Iron County register., 1899-11-23
MOB Law I'm MISSOURI.
pie In the Vicinity of Bloomfield. Whe
Lynched william Hut.

PIE In the vicinity OF BioOmneLOs Un0
Lynched william Hut.
Dexter, NJ, Nov. 16.-Three violent
deaths have occurred in this vicinity
during the past "a hours, and this car
nival of blood following so quickly the
killing of the five members of the FAM
lily OF Mrs. Jane Tettaton by J. H. Tet-
taton has aroused the people to high
pitch of excitement.
Early this morning telephone mes
sage was received from Bloomfield
stating that William Huff had been
taken from the county Jail at that
place by mob and lynched. In few
moments horseman dashed into town
from Pyle, a settlement six miles
south of here, with the intelligence
that Rev. Jesse Moore had been assas-
sinated while sleeping in his home.
The question whats next?" was
scarcely asked before telephone mes
sage announcing the killing at Ardeo-
u yesterday of Andy Campbell, ex-
postmaster of Bell City, by William
Parker, a merchant.
A Respected Minister Assassinated.
This saturnalia of crime seems not
to be ended, as there are loud threats
of what should be done with the MUIR
derer of Rev. Jesse Moore. The min
lister retired at his usual hour last
night, three of his boys, the eldest 1e
years, sleeping in the same room, the
female members of the family sleeping
in room adjoining. Early this morn
ing, as was his custom, Elijah, the old
est son, arose and attended to the
chores. When breakfast was prepared
he went to the room to call his father
and brothers and found the old gen.
tleman lying upon blood-soaked bed,
with the top of his head blown off.
The lad was staggered by the grew
some sight, and summoned the other
members of the family and severa.
neighbors.
Jesse Moore was one of the best
known Methodist preachers in south
eastern Missouri. He was about so
years of age and highly respected and
beloved. It is said and believed by all
who knew him that he had not a
known enemy in the world. Upon the
discovery of his body all the family
denied that they had heard shot fired,
or that there was noise sufficient dur
ing the night to disturb their sleep.
Mrs. Moore is prostrated. The family,
as far as known, lived happily together
and there WAS apparently no friction
among the members other than an oc-
casional dispute between father and
son, but which were counted as of no
Importance. A shotgun, with one bar
rel empty, was found in a rack on the
rear porch. Elijah claims that his
parent loaned this gun to some un-
known neighbor last week.
Late tonight a coroner's jury re-
turned a verdict that the minister
came to his death at the hands of some
person unknown. Sheriff Evans, how
ever, placed Elijah under arrest, pend
ing further investigation.
William HUFF Lynched.
At two o'clock this morning a mob
of 100 masked and armed men went
quietly into Bloomfield and posted SEN
tries on all avenues leading to the Jail.
Then Sheriff Evans was summoned
and told to deliver the keys. This he
refused to do, and Mrs. Busby, the
matron, hearing the argument, told
the leaders that she had the keys and
they could get them over her. dead
body. With sledges and hammers the
avengers broke down the door.
Huff spoke from his cell, telling the
men to be easy, that he would come
out. He tore the masks from three
men and called out the names of three
men who reside in the northern mart
of the county, admonishing the pris-
oners to report their names. The mob
quickly fastened the moose about
Huff's neck and led him about mile
west of Bloomfield, where his body
was found dangling from limb.
Last Saturday Huff met a young
man named Andrew Melton, cripple,
and killed him with a pistol ball. A
feud had long existed between the
Meltons, prominent and respected
family, and William Huff, who has
borne no enviable reputation. Huff's
last call when leaving the Jail was an
admonition to his son to kill Esquire
Thomas Melton on sight.
Judge Fort has ordered the inn
panehng of special grand jury and
active measures will be taken at once
to apprehend the mob, three of whom
are already known.
All that can be learned of the killing
of Andy Campbell is that he has long
been known as bad man with a gun.
He has, it is reported, been prosecuting
Merchant Parker,w who studiously avoid
ed him.