Semi-weekly herald., 1916-04-24

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guarded the prisoners until day light
when they were transferred TO the
lock up, and guard was placed on
the outside.
At . o'clock Monday morning Cor
oner Wright held an inquest over
the dead body of Prindle in the room
where the murder occurred. The YER
diet was that the deceased had re-
ceived his death wounds from tho
hands Of Henry r. Moorman.
All day long knots of men were in
the streets or on the corners, dis
cussing the terrible crime which had
been perpetrated and everyone ac-
ccpted it as foregone conclusion
that Moorman would be lynched.
Toward night quieter aspect pre-
sented itself on the streets, and the
muffled discomfort seemed silenced.
A large congregation attended divine
services in the evening, and the thea
ire contained as many spectators as
usual.
Everyone expected something to
turn up, however, and put off retir-
ing until later than usual.
At IL o'clock two shots were heard
which proved to the the signal Of
the committee on safety, composed
of three hundred citizens, who pro-
ceded to the lookup, overpowered the
guards, forced open the door, and
secured the murderer, whom they
i,nmediately bound and gagged. They
then conveyed him to large pine
tree Immediately in front OF the post
office, where he was summarily hang
ed until dead.
Armed pickets patrolled the vacant
square in which the tree is situated,
and ordered halt to all intruders,
who required no second warning.
When the body had hung 10 min
utes, someone of the committee of
safety, announced in a stentorian
voice, which could be plainly heard
by the thousands on all sides, who
were witnessing the scene: Warn
ing is given TO all against cutting
down the body until daylight under
penalty of DEATH" the warning was
repeated by request of someone who
did not understand the first time.
The committee of safety then TOOK
up its line of march on First street
to l, whence it turned west to Sec
ond, thence south to point of dis
abandonment. The spectators immedi
ately on the departure aof the com
mittee, surrounded the tree where
the body was hanging, each one and
Gus to obtain sight of the execut-
ed.
And ghastly sight it was! A
scene never to be forgotten! A slight
wind swayed the body to and fro. The
pale moonlight glimmering thru the
rifted clouds, clothed the ghastly
face in a ghastlier palor. The SOM
Der shadow of the massive foliage
seemed blacker than the weeds of
mourning, and the shuffling of hur-
lying feet in the dusty road, mingled
with the weird whistling of the breeze
thru the pine boughs, broke upon the
ear with sepulchral tone.
James X. Prindel was a miner, who
had come to Colorado in 1869. For
IA number of years he was engaged
in mining at Central City, from which
place he came to Durango, and en-
gagged in mining on Leavenwortf
mountain. He was making prepare.
tong to go prospecting over in the
Needles when he met his death. He
had made many friends in Durango
His funeral services were, held at st
Marks church Monday afternoon a
80. Rev. C. NJ Hodge officiat
ing. He was buried at Animas City
cemetery until his relatives can b,
communicated with.
The coroner's jury called in th'
case of Henry Read Moorman, OIL
Tuesday, brought in a verdict t.
the effect that he came to his deatl
at the hands of parties to the jur!