New Britain herald., 1917-06-11
DENIES GUILT WHILE
 DANGLING ON ROPE A sF
Alleged Kidnapper of Baby Firm
 in Face Of Death

Springfield, Mo, June 11.-Prob-
 ability of death from 3 mob bent on lynching him for suspected cont plicity in the abduction and murder
 of fourteen months old Lloyd keet,
 did not frighten c. J.. Piersol into
 confessing a part in the crime.
 He and his five fellow prisoners
 were taken from the custody of Sher-
 if Will Webb at Stockton. 4O m'ies
 northwest of here, yesterday, by 4o
 Springfield citizens, who had for more
 than 20 hours raced in automobiles to overtake the sheriff. while the lat
 ter was speeding his prisoners to
 safety in the State prison at Jener- son City. -s@s
 When the mob reached Stockton
 the sheriff sternly pleaded with .he
 crowd that justice be allowed to take
 it's course, but the leaders insisted
 upon seizing Piersol, from whom they
 believed they might extort confss-
 sion.
 With rope around his neck, ac-
 cording to reports reaching the sher-
 iff's office here, Piersol was led to
 tree and an opportunity was given to
 him to confess. Stoutly denying his guilt the prisoner was swung up from the ground and hanged until he was black in the face. Then his captors lowered him and offered him one more chance for life. Piersol insist ed not only upon his innocence but that of the four men and one woman who also were prisoners. The crowd pulled the rope again, declaring that he would be put to death anyhow and Piersol remained silent.
 Sheriff Webb again pleaded with the mob and the swinging man was
 released. The mob leaders said they
 did not want to kill an innocent man,
 but that they did not intend to let
 Piersol go until they were satisfied
 and had a reasonable doubt of his guilt Piersol was handed back into
 the sheriff's custody and the mob then scattered.
 It is believed that Sheriff Webb has placed four of his prisoners, includ- ing Mrs. Taylor Adams, the woman member of the alleged band, in jail at Stockton. The two other prison CTS, Piersol and Taylor Adams. the woman's husband, it Is also believed. are on the road northward under
 guard of the sheriff toward lailroad
 line that would provide transporta- tion to Jefferson City.
 Prosecutor Denies Hanging Story. Paul O'Day, county prosecutor or Green county after returning to Springfield from Stockton said there was no truth to the statements that ropes had been used or that any one l was hanged to tree by the mob. However. residents of Humansville, | 4f nd at Nevada. west of the little town. con- l firmed the reports that reached the 1 sheriffs office.
 Sheriff Webb returned to Springfield 1 last night and gave out . statement l confirming earlier reports that mem- bers of the mob had overtaken him at Stockton and had threatened one of the prisoners with death. He said I that four of prisoners were in jail at l Stockton, while the two others were being taken northward in motor car by deputy sheriff of Greene county and the sheriff of Cedar coun- ty.
 The story of the events at Stockton as related by Webb were that prom inent young men of Springfield" un-
 masked, had met him at Stockton
 and demanded that they be allowed to talk to the prisoners. They gave their word of honor'' that no harm ] would come to the prisoners unless they confessed to. the death of little Lloyd Adams and Piersol then were turned over to them. Adams was taken to the Lodge hall at Stockton and severely questioned, but refused , to confess the sheriff said.
 Piersol then was escorted to the edge of town, rope placed around his neck and one end of 1t thrown
 over a. tree. ''Piersol thought his Ia ct dav had come" Nehh said "and