightest sound. Their
faces did not betray n great amount OF
emotion when they were informed of the
lynching. but they are Indians and have
been trained to betray no feeling. no mat
ter what the provocation for emotion.
But in their wakefulness n apparent
nervousness traces of anxiety could be
traced and 1t was with great relief tina
they saw the heavy gates of the peni-
tertiary clang after them and felt them
selves secure behind its walls.
Reports from the Indian reservation al
Standing Rock, where the friends and
relatives of the men reside, are that there
is no great excitement and that many OF
the Indians are relieved at the death OF
the men, although regretting the manner
of it. All of them were discordant ele.
ments and it has been feared by some OF
the Indians that trouble might ensue II
they should return.
A formal inquiry was begun to-day oy
the coroner int the cause of the death
of the three men. Their bodies lay IN the
Jail at Williamsport. where they were
viewed by a few residents of the hamlet
The faces of none of them were much
discolored or disfgured. There were
gashes in their throats where the ropes
had cut through the flesh in dragging and
long suspension in air, but other than
this there was not much designation
Sheriff Shier arrived at Williamsport this
afternoon and is assisting in the work
Reports from the inquest are meager as
yet. All communications have to be
brought forty miles by messenger. Local
kodak fiends secured a snap shot of the
| gallows with the three men suspended
and a photographer is here selling printed
pictures for 25 cents each, the demand ex.
ceeding the supply. The gallows upon
which the men were hanged is a crude
frame of cottonwood poles, two set up.
right and one crosswise, and the bodies
of the men were so close together that
they touched one another. There have
been no developments as yet in the matter
of the Identification of any of the lynch.
ers, although it is suspected that q
good share of them at least were from
Winona, there is nothing definite hazard.
ed.