The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-06-11
P|ERSO[ TWICE
STRUNG UP BUT !.
WON 7 CONFESS
KEET OUTRAGE.
PRISONERS. TAKEN
FROM THE SHERIFF
Official Pleads With Eloquence
andSucceeds inRegaining
Custody Of Suspects.

SPRINGFIELD. Mo. June 1o.-Cer-
tainry OF death from mob that bent
on lynching him for suspected com.
nlicitv in the abduction and murder
Of 1a.months old Lloyd Keet. did not
frighien c. J. Piersol into confessing
A part in the crime. He and his hve
fellow prisoners were taken from the
custody of Sheriff Will Webb at
Stockton. forty miles northwest OF
here, early today by a mob OF As out.
ragged Springfield citizens who had
for more than twenty hours raced In
automobiles TO overtake the sheriff,
who was Fastening his prisoners to
safety In the state prison at Jefferson
City. When the mob reached Stock
ton the sheriff made A stern plea with
the mob that Justice. be allowed to
take ita course. but the leaders IN
sisted upoD possessing Piersol, from
whom they believed they might e1tort
a confession.
Denied His Guilt.
With n ropo around his neck. ac-
rording 10 reports reaching the sher-
ifs office here. Piersol WAS led 10
Tree and given an opportunity to con-
fess. Stoully denying his guilt the
prisoner was swung up from the
around and hanged until he was black
in the face Then his captors lowered
him and offered him ono more chance
for life. Picrsol insisted upon not
onlv his innocence hut that OF the four
mon and one woman who also were
prisoners. Tho mob pulled rope again.
declaring that he would die anyhow
and Piersol remained silent.
Sheriff Webb again pleaded with
the mob. and the swinging man WAS
released. tho mob leaders declaring
they did nor intend 10 hang an inno-
cent man. hut they did not intend to
lei Pinrsol go until they were salts
fied of reasonable doubt OF his
guilt.
Mob Dispersed,
Piorsol. was given back and the
mob dispersed Sheriff Webb was
thought to have four Of his prisoners,
including Mrs. Taylor Adams, the
woman member of the alleged band.
in Jail at. Stockton. Tho TWO other
prisoners. PiersoI and Taylor Adams.
The womans husband. were believed
10 be on The road northward under
guard of the sheriff toward a railroad
line that would provide transportation
10 Jefferson City.
Paul O'Day. county prosecutor Of
Greene county, after returning to
Springfield from Stockton, declared
ihrrr vas no truth 10 The statements
that ropes had been used or anyone
hanged by The mob. However, resi-
drrlrs of Humansville. eighteen miles
east of Stockton. and at Nevada. west
of the little town. confirmed the re-
ports 10 the sheriT's office.
The Sheriff's Story.
Sheriff Webb returned 10 Spring
field tonight and gave out statement
confirming earlier reports that mem.
bcrs of the mob had overtaken him at
Stockton and had threatened one OF
the prisoners with death. He said
that four OF the prisoners were in Jail
at Stockton, while the other two were
being northward in a motor car by a
deputy sheriff of Greene county and
the sheriff Of Cedar county.
The story Of the events at Stockton
as related by Webb was that ''promi-
rent young men of Springfield" un-
masked had met him ar Stockton and
demanded that they be allowed to talk
with tho prisoners. They gave him
their word Of honor that no harm
would come TO the prisoners unless
they. confessed 10 the death Of little
Lloyd Clctus Adams and Picrsol then