The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-05-13

day afternoon secured 5000, from Rep
Fred Hess, dnder threat to
shoot down his wife and
child, whom he held as prisoners in. a
deserted log cabin, was captured at 5
O'Clock last evening by posse and
about an hour later was dangling from
the end of a rope in the public square
of Belmont, Mo, about fifteen miles
below here on the Mississippi rver
Demanded $500 From Hess.
Witherspoon, was few days ago re,
leased from the Missouri pen tentiary
where he lad been sen enced for an
alleged attempt TO murder his wife
Yesterday afternoon. tne negro went
TO Hess home fe-y miles from Bel
mont, and dpnfaraed six hundreI dol
Lars, stating that tsat a~lountl of
money wae Dire Nj from the sta :
becauseI Of his imprisonment. Mr..
Hess told him that ~ would try and
get a claim through the legislature for
b m but the negro grew insulting AMI
covered Mr. Has@ with Winchester
repeating rife he carr ed. Hess then
told him he did not have thai much
money in he house but would get It.
The. negro then at the point Of the gun
forced Mr.. Hess fo hitch up horse
TO light buggy and to saddle anothe,
horse. He then mounted the horse
and forced Mr.. Hess to get in the
buggy with his wife and child and
drive toward Belmont,
Held Wife For Ransom.
AS they passed a deserted negro
cabin, near the town, Witherspoon
still holding the gun in Mr. Hess face
made him stop the horse and com
PEELED Mrs. Hess and her baby to EN-
ter the cabin. Standing In front Of
the door the negro told Mr. Hess that
he intended to have the money and
that unless he sent six hundred dollars
back to the cabin, within an hour by
Hugh McPheeden, merchant of Bel
mont, he would shoot his wife anC
child and make his escape.
Fearing that the negro would carry
out his threatMr Hess drove with al
possible haste to Belmont where ht
drew the money from the bank HC
then went in search of Mr. McPhee
den, but learned taht he had gone t
Columbus, KY, directJy across tht
river. He sent a note across the rive
to him, telling of the circumstances
but fearing to wait for his arrival t.
take the money, Mr.. Hess sent IL t,
Witherspoon by colored Baptis
preacher.
Negro Got the Money.
The preacher rushed to the plac
and handed the negro the bag, cor
tanning the greenbacIs and silver
Witherspoon counted the money an
then mounted he horse and rode raT
dly up the Iron Mountain ra'lroa
track
McPheeden told Of the sensationa
hold up in Columbus and Marsha
zimmerman, organized posse an
crossed the river to Belmont. Her
large number Of citizens had cor
gregated and swere discussing th
events of the af ernoon. Before til
neg:o had started from the shanty th
mob of indignant citizens from bot
places were in hot persuit. Bloc
hounds were sent for form Charleston
Posse S arts In Persuit.
Several members of the poss
boarded a swith engine and chase
the negro down the track, firing Z
him as he ran. When he reached tn
vicinity Of First Lake, he dismounte
and ian into the swamps. The me
followed him and finally surrounde
him in small shack.
The negro threw the sack of none
out Of the window but refused TO CON
out himself and threatened to XIII u
first man that tried 10 bring him on
Despite these threats, Marshall ~
norman, who II known as the nery e
man in Kentucky. walked boldly up
the door and kicked II in.
Taken BY the Mob.
The negro surrendered and was ia
en- TO Belmon',
There the officers were greeted
large crowd and the report III
Mrs Hess was in dangerous con,
tion as result Of the fright al
shock she had received, served to
furiate the men and before the m;
shal could get to the Jail with his pr
oner. the mob, by main force took hi
away from HIM and w.th rope th
IL used as a public swing In t
square. strung him up.
After the negro WIS hanged I
mob quietly dispsfsed and " la N'