The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-14
LYNCHED BY A KANSAS MOB
MURDERER OF Young GIRL
HANGED IN THE SQUARE.
The sheriff Attempted TO Outvit the
Avengers and Get His Prisoner
Away, Hut Is Oyertaken and Man

GREAT BEND. Kan. July l9.-In the
public square fronting on the principal
business street OF this city. a murderer was
iynehed at O'clock this evening by moo
Of probably 80 people. II IL estimated that
al least 1000 OF Great Bends population @.
e,i&o witnessed the tragedy.
The victim was John Becker young
white man, who on April killed Myrtle
HunmeiSter. the 1G-year-old daughter OF
William Hnfmcister. farmer living mid
way between Great Bend and Ei!inw God,
the second station east OF here.
Becker was employed by the farmer, and
frofesesed passionate love for The daughter.
and the tragedy followed the girls refusal
10 accept his advances. When the girl
came To the stable In the evening. Becker
shot her 10 death, sending eight bullets
into her body. after which he sat fire 10 the
farmers stables. At first x was reported
that the murderer had shot himself. and
that he died in the flames, hat later IL be-
came known that he had fed and search
was Instituted. On April 49, posse Of
farmers captured the murderer near 81.
John. Stafford county. and for safe keeping
no was taken by the sheriff 10 Hutchinson.
"a there had been many threats that he
would lie lynchei ii brought here.
This morning Becker was brought here
from Hutchinson TO he put on his prestrn-
mary examina ton. Early In the day farm
eFs from the neighborhood of his crime be-
gan coming into town. and hy o'clock.
this evening the streets were thronged,
Then when il became known that the muir
derer had been granted = change Of venue
to Lyons. ard that Sheriff Aber would take
his prisoner east on the Santa Ee train
this evening there were signs of threat
ened trouble. as u big crowd began 10
gather at the railroad depot.
Sheriff Aber approaching the danger,
AgI F-~
a crossing cas-; OF the city. intending 10
flag the train there. BY this time. the
crowd II the depot were openly thTsattfl-
Ing a lynching When the train pulled out
tho purpose OF The s9egiff'S strategy had be-
come apparent % all The would-be lynch
ers quick u ac} boarded the train and
rode on. When Sheriff Aher at the cross
ing. saw taat tao train WAS crowded 10
the guards. he did not flag IT, bu; hurried
u drove back tn Great Bend with his py!s-
onor- A. Dartmouth the lynchlnE party
LETT the train ana started back to this city.
having hired ali the conyeyances available
there
In the meantime. Sheriff Aber had hur-
ried back ard had lodged his prisoner a;
tho county iaIl
\ few minutes teforc o'clock. the mob
was swarri,nS around the Jail. Evidently
believing that ha could outwit the lynch
crs Sher!tT A1sr rushed Becker out ~ The
fa,i - MS buggy. which was IN the street
bu; he had no sooner done 50 than he and
his men and the prisoner were surrounded
The sheriff, aided ~ Ills deputies. cnaie
stubborn defense. end the prisoner. rsalsz-
tx the fate hat threatened him. fought
desperately wi1H t5en1. After they fought
theiv Way hack a.asost % the entrance 20
The {4ii ne moo through sheer force Of
:ar2heys prevailed Securing IRE murder
- ,aey bore him away - t1c puaiic sluaye.
There a rcT'a WAS tAvow0 around Becker's
neck ard afte- he lad been beaten almost
- .rscHsibtitv the rope was thrown over
@ liHno ~ q h.S tree ara he Vas drawn Gp.
StxUa one ~ t5e crowd gave the body !
push AMI as tae murderer WAS being
drawn az has a3is repeatedly swung back.
sCrap.nE tGe trunk - the tree. The sheriff
ard ms Mon kept cie>ss apon the heels %
tne lyacheFS but they were Aeld back fer
fully fifteen mir}teE when Z betNr apps-
reHt fha! becker was 7sad. the mob quickly
melted away and tire nurdercr's body Was
cu. down,
Though guns wera drawn and threats
were noade no ss,ofs were 1reI ny the s1e~-
~ o. his men jn their struggle acRfYtt fase.
iyrrhevs. Nauy - tae iyuc5;oe parry must
- known - fhc neacr officers. bIlt tonight
here 81 ~ very Ssraux talk o: arrests Tae
sentiment here Seems - b. thaf = ever
man deserves lynch,uE Hscker did
Becker II said 20 c~e-st> q a Tarozeera,ss
family a MaTton IL Attorney W VI
p8-caa we here from Marion - defend
hsaa. smd IL is Statet1 thai j~sari,y was TO
have been the ulue.le-eT's defenaz