The sun., 1919-05-29
SLAYER TAKEN FROM.
COURT AND LYNCHED
Mob Seizes Murderer Of Sheriff
While He Talks With
His Wife.
JUST GOT LIFE SENTENCE
One Of Few White Men to
Meet Such a-Fate in
Missouri.

LAMAR, Mo-, May 2s.-Shortly after
Jay Lynch had pleaded guilty to tho
murder of Shefiff John Harlow and his
son and had been sentenced to life i'm
rrisonment twenty-four men entered the
court room, took Lynch from the hands
OF officers and hanged him in the yard
before a crowd OF 500 persons. When
Lynch's body was swung into the air
the spectators, including many women
and children, cheered.
Lynch was one OF few white men to
be lynched in Missouri.
Immediately after Judge B. G.. Thur
man passed sentence he ordered Lynch
taken to his Office under guard of seven
deputies. Here he was allowed to greet
his wife. baby, mother and sister. His
handouts had been removed that he
might hold his baby, and he had Just
given the child back to it's mother when
the men entered and seized him.
Lynch this afternoon had been brought
from Butler. Mo-. where he had been
held in Jail since his arrest in Colorado
several weeks ago. There were nc
threats when he was brought from the
train TO the court house. There was no
show of violence in the court room when
the prisoner was arraigned, and accord
Ing to witnesses the men composing the
mob gathered in the corridors of the
court house and in the yard and nc
warning was given of their action.
Capital punishment is not possible
under a law enacted by the Legislature
in 1917 An attempt was made to re-
peal the present law shortly after the
Lynch shooting
Lynch was arrested at Lamar on the
request OF st. Louis authorities. where
he was charged with box car robbery
On March 3, Sheriff Harlow. in response
to request of Lynch to use the long
distance telephone, opened his cell. Lynch
drew revolver and shot the Sheriff
killing him instantly The son of the
Sheriff came to his fathers rescue and
was also shot by Lynch, and died two
days later.
A posse with bloodhounds attempted
to trail Lynch but failed.
Leaving Lamar. Lynch. according to
his confession. went 10 Kansas City, and
from there to st. Louis. where he OBJ
tanned funds from friends Going &c
Jacksonville, H., he purchased a motor
car and started West He was refused
permission to cross the Mexican border
and continued on to Los Angeles. Com
ing back East, he was recognized al
La Junta. Col, by a resident of Lamar
and apprehended.
Lynch's arrest at La Junta came or
May IA. shortly after which he was
brought back to Missouri and confined
at Butler, Mo, the authorities at tina,
time believing that he would not be
safe at Lamar because OF the intense
feeling.
After his return to Butler Lynch con-
fessed that he had tHamped through the
country surrounding Lamar after his
escape and at one time while being
trailed by a posse with bloodhounds
had stood on one of the street corners
81 the town and watched the posse work
While Lynch made no confession as
| to how he had obtained the weapon which
he used to kill Sheriff Harlow and his
son. his mother and wife were supposed
to have struggled 1t TO him. They were
held Immediately after his escape or
the charge Of being accessories to the
! crime.