The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-12-10
WORK OF
MOBDONE
QUIETLY,
QUICKLY
California Trio in Murder OF
Officers and Attacks on
Girls Sent to Death

bANIA foSohv eoA-r DDs- ~ =
About 100 armed and masked men
raided the sonoma county jail early
today. disarncd Sheriff Boyes and
his deputies. dragged Torrance Fitts.
George Boyd and Charles valentn.
all under Indictment for the Killing
OF Sheriff James Petray. Of sonoma
county, and Detectives Niles Jack
son and Lester Dorman, OF San Fran
cisco. from their cells and lynched
them on the same limb Of an oak
tree in Odd Fellows cemetery.
After the bodies had swung in the
gentle breeze, which was blowing :
light mist around them. for an hour.
Sheriff Boyes and the county coroner
removed them.
Boyd. the gangstcr who fired the
shots that killed the officers. went
TO his death with hardly a murmur.
He was dying gradually from q bulle>
wound inflicted by Detective Jackson
before the latter died
Dozens OF flashlights and spot
lights from automobiles cast q bril-
liant light on the scene In the ceme-
terry as the lynchers worked.
vAI.ENTO LAUGHS
At LYNCHERS
valento walked to his place un6eR
the death limb with laugh for hi1
cxecutioners on his lips. He iaughed
In their faces when they took h11D
from jail
Fits. the bully. screamed and cE1GG
like n child and pleaded for hfs I'm
At the scene Of the lynching he ~
came 30 violent and 7Screazued =
loudly that he was struck over ~
head with the butt of gun and qua
cted. A gag was then pushed IN HI
mouth.
The iynchers were organized pR
fectiy. Masked guards with rides II
their hands and revoIvcrs strapped
to the outside Of their overcoa1s
were stationed at the four street
corners Of the county jail
OFFICERS AT JAIL
ARE OvERPOwERED
Pedestrians and autoists approach
ing the jail were stopped and turned
in another direction. Sensing whaf
was taking place. no one protested
When the band. armed heavily
rushed into the jail. they were met
by Sheriff John II. Boyes. Jailes
levitt. Deputy Sheriff Marvin Rob
inson and Ike Lindley. former poles
man. Guns were thrust against the
stomachs OF the officers and levitt
was made TO hand over the cell key1
I'VE want those keys. and We
mean businessr' one Of the party told
Sheriff Boyes.
Don't do that. boys. the sherin
replied. These men are to be ar
raigned this morning and they viii
be tried soon. and IL Is certain they
will hang. Let the law take Ia
course"
We're not taking any chanceer
the leader of the band replied.
In the meantime the keys had beer
handed TO other members OF the band
and while the officers were held Al
bay by part of the band the othcrs
unlocked the great doors OF the Jail
went 10 the insane ward. where the
wounded Boyd was laying on cot
seized him and took him outside and
into one of the 80 waiting automo
biles.
Fits and valento were. taken from
their cells in another part OF the jaf
and were rushed out close behind
Boyd.
START DEATH RIDE
TO CEMETERY
The death ride then started dcwr
Fourth street to Mcdonald ave-, ant
down this. one of Santa Rosa's most
beautiful residence streets. to Ode
Fellows cemetery.
The three gangsters were rushed
inside n great human circle to the
great oak tree 60 feet inside the cem
etery gates. A rope with perfect
hangman's moose was tossed ovc1
Boyd's limp head.
LYNCHERS TOLD NOT
TO SHOOT MEN
The rope was quickly thrown ovea
an overhanding limb and members Of
the band began to pull. Boyd's body
was slowly pulled up until his feet
were three feet clear of the ground
Some of the lynching party stepped
back and raised their rifles to FIRE al
his body. They were told not tc
do so.
Let 'em Just der the leader Of
the band is said to have ordered
Boyds neck was broken by the
moose.
Fits. screaming and kicking. was
dragged under the tree. A blow from
the butt of gun quieted him and he
was executed I'm a manner similar
to Boyd.
valento. apparently unnerved. but
game. walked under the tree. He
did not move. II is said. while the
moose was tossed over his head and
his body was drawn up slowly.
The band stayed on the scene un.
IN assured all three men were dead
Then they departed quietly.
The slain sheriff. Petray. would
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