Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-08-30
DESPERATE MOB'S DEEDS
Two Men Killed, Three Men and
One Woman Wounded and the
Latter's House Burned.
THREE MORE DEATHS LIKELY TO FOLLOW
The Tragedy Grew Out of Resistance
to Arrest by Mrs. DIR. C. w. Wright,
Charged with the Murder of h
Daughter of a Citizen of Leonard,
ILL.,, by Criminal Practice.

Gilman, ILL.,, Aug. 2s.-Two nen
killed, three wounded-two OF them
perhaps fatally, one woman wounded
and her residence burned, are the re-
suits OF an all-night battle between
a mob and Mrs. DR.. c. W. Wright, who
was accused of the murder of Bessie
Sa1ter, the 16-year-old daughter of a
citizen of Gilman.
The Dead.
John Myers, laborer, employed by
Mrs. DR.. Wright.
Michael Ryan, citizen, serving as
deputy constable.
Fatally Wounded.
Lawrence Ryan, brother of the dead
man; wounded in abdomen.
George Willoughby, citizen; shot
through left lung.
Mrs. DR.. c. W. Wright, shot through
right shoulder; bullet taking down
ward course.
Seriously Wounded.
Peter Lauer, member OF citizens at
lacking party; shot through stomach.
About ten o'clock Sunday evening
the first act of the tragedy was enact
ed. 1t was precipitated by the inves-
tigation of the coroner's jury into the
death of Bessie Salter, a 16-year-old
girl of Leonard, ILL.,, who died in the
hospital Friday night and was taken
to her home in Leonard, under cover
of darkness, early Saturday morning.
No coffin was procured and b was
wrapped up in an old blanket and a
piece of carpet and buried.
Went to Arrest Mrs. Wright.
After the jury had heard the evil
dence of Clarence Salter, father of
the girl, the came to the con-
clusion that it was injudicious to wait
longer for Mrs. Wright's arrest and a
warrant was sworn out by the police
magistrate for her arrest. Constable
Nilstead wen to the house to serve
the warrant about ten o'clock Sunday
night.
Mrs. Wright Barred the Door.
Mrs. Wright barred the door and,
in forcing an entrance, the constables
encountered unexpected opposition.
They broke the outer door open and
entered the darkened rooms. Michael
Ryan felt his way across the first
room, and was about to enter the
door of the inner apartment, when a
shot rang out and he fell dead. The
c~onstables made a hurried exit, and
formed a picket line around the build
ing.
Fired Into the Building.
At regular intervals they fired into
the building in the hope that the oc-
cupants would surrender, but without
success. Finally, it was determined
to set fire to the building. The recent
rains had so dampened its timbers
that the fire would not catch, and,
after burning some outbuildings, the
posse gave up the attempt Il fell
back to their original plan of driving
out Mrs. Wright.
A Heartrending scene.
About three o'clock the family of
Michael Ryan arrived. The dead man
had been carried to the bushes near
the house, where he met his death. A
mob of probably $50 people had gath
cred. Most of them were armed. The
scenes OF grief which followed the ar
rival of Ryan's life and children fired
the crowd with frenzy. They seized
dozens of bundles of straw, saturated
them with petroleum, piled them
against the front and sides of the So
called hospital, and applied the
torch.
A Mass of flames.
In a moment the place was a mass
of flames. Shot after shot rang from
the upper windows, and George Will
loughby, a local representative of the
Standard Oil Co, fell with a bullet in
the left side. The next victim was
Peter Hauer, a member of the attack
ing party. These casualties SC an
gered the crowd thai they volleyed
the house as fast as they could load
their firearms.
Unexpected FusiIade.
Contrary to expectations,n no screams
followed the progress of the flames
and the mob began to think that the
inmates of the burning house had
been cremated. Suddenly, from a
bunch of timber in the rear, several
shots came in the direction of the
mob. They were answered, a hun
dred to one, and the fire was quickly |
silenced.
A Rush to the Timber.
Members of the mob rushed to the |
timber, and in the dim light of the
coming dawn, found the body of John
a blacksmith, who had been
by Mrs. Wright, stretched
in the death agony. He was shot in
a dozen places about the head and
showing hat he had been
lying on his face, firing at his enemies,
he met death. Near by lay Mrs.
Wright, a ragged hole in her shout
der.
Jeered by the Mob.
The mob carried her down town, !
as they went. She was taken
to the council chamber and physicians
to resuscitate her. Up to
3 a. M, they had been unsuccessful
and it is probable she will die. The
mob Immediately dispersed. 1t had
been reported that there were three
Wright, but they were not found. The
house was destroyed with its con-
tents.
The Cause of the Tragedy.
Mrs. DIR. Wright is about fifty years
old. 1t is stated that she was former
" an actress. For some time she has
been conducting a lying-in hospital On
the outskirts of Gilman. The death
Of Bessie Salter in the house last FRI
lay, and the later verdict of the
,oroner's jury Saturday, caused the
ISSUANCE of a warrant for her arrest,
which resulted in the wholesale shoot
ng and probable death of the princi-
pal.
Attempt to Lynch Mrs. Wright.