The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-21
LYNCHINGS IN S. D.
ONLY ONE HAS TAKEN PLACE
WITHIN THE PAST TEN
YEARS
"A TRAMP AT WATERFOWL
Had Assaulted Woman and Little
Girl and Was Taken From
Jail by Indignant
Citizens.

SAt bSlnS carried on Dy GOV,
Herried to ascertain the num-
Der of lynchings in South Dakota has ta-
vealed the fact, as noted few days ago
IN these dispatches, tnat the state has
had only one lynching during the past
ten years. w. ]. Heating. a prominent
business man of Sioux Falls, but for
years resident of Waterfowl furnishes
the particulars of the incident which
occurred at Watertown early in the fan
of 1885
The victim was a tramp who had been
hanging around that part of the country
for some little time His name was un-
known. One day he went to the home
OF farmer living two or three miles
east of WATERFOWL and demanded some
thing TO eat. The farmers wife and a
little girl who lived with them were
alone on the place. The tramp hung
around the vicinity the remainder of the
day, and in the evening, when the farm
er's wife, accompanied by the little girl
started out TO walk to a neighboring
farm the tramp followed and attacked
them. A desperate fight ensued The
woman and little girl fought fiercely, and
finally succeeded in escaping from the
clutches of the assailant The tramp
was subsequently arrested and lodged in
jail at Watertown.
The people of the surrounding country
were greatly angered when they heard
OF the assault, and, Immediately preced-
ing the lynching, gathered in WATERFOWL
Ihe streets became dotted with little
groups of very quiet but determined
men, out the affair was conducted in an
Unusually orderly manner No loud or
excited talk whatever was INDUCED in
py the men who had decided to wreak
summary vengeance upon the assafIant
OF the woman and girl
About II O'Clock at night the men
started for the jail. and speedily sur
ceeoed IN gaining entrance. A rope was
fastened around the tramp's neck. and
the crowd outside had soon pulled him
through the window of the prison. Pro-
ceedlnS to point about two bloc KS fen
Inc Jail tie 'opa was tllr lwn over a 20
ephone pole and the body of the tras,o
was soon dangling in the air His BE- x
dragged along the street with the rome
fastened TO his neck probably had near
~ choked the life out of his body. so
mat when he was strung up he was prac-
tically hfeless
The only other lynching in Eastern
south Dakota since that part of the
state was settled took place in 1885 For
the purpose of recording this part of the
early history of Eastern South Dakota
tne writer mas obtained the particulars
OF the incident, which at the time At
tracted widespread attention The vic
TIM IN this instance was James H. Bell
VINO was hanged in Hughes county for
one of the most dastardly crimes that
ever darkened the pages of the states
history.
Early in the SOS Bell, who was grad
uate OF the Iowa City, Iowa, law school,
was d resident of Chamberlain, anu, dur
ms ms residence there, conducted himself
IN gentlemanly manner. After leaving
there ne lived for brief periods in a num-
Der OF Dakota towns and. in October
1872, went to Huron. He did not remain
tnere very long, but soon removed to
Harold. Hughes county. Here he evil
IDENTIFY did his first crooked work which
consisted OF Hing number of fraudulent
entity.
Among the entries were tree claims and
some soldiers declaratory statements
Bell, in each case, presenting ffctitiors
names The claim that was the princfpal
cause OF the tragedy, as narrated below
was fled upon by him in his fathers
name. 1t was soon discovered by parties
IN that section that Bells father resided
IN New York state, and had never left
there -ei'
This, of course. was sufficient evidence
upon which to take the claims from Rem
ana prosecute him for fraudulent entry.
Ahotner attorney named Forest d
Small, son of a congregational cIerov-
man, gave information to the federal Lana
department of what was going on. and
a special agent was sent out, who soon
uncovered the crookedness.
BEL was aware that Small was resnon-
siole for the appearance of the specia1
agent and he was greatly enraged by
bnaIIs interference. Bell claimed that
SnlaIi was prosecuting him and he threat
ened to kill him if he did not desist Con
siderable bad feeling existed between fba
men, but nothing serious occurred untiI
the fall of 1884 -
me IalI OF that year was the time for a
petty lawsuit at Blunt and if hammered
that Bell and Small were the onnosino,
attorneys. To gSt to Blunt in time for
the commencement of the arguments on
the SUIT II was necessary for the attor-
heys to leave early in the morning and
20 across country. Bell left in tbs cav,
forenoon with a buggy, being accompan-
1eo py supplemented fellow named
Bennett. ~ Cd
Before starting a spade and Ratchet
were placed in the buggy. which pIainIv
showed that the murder a short time af
terWard was fully premeditated. Coming
70 ravlne on their way to Blunt the
TWO men drove the buggy to a position
rear the road, but somewhat out of sight
OF the highway, and laid in wait for
small, whom they knew would take the
same road in going to Blunt.
Small shortly rode up en- horseback
ana, coming out from their hiding n1ace
the two men stopped him, Bell. as an
excuse for OBTAINING his enemy. Offering
70 compromise the suit to be tried in
biuht That day by paying a certain
amount provided Small would give him a
receipt Unsuspecting danger. Small
gladly accepted the offer, jumped from
ms morse, and throwing the bride rein TO
6ennett, prepared TO write the recent
In order to write more easily Small
stepped up TO the buggy, placed one foot
Oh the hub of one of the wheels. ana
used his knee as a rest for the niece of
paper While in this position Bell stole
up behind him and struck him tremen-
SouS DO" with the Ratchet, resulting in
Utmost instant DEATH
Bell searched the pockets of tho daoa
man, and he and Bennett then took the
body some distance away and buried #
carefully obliterating all traces of fresb,
ly turned earth. AS a reward for his na ~
OF the bloody work Bell gave Bennett a
6um of money found in SmaI's pocket
as well as Small's horse. Bennett at
once started for North Dakota, and Bell
returned to Harold as if nothing had
happened.
On his arrival there he caused the re-
port to be circulated that Small had
skipped out because he feared prosecution
Hor crooked work he had done The ueo-
pie not yet having their suspicious
aroused to any great degree, Bell was
permitted to remain unmolested.
The following winter, nearly three
months after the murder, Sman's father
arrived from his home in Onida, SulIy
county, intending to pay short visit to
ms son. The father was, of course, great
ly surprised and shocked to learn that his
son was missing and his s11snicion Of