Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-01-16
A EYNCHING IN IOWA.
CHARLES CITY MURDERER STRUNG UP,
Infuriated Mob OF Leading Citizens Batter
Down Jail and Hang Murderer From
City Bridge.


year-old stepson, was taken from the
Flovd county Jail at Charles City
Wednesday night by mob led by a
party of friends of Mrs. Cullen from
Chickasaw county and Joined by
Charles City people. and hanged to
the Cedar river bridge in the heart
of the city. They broke into the Jail
and quickly overcame the feeble re.
sistance of Sheriff Schermerhorn was
able to offer.
The mob was composed of many of
the leading citizens of the town and
even the leaders made no attempt to
disguise themselves. Cullen fought
like tiger. but was overpowered.
He declared that his wife and son had
attacked him and that he had killed
them in self defense.
Just after the moose had been placed
around his neck, Ensign Roper of
Portland, Me-, Salvation Army
worker, stepped up to him and asked
him if he wanted to pray. Cullen re-
fused and he was strung mp.
Four or five ministers and large
number of women were in the crowd.
The ministers knew it was futile to
offer any resistance and did not at.
tempt to do so.
The crowd gathered about the Jail
about O'Clock. With a railroad iron
they battered down the door and
with picks and axes quickly cut
through the partition wall The
railroad iron was again brought into
play to wrench the steel door from
Cullen's cage. The accused mar was
first almost overcome with fear and
begged for mercy. but as the work
progressed. he became frenzied and
when the cell door was town down,
he jumped on tine leaders like mad
man. A dozen grappled with him
and he was soon overpowered.
He was led to the bridge which
spans the Cedar river, about two
| DlOckS from the jail.
The mob was comparatively small
when the work begun. but the news
spread rapidly, and before Cullen's
cell was reached half of the town had
gathered around the Jail.
Just before the moose was placed
around Cullen's neck, he was asked
il he had anything to say.
"They attacked me and / had to
kill them, he almost screeched. my
wife and her boy would have killed
me if 1 hadn't killed them.''
This was all the leaders waited for
and then Ensign Roper stepped up
and asked Cullen if he wanted to
pray. Cullen turned from him and
in an instant after he was jerked into
eternity.
Judging from the expressions about
town, the hanging is largely the re-
suit of the pardon granted to Louis
Busse, the Bremen county wife muir
derer. The leading citizens declared
that Cullen must pay the penalty of
his crime.
Owing to his eccentricities, Cullen
had been regarded as half insane for
years. This, the more highly aroused
declared. would result in escaping
punishment on the plea of insanity.
Tuesday night a crowd of boys
| LA 80, nd OF
causing much commotion hung Gull
len in effigy.
One of Cullen's sons, it is said, was
hanged by mob in Missouri near
Joplin. a dozen years ago for horse
stealing.
Cullen had been married three
times, his two former wives leaving
him. He had families by the two
former women, but not by the last
wife. the one he murdered Tuesday
morning.
Cullen's brother, Richard Cullen,
banker from Warren. Ill.,. who was
in the city. did not hear of the mob.
bling until after it was all over.
Men who participated in the mob
bling stated that they did not fear
any prosecution. They said that they
disliked mob violence, but that they
considered that if execution was ever
justifiable. it was in the case of Gull
len. They declared that the estate of
$50, 600 which he had accumulated as a
contractor would have been used
to fight his case in the courts and
that it would be years before he
would have been punished. if ever.
w. w. Schermerhorn, the sheriff of
Floyd Co. was able only TO make a
feeble resistance. While he was aware
that the feeling was mt u high pitch.
he did not dream that it would result
J in lynching and made no preparations
to defend the prisoner,