The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1898-09-16
.LYNCHED At LIBERTY, MO.
Benjamin Jones, 70 Years Old,
Strung Up by a Mob.
ASSAULTED A1C-YEAR-OLD GIRL
Hanged on the Portico OF Clay County
Court Householder From jail just
Before Midnight by About Seventy
Five Masked Men.

LBERTY, Mo-, Sept 12.-Benjamin
Jones, an old man of 10 years, was
lynched just before midnight last
night for the alleged assault last Sat-
urday of Anna Montgomery, 1O-year-
old girl.
Between II and IL o'clock about sew
enty five masked men rode into town
from all directions. They went imme-
diately to the Jail and battered down
the heavy iron door They went in
and, finding their. man, escorted him
to the front door on the south side of
the court house. There, on the portico
of the Clay county court house, Benja-
min Jones forfeited his life for one of
the foulest crimes ever committed in
Clay county.
On Saturday morning Jones was
asked to escort Anna, the 10-year-old
daughter of James Montgomery of
Randolph, to the Clay county fair.
Jones brought the girl to Liberty in a
big wagon.
He took care Of her all day, taking
her shopping in the morning and out
to the fair in the afternoon. After the
fair was over, they started on the re-
turn trip to Randolph. During the
trip, the crime for which Jones was
lynched was committed.
When the news of the crime became
public the indignation of the Clay
county people knew no bounds. Ben
jamin Jones was brought to Liberty
and placed in the Clay county Jail Sun
day morning. All day groups of men
and boys could be seen standing
around on the square and side streets,
talking in low tones. Horses were
hitched at every convenient hitching
post. The male population had de-
termined looks on their faces and any
one with an experienced eye could see
that something was about to happen
that would cause sensation in the
sleepy little town Of Liberty on the
following morning. Notwithstanding
this, very few people were on the
streets when the lynching occurred.
Shortly after II o'clock the electric
lights were put out and the sound OF
horses feet was soon heard gathering
over the stony streets, leading to the
square. They surrounded the court
house and it seemed that there were
nearly hundred masked men in the
mob. Blows dealt by strong arm
did telling work on the Jail door and a
few minutes afterward, Benjamin
Jones was led forth to face the aveng-
ers Of the foul crime that had been
committed on the person of little Anna
Montgomery.
A rope was thrown over the railing
on the top of the stairway, and the
moose placed around Jones neck.
Willing hands grasped the ends of the
rope and Jones was suspended in the
air. A few gurgles, one pistol shot
rang out, q convulsive shudder, and all
was still.
The lynchers dispersed as quietly as
they had come, and Clay county had at
least succeeded in avenging one more
of the foul crimes which have dar-
kened her history.
The body of Jones was cut down by
the officers and taken to Mosby's I'M
dertaking rooms. 1t was found that
the ball from the pistol had entered
the back. He was clad in e plain shirt,
light pants and socks, without shoes.
Jones is an old man, 70 years old, and
| his hair is very white.