Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1907-01-17
IOWA LYNCHING
CITIZENS OF CHARLES CITY HANG
MURDERER.
KILLED WIFE AND STEP-SOD
Leading Citizens Were In The Mob
Which Was Deliberate 10
Its Action.

Charles City.-James Cullen. muir
derer OF wife and stepson, was
hanged to the Cedar river bridge at
1880 Wednesday by fellow citizens
Torn from his cell by q mob Of
resoiute citizens, the guilty man
fought for his life, but his strength
crumbled in the hands Of his slayerS.
and he was dragged by the ever-grow.!
ing crowd down the main street Of
the town to the bridge. A rope was;
adjusted about his neck, one END was,
thrown over a girder, and James
Cullen was pulled aloft, while bush
ness men, women, and children stood
by and did not interfere. ,
At bay in his cell in the Floyd
county jail, deprived of the assistance
OF Sheriff Schermerhorn, whose
feeble resistance was brushed aside
oy the mob which poured into the
building, Cullen was helpless. Yet he
tought-fougnt hopelessly and with
the assurance that his best efforts
were but pitiful, futile struggles
while the single purposed mob pluck.
ed at his clothing, his flesh, striking,
wrenching, kicking but always bear.
ing him onward and onward to the
bridge and the girder and rope that
awaited him.
Tuesday, James Cullen killed his
wife and his l5-year-old stepson.
wednesday he answered to the law
that Is not found in codes or statutes,
but which Is relentless and as sure
as justice.
Half OF the citizens of the town
watched the ending of Cullen's life.
prominent business men-men whose
wives and families waited at home
with straining ears and burning eyes
were parts of the mob. No disguise
was attempted. 1t was justice dealt
out, almost as a community and with
the approval Of all that was best in
the town.
At 8 o'clock last night. feeling.
which had been running wild during
the day, came to head. A few citi-
zens collected at the doors of the Jail.
A few more came. Presently a han
thousand men had collected and be-
gan to take up the cry of ringleaders.
1t was not frantic, hysterical mob
without head or leaders that went to
get James Cullen, but an oficerej
army, cool, collected, relentless.
A party of men. especially tela
on, had cut the main electric light
cables and the town was left In abb
solute darkness. Two members Of
the mob had come provided with Ian
terms.
With a railroad iron that someone
had been thoughtful enough to pro-
vide, the door of the jail was attack
ed. Leading citizens caught up the
heavy rail, and charged through the
crowd against the barrier.
One onslaught was enough. Only
one man sworn to protect his pris.
oner, and powerless to meet his oath,
He put up a resistance,
pleading, imploring, throwing himself
hopelessly into the midst of the
charging human mass. His efforts
were without avail.
dozen arms seized him and held
him powerless for the instant.
Others, pushing forward, tore him
from his first captors, and he was
flung aside and pressed helpless
against the wall as the wild mob
swept past him to the cell of the pris.
oner.
Then the leaders pushed onward to
The barred door of Cullen's cell. He
had been pacing frantically to and
'ro, hoping that the doors would hold.
Cullen stopped his pacing end stood
ifeless In the middle of the cell. his
lace twisted into an agony of appeal.
His executioners did not laugh at
his hysterical pleadings They mere
y bent to the work of tearing out the
bars. Cullen began to sob; to cry; to
shrek for mercy that did not exist in
hat mob. He was answered by the
grinding of the steel rail against the
steel bars. Finally the last bar drop.
ped to the floor and the mob was up
IN him. In desperation, the crazed
nan sprang to his feet and threw
himself upon the citizens. Scratch
ng, biting, clutching at threats, and
crying like a wounded animal, he
ought on.
Down the corridors OF the fail, al
ways struggling, he was dragged, the
men with the lanterns leading the
way. Half fainting, almost dead. he
vas pulled up the main street, and
men and women ran along the out
skirts and pressed in upon the center
II the crowd.
"Therell be no Louis Busse Justice
n this" shouted man in the crowd.
md the slogan was taken I'D and
,assed down the street.
When the center of the bridge was
cached, the prisoner was jerked to
lis feet, but he had become SO weak
hat he could scarcely stand. The
advanced to the center
nd one man produced rope. Cullen
vas supported while the knot was be.
ng adjusted about his throat. The
ther end OF the rope was taken by
ager. hands and the murderer was
ushed to the edge of the bridge.
He was asked If he had anything
o say concerning his crime-any ex.
use to offer any justification that he
ould bring forward.
"They attacked me and had to kin
hem" he cried. my wife and NV
10Y would have killed me If hadn't
illed them"
That was all the leaders waited for.
nd they would have carried out the
entence by throwing him from the
ridge then but for the interference
( Ensign Roper Of the Salvation
.rmy. He stepped forward with his
fer of prayer. Cullen scorned his
Ulcers. The next instant hr was
angling at the end of the rope.
Cullen's eXecutioners declare that
he estate of $4,000 which he had ac-
as contractor would have
cen used to fight his case In the
ourts and that 1t would have been
ears uefore he would have been MN.