Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1907-01-11
iva LYNCH!lNC.
cIlzEns OF CHARLES CITY HAna
MURDERER.
killed WIFE AND STEP-S0N
L. Hing Citizens Were In tho e1
watch Was Deliberate II
Us Action.

Chrles City.--James Cullen. muir
derd OF wife and stepson, was
hanAd to the Cedar river bridge ~
11:S( Wednesday BY fellow citizens.
Toh from his cell by mob OF
resollte citizens, the guilty man
tough for his life, but his strength
crumled in tie hanas Of his slayers
and b was dragged by tie e'ef.yrow.
ing cbwd down the main street OF
the tan to the bridge. A rope was
adjus3d about his mack, one cad was
throwi over a girder, and James
Culled was pulled aloft, while bust.
ness len, women, ana children stooa
by AMI did not interfere.
At by in his cell In the FLOYD
county, Jail, deprived OF the assistance
of Sleritf Schermerhorn, whose
feeble resistance was brushed aslde
by tie mob which poured into the
buildink Cullen was helpless. Yet he
fought fougnt hopelessly and with
the assurance that his best ehorts
were bit pitiful, futile struggles
while tle-single purposed mob pluck
ed at his cDthing, his fash, striking
wrenching, kicking but always. Gear
ing him oIkard and onward to the
bridge and he girder and rope that
awaited him.
Tuesday. James Cullen killed his
wife and his l5-year-old stepson.
Wednesday II answered to the law
that is not fc ind in codes or statutes,
but which is relentless and as sure
as Justice.
Half of the citizens of the town
watched the ending of Callen's life.
Prominent business men-men whose
wives and families waited at home
with strainigg ears and burning eyes
were parts CT 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 9 o'clock last night, feeling,
sEhich had been running wild during
the dag, came 10 a head. A few ciu-
zens collected at the doors of the Jail.
A few more came. Presently half
thousand men had collected and be-
gan to take up the cry OF ringleaders.
1t was MOI frantic, hysterical mob
without head or leaders that went to
get Jamss Cullen, but an Differed
army, cool, COLLECTED, relentless.
A party of men, especially told
Off, had cut the main electric light
cables and the town was left in abb
sclute darkness. Two members Of
the mob had come provided with Ian
terms.
With a railroad iron that someone
Eaa 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.
Ole onslaught was enough. Only
enc man sworl to protect his pris-
oner, and rosyerless to meat his oatn,
interviewed. He put up a resistance,
im2loring, throwing himself
hopelessly into the midst of the
charging human mass. His efforts
were without avail
A dozen arms seized him and held
him powerless for the instant.
Others, pushing forward, tore him
from his first captors, and he was
Hung aside and pressed helpless
against the wall as the wild NOR
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. teen pacing frantically to and
:ro, hoping that the doors would hold.
Cullen stopped his pacing and stood
llfeless in the middle of the cell, his
face twisted into an agony of appeal,
His executicners did not laugh at
is hysterical plsadings. They mere
" bent to the work of tearing ont the
sars. Cullen began to sob; to cry; to
shrek for mercy that did not exist in
Ehat mob. lie was answered by the
grln0ing of the steel rail against the
steel bars. Finally the last bar drop.
ped to the floor and the mob was up.
on him. In desperation, the crazed
man s2rang to his feet and threw
upon the citizens. Scratch
Ing, biting, clutching at threats, and
crying like wounded animal, he
fought on. s
Down the corridors Of the Jail, al
ways struggling, he was dragged. the
men with the lanterns leading the
way. Half fainting, almost dead, he
was pulled up the main street. and
men and women ran along the out.
skirts and pressed. in upon the center
If the crowd. =
"There'll be no Louis Busse Justice
n this" shouted man in the crowd,
and the slogan was taken rp and
passed down the street.
When the center of the bridge was
reached, the prisoner was ierked ia
ais feet, but he had become so weak
rat he could scarcely stand. The
advanced to the center
md one man produced a rore. Cullen
vas supported While the kaot was be.
ng aoJnsted about his throat. The
'ther end of the rope was taken by
Eager, hands and the murderer was
pushed 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
could tring forward.
They attacked me and I had to XII,
hem," he CRIED ''My wife and nv
Joy would have killed me IL hadn't
iilled them" ,Rs .s. IA ~
That was all the leaders waited for,
md they would have carried out the
i. by throwing him from the
'rldge then but for the interference
u Ensign Roper of the Salvation
army. He stepped forward with his
'iler OF prayer. Cullen scorned his
III The next instant he was
langling at the end OF the rope
5Cullen's executioners declare that
he estate OF $4,000 which he had ac.
Apyy n tad nrx