The Tupelo journal., 1905-07-21
A STARTLING
ACCUSATION
Sheriff Marshall Accused Of Assist
ing the Ironton, Mo-, Mob.
STORY TOLD BY SPAuGH BOYS
Sheriff MARSHALL, They Say, Unlocked
the Doors and Then stood
Guard While the Mob
Shot Them.

st. Louis, July 11.-William and Ar
thur Spaugh. the men charged with the
murder of Sneri1f Joseph w. Polk Of
Iron county, and who were brought to
st. Louis early Sunday morning for
safe keeping. made public, Monday, the
statement to be sent to Gov. Folk in
which they allege that Sheriff Marahall
unlocked the doors of the Jail for the
mob that shot them Saturday morning.
They also give the names of several
citizens whom they claim were in the
assaulting party.
The statement follows:
ION Thursday preceding the attack,
Sheriff John l. Marshall came into the
Jail and told us there were to come in
some more government prisoners and
that the men in the halls would be
moved into the cells. I did not think
much about it at the time, although
one of the inmates said to me, There
must be something going to happen
Sheriff Marshall ordered all the
lights put out in the Jail at 9 p. m.
each day. beginning Thursday, July 6,
saying that Mrs. Polk was sick up
stairs.
about 1870 a. m. on Saturday, 1
was up in my cell, having been awake
all night as l feared an attack would
be made. I heard a crowd of people
talking to John Marshall near the outer
door Of the Jail.
II heard them ask Marshall where
the keys we're and he replied that they
were hanging where they always did
and told them to go and get them. DR..
Farmhouse told the sheriff to get them
himself, az he understood it better.
Marshall said, Cali right, be quiet
now Tho sheriff then came and UNI
locked tbs outside doors. l could not
see him unlocking the door, but could
hear hiHs talking and hear the keys
rafting.
"a crowd then rushed in the door
and Sheriff Marshall came and I'M
locked our cell door. l knew him, for
he was unmasked and l could plainly
see him by the light of the lantern
which some one in the mob carried.
MARSHALL then said to some one:
You sand guard; I will go back and
lock tie outside door and stand guard
outside The mob then started to
rush IN at the cell door and one mar
got partially in when I struck him,
telling him to the floor. hit him with
q bed Stat. When a second man at
tempted to enter I also knocked him
down.
"John Marshall then called in, say
ing: IF you want to get them out OF
there you will have to rush in at once
Then rome one said: well, we will
have ~ go to shooting They then
opensS fire on us. There were from
thirty to forty shots fired in the fight.
They would place their pistols around
the doo~ and through the bars, shoot
ing at us. l got hold of one pistol IN
the fight, and afterward turned it over
to Sheriff Marshall. The lantern was
blown out utter the first few shots.
Marshall then cried out that there
was some enc coming and they Lac
better hurry and get us u OF there.
The whole mob then made q rush for
the door and went out.
IT recognized the men in the mob,
partly by their voices and partly by
seeing them with my eyes. also rec
ognized two pistols as belonging to
Marshall and DR.. Farmhouse. They were
the same guns used on us when we
were first arrested down at the cabin,
ard that Is how l came to recognize
them. MY brother Arthur and both
stood on the left hand side of the door
close to the wall"