The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-09-28

huge bonfires In order TO cut of the
escape of the murderer. Miners lamps
were lighted and placed in rows along
the fences in the vicinity Of the building
and the streets about the mouse were rs
bright as midday. The first move on the
part Of the Sheriff was to recover the
body of John Lenhari, which was done
about 6 o'clock. Il was found where be
had fallen at the foot Of the stairs The
body was removed 10 Kennels hotel and
prepared for burial. Lenhart's face was
almost unreeoguizable. His lower Jaw
was torn and splinterei, and his eyebrows
and iashes had been burned away by
powder.
Sheriff Harlzell called upon Meyers to
surrender. promising to protect him from
the vengeance OF the mob, but Meyers
was desfto his appeals and promises, and
il is perhaps well that he was, for the
sight Of his face would have been the
signal for a vulley Of bnlIeis that would
have made a sieve of his body. Some
one in the crowd suggested blowing up
the house with dynamite, and sticks Of
that powerful explosive were secured.
Oil was also brought TO the scene in re-
sponse 70 suggestion that the building
be burned over the murderer's head.
A woman declared that she had seen
Meyers creep from the building, in which
Lsnhar;'s dead body lay, across the alley
and into the cellar OF the judy home.
Mrs. Judy and her children had ran from
the building at the time Of the shooting
OF Lenhart aud demands were made
upon Judy that he go into the house and
bring the prisoner ont. Threats were
made against his life unless be complied.
Judy went into the house and called
upon Meyers 10 surrender without avail.
Sheriff Hartzsll then decided TO storm
the bailding, and selecting Fred Dupont,
Of Company I. Austin Critchdeld, WI
liam Gilbert and several other parties to
60 with him, entered The honse. 4 care
fal search Of all the rooms and the gsrret
was made. and then the posse forced its
way into the cellar. Dapont had fired
his revolver az intervals while the search
was going on for the purpose ofintimi-
dating the murderer. aad when be got
sight OF him, lying upon his stomach aud
concealed behind some barrels in cor
ner of the cellar, he fred again, and at
the same time sprang forward aud grasp
ed the barrel Of the gun which Meyers
was trying 70 get into position TO shoot
Dupont wrenched the gun from his hands
and ordered him 10 stand up, when
Sheriff Ha-tzsll placed handouts on his
wrists.
News Of the capture dew from mouth
to mouth and the excited mob on the
outside of the house pressed forward
calling for vengeance. Cries of Shoot
him. Lynch the murderer" and Burn
him." filed the air The Sheriff com
manded the crowd TO retire and declared |
that he would shoot the first man at
tempting to interfere with the officers of
the law:the crowd hooted his declarations. |
Finally the Sheriff addressed the crowd, |
stating that two murders had already |
taken place. that the murderer was under
arrest aud that he would be safely guard |
ded until the law had disposed Of him;
that it was the Sherif's duty to preserve
the peace, and that he meant 10 do so. !
Then p Gordon OF officers surrounded the |
prisoner and headed by the Sheriff start
ed for the hotel. The prisonei', face was |
blanched with fear aud his body q liver
ed with apprehension as passage way !
was forced through the crowd that was |
crying aloud for his blood He begged |
piteously to be saved from the frenzied !
mob. The Shsrifrs posse hal only |
proceeded a few yards from the house !
when the attempt mentioned above was
made on the prisoners life. The ballet |
f'.at struck Meyers grszed the Sheriff's |
ID. Il was the signal for a fusilade Of
.-Illets. all OF which went wild. Not |
withstanding the generally credited re-
port that Meyers had been killed, and |
the foul murder Of Carney and Len
hart had been avenged, the crowd linger-
ed about the hotel until after daylight.