Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-06-01
FATHER AND SONS HANGED.

II Il
One of the worst causes OF lyucbing
ever known in California occurred
Thursday night at Lockout, twelve
miles from Alturss, Modoc county,
when old Calvin Hall, seventy years
of age, was hanged by mob of masked
mep, with his three sons and their
friend, Dan Ysntis.
Hall formerly lived with an Indian
squaw, and by her had three boys,
aged twenty-six, nineteen, and sixteen
years. The family was worthless, and
lately were suspected of many petty
tbefIs. Finally a constable went to
their house With search warrants, and
found hay forks, harness, barb wire,
aud other things that had been recently
stolen. All were arrested, but the old
man was released on the charge OF
simple theft, while the sons and Yantis
we're kept 10 custody on charges OF
burglary because they could not furnish
$500 bail.
The DeIghbors evidently determined
to rid the county OF the gang, but in
cad of tarring and teatheriDg them
they took sll five out at night and
without giving them q chance for pref
ererce hanged them to the Pitt river
bridge.
Hall and bis gang were brought to
Adm, the county seat of Modoc county,
and placed in charge OF constable and
one guared. Fifty m isked men, heavily
asmed, took them from the hotel, where
they were under guard, soon after mid
night, and within few minutes four
bodies we're hanging from the bridge.
Toe other victim was lynched before
tbe bridge was reached.
TIE vigilantes quietly assembled be-
fore the building where the victims
we're confined. There were little IL any
Indications OF organization or leadership,
Iaside the building Hall and his some
we're quietly sleeping. One OF the con-
stables 10 charge OF the men was called
10 the door, and as he opened 1t be was
quickly seized and rush made for the
prisoners. No Noopposition was encoun-
tered, and the men were quickly hur-
ried to the open cir.
Oae of Halls soDs made desperate
struggle, but he was silenced by blow
from q whipstock, and was killed be-
fore the bridge was reached. Old man
Hall and hisremaining confederates ap.
peared overcome. Outside the bulldog
| a member of the mob proposed that
Hall be given an opportunity to clear
| himself OF his crime, but the other
mem bers of the party vetoed the sug.
| gestion by cries: "He cant; we found
the stuff In his barn.
The mob had failed to provide itself
with sufficient rope, and committee at
once proceeded 10 visit several wells In
| the village for the needed article.
Od man Hall was first strung up. No
ceremony marked the action. The rope
was simply thrown around his neck,
and twenty willing hands grasped 1t
and jerked the unfortunate man from
his feet. The loose end was tied to q
convenient iencepost and the victim,
with hands and feet tied, was left to
strsngle.
The execution OF the other men was
practically a repetition OF that of the
elder Hall. The mob worked quickly
and silently.
Lookout is in Hot Spring Valley, or
the Pitt river. The residents OF the
valley are nearly all cattle rsisers In
moderate circumstances, and are usual
ly peaceable. Several weeks ago Sher
iff Hager, of Modoc county, was killed
By his team running away, and since
that time there have been a number o
breaches of the law in that locality
Hager wss terror to rustlers, and bat
succeeded in the years he held the offie,
of sheriff in effsctuslly suppressinl
thieves, who formerly had preyed upoI
the ranches.