The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-29
After Mob Which
Hanged Ozark Slayer.
Special Grand Jury May Con.
duct an Inquiry.
BURY BODY OF HANGED MAN?
Burial Reported at One Ceme-
terry; No Funeral There.
Lamar, NO., Quiet Again-COr-
Oner Says Lynchers Unknown.


Lamar, Mo, May 29.-An official
investigation of the lynching here
yesterday og Jay Lynch after he had
been sentenced to life Imprisonment
for the murder of Sheriff John NJ.
Harlow, and the sheriff's 1S-year-old
son, was begun at a conference today
between Prosecuting Attorney n. w.
Timmonds and Sheriff w. A. Seward
of Barton county
According to Prosecutor Timmonds,
t ere will be a thoro probe of the
hanging and every effort made to
apprehend those who had a hand in
wreaking the summary punishment
on the slayer. Whether the authori-
/ ties have the names of the mob lead
ers is not known. Prosecutor Tim
monds said he would not hesitate to
cause warrants TO be issued il he de-
veloped sufficient evidence to warrant
the step.
May Call Grand Jury.
The advisability' of asking Judge
G. Thurmen of Nevada to call a spe-
cial grand jury to take charge the
investigation was being considered by
|
noon They were somewhat doubtful
if the court has authority to call a
special grand jury. Prosecutor Tim
| monds being unable thus far to find
any authority in the statutes for such
! a move.
The unoff1cial opinion was that in
such judicial circuits as Barton county
is situated a special term of court and
a special grand jury can be called
only when a prisoner is in Jail. The
period elapslng before the next regu-
lar term of-court is two months OF
more.
+ Prosecuting Attorney Timmonds in
a statement today fully exonerated
Sheriff Sewell and his assistants as
being powerless to prevent the leaders
of the mob carrying out their pur-
pose. He said at least two of the mob
leaders were knocked down before
they got possession of the prisoner.
Altho the lynching was still the sole
topic for conversation. the town was
quiet, the only outward evidence that
! anything extraordinary had taken
place being the sight of numerous
groups on street corners discussing the
affair.
At Hands OF ''Cnknown PARTIES"
Local authorities early today said no
warrants had been issued. The coro-
ner's jury late last night returned a
"at the hands of parties unknown"
The court house yard where Lynch
was hanged shortly after he had
pleaded guilty to the double murder.
and received a sentence of life i'm
prisonment, was visited by scores
persons. many whom recalled that
the elm tree upon which he was
hanged was planted ten years ago by
Sheriff Harlow.
The chambers of Judge +. c. Thur
mon. TO which Lynch had been taken
for safe keeping while the authorities
prepared to hurry him to Nevada, Mo,
and from which he was dragged by
the mob, also attracted the curious.
4 1t became known today that while
Lynch was pleading with the mob in
the court house to spare his life he
declared the shooting of the sherifrs
son was an accident. Both the sheriff
and his son were shot by Lynch when
. he escaped from the equity Jail where
he was being held for st. Louis au-
thorities.
FIRST Branch Broke.
1t also was learned by the authori-
ties that the first attempt to hang
Lynch failed. Stunned by being struck
, with stone by SINE one in the crowd.
which had first seized him. the uncon-
scious man was placed under the tree
and the rope tossed over a branch
: The branch. however, was too fral
! and the body pitched downward
! Amid the shouts of the crowd. which
included many women and children.
e a stronger branch was selected. the
e rope drawn over it and the body
/ hoisted into mid-air.
y The leaders of the mob were mot
recognized" tho stated to be among
i, the prominent business men of this
| town.
First Hanging in % Years.
II The hanging was the first in Bar
| ton county in twenty-five years and
is said to be the result of the failure
| of the last legislature to restore capi-
! tai punishment in Missouri.
A hurried trial was held previous
, to the lynching. Judge Thurmon had
q ascertained Lynch's plea of guilty and
sentence had been pronounced when
fifty men stormed the court room and
n took the prisoner.
Lynch's Body Buried.
Joplin. May 29.-At the office OF q
Joplin undertaken shortly after noon
it was announced that the body of Jay
: Lynch. who was hanged by a mob al
q / Lamar yesterday. had been taken to
; Forest Park cemetery and buried.
= A reporter who went to the ceme-
d terry at O'Clock this afternoon reports
r that the body is not at the cemetery
= and after a long search of the terri
: tory surrounding the cemetery the re-
:. porter failed to find either the rela-
: tives or the ca.sket containing Lynch,
body.
a The grave digger at the cemetery
said he understood the grave he wal
z digging was to hold the Lynch body
h There is a suspicion that the an
y. inouncenent that Lynch had beer
s. buried at Forest Park WAS a hoa1
hat he hody is a he buried An