Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-07-30
Victims, Wife and Chill
dren of PennsyIva-.
MIA Farmer.
CAUGHT AND JAILED
Mob of a Thousand Men Well
Armed---lynching
Averted.

CannOnsburG. Pa, July 3O.-Coroner
Sipeand and Constable Miller, of Cnn-
nonsburg, drove into town today with
Elmer Dempster, the 19-year-OId negro
who had been arrested for the murder
of Mrs. Samuel Pearce and tive children
and shooting third child last evening.
Dempster later was taken TO WASH
ington jail for safe keeping. Dempster
n helper on the Pearce farm. 1t
IL alleged he made a complete confess
sion.
According to the story told In his
confession. Dempster attempted an
snult on the 4-year-oId daughter after
the departure of Pearce. but was frus-
trnted by the mother. who went to the
bureau TO get n revolver to shoot him.
The negro says he secured the gun
first, and after killing the mother and
shooting the children, set fire to the
house hide the crime. The feeling
against Dempster IN running high.
Washington, July 3O.-Dempster was
safely lodged I'm jail here. shortly af-
ter leaving CannonsburG n crowd of
about 20 men boarded the train and
with shouts of Lynch him. kill him."
dragged the prisoner and the officers
from the car. 4 struggle followed, hut
the officers succeeded In keeping pos
session of the negro and finally drove |
III. or of
When Washington was reached nearly
300 people had gathered at the court
house, but the crowd eIuded by
ment to the jail.
Pittsburg. July 30.-The wife and
three children of Samuel Pearce. a
farmer living near Venice. Washington
county, were murdered by an unknown
negro yesterday afternoon. After
slaughtering his victims the fiend set
fire to the house. and it was destroyed,
consuming the bodies. The negro es-
capped, starting toward this city. Hun
dreds of farmers are searching the hills
for him and lynching is almost GER
tain to occur if they Overtake him be-
|
track, capture him.
Mr.. Pearce, who is one of the oldest
and best known residents of this sec
ton. attended church in the afternoon.
leaving his wife and children at home.
Some time after he left, the negro
went TO the house and attacked Mrs.
Pearce- She attempted to fight him
of and the children went to the res
Gle With an AK the negro struck
down the family, beating all four 20
death. He then searched the house
for valuables and set it on fire.
Suspect Makes Escape.
Neighboring farmers were attracted
by the flames, and. hurrying to the
scene. saw the negro making away
over the hills. The blood-stained ak
which told the story was found lying
in the yard just outside the kitchen
door Efforts to save the house were
useless AS soon as the embers had
cooled sufficiently the horribly mutila-
ted bodies of the victims were found in &
the ashes. J
As soor as il was determined that {
had been committed posse of
farmers Was formed and began search '
ing for tie negro. AT various points a
along the road he had been seen. head S
ing for this city. Telephone communi-
cation was established with the bureau I
Of police in this city and officers start !
ed from here at once to work back to-
ward the scene of the crime Officers
also started from Washington. and it
Is believed the negro will be over
taken. The farmers declare that if
hey get him first they will not wait on
The process of law, but will administer
Justice at the end of rope
Chureh-GOers I'm Hunt. 7
Venice is in an isolated section of +
county. about 2S miles f
rom this city The Pearce home is a
1ut a short distance from the church c
md the fire was plainly visible to the a
as it was leaving after n
he service The worshipers at once n
ook up the man hunt over the hills. h
even the children of the Sunday school I,
oined in it.
With torches and shotguns, thou
and farmers are working over the
Hills while other posses, with no s
orches, to warn the fugitive of their a
!pproach, are quietly searching every Il
hicket and hollow in all the country d
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