The Red Cloud chief., 1907-08-30
HIGGINS IS LYNCHED
MURDERER SWUNG FROM BRIDGE
AT BANCROFT, NE5.
Masked Men Overpower Sheriff and
Prisoner is Taken From Train and
Scarcely Given Time to Make State
ment Before Death-AlloWed to Pray

Scarcely Given Time to Make State
ment Before Death-Allowed to Pray
Bancroft, Neb., Aug. 27.-Loris Hig.
gins, alias Fred Burke, who shot and
killed Mr.. and Mrs. w. l.. Coppie,
farmers OF Resale, May II, was
lynched one mile from the town by a
mob OF twenty masked men.
Higgins reached Bancroft On the
Northwestern train ia custody OF Sher'
if Sid Young OF Thurston country and
a deputy at S.37 a. m. from Omaha,
where he had been confined in the
Douglas county jail since his arrest
soon after the murder. The masked
men met the train, brushed the sheriff
and his deputy TO one side. threw a
rope around the murderer's neck and
led him forth. He was placed in a
dray and hauled TO the Logan bridge.
a mile out OF town, where the lynch
ing was performed.
The rope was tied to the highest
beam of the bridge and after the VIC
tim made a statement he was thrown
by the mob into the air and reached
the INC Of the rope with 4 terrible
bound, swapping rs neck and produc-
ing instant death. Forty bullets were
then shot into his body. which was
left dangling in the air for the officers
10 care tor, while the eXeCutIGneIs
unmarked themselves and scattered
in all directions in the timber which
skirts the scene of the %lynching.
The whole affair vas performed
with little excitement and was over
before most Of the people of Bancroft
knew IT was contemplated.
Sheriff Young, finding himself OF
fronted by a resolute mob of masked
men offered no forcible resistance to
the taking of the prisoner. The sher-
If was visibly affected by the demon
%stration. far more 81 thar was Hig.
gins. Higgins appeared little con.
cerned, and when the rope which was
to send him to his death in a few min
utes was slipped over his head, he did
not even flush or move. but stepped
lightly from the train to the platform,
surrounded by the masked crowd. He
prayed as he alighted, and continued
his praper until the train had gone
and he was loaded into Il dray which
was standing conveniently by.
Deputy Sheriff Knocked Down.
The sherif's deputy pulled his re.
volNer when the mob appeared. The
men told him TO put up his gun and
when he refused they knocked it out
of his hand and knocked the deputy
down and told him not to be fool
lsh."
None OF the mob had much to say
to the victim and he was not assault.
ed until the bridge was reached. At
the bridge, after the rope was tied and
just before he was thrown into the
air he was given permission to make
a statement. He availed himself OF
the opportunity, saying he had long
ago repented for his terrible deed.
that he had made his peace with his
face Him. feeling that all would be
well hereafter. He said he had tried
20 atone for his wanton murder, but
/ had no excuse to OFFER as he had no
| cause for committing it. He reavowed
his faith in the religion he had found
l through the help of the good WON
1 en-" in Omaha who came TO his cell
I and prayed with him
Hard to Fix Responsibility.
He asked God to bless the little
children whom he had left withou,
parents by his deed and then TO the
masked men about him he requested
i, that a note be sent his mother asking
her 10 write 10 his father at Nanta
I Ida,
The possibility OF finding out the
names OF those who formed the mot
e is exceedingly remote. No one Il
standing on street corners condemn
ing them, nor processing that III
knows a single man who engaged II
e the affair, So far as Sheriff Young I!
concerned, he does not appear 10 know
them.
Thurston county authorities declar,
that they have proof that Higsin,
e mistreated the thirteen.vearold daugh