Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-07-06
ABDUCT|ONS
OF THREE men
CAUSE ACTION
Medford Men Strung Up
and Threatened With
Death by Self Named
Moral RefOrmers

Night attacks by masked mobs
on three Jackson county men and
the failure of the county officials
10 act in determining and punish
Ing the offenders are the direct
causes Of the instructions issued
to Attorney General Van Wrinkle
BY Governor Olcott this morning,
directing state prosecution of the
cases.
Mob rule through the use of
violence made its first appearance
In the southern Oregon county
on the night of March IT, last,
when ]. F. Hale, a Medford citi-
zen, was called to his door about
$3.50 o'clock by a stranger who
said that Hale was wanted at
the central telephone office to
answer long distance telephone
call regarding the serious illness
Of relative.
4uI6dLCHcU Will OCdIu
Hale left the house with the
stranger and entered an automo-
bile in which was another un-
known man. AS he stepped into
the car the strangers drew re-
volvers and ordered Hale to put
up his hands or they would shoot
holes through him. Hale was
handcuffed and blindfolded and
threatened with death If he made
any outcry. He says that one Of
the men kept constantly punch
ing him in the ribs with a revol-
yer and threatening him.
Asked the reason for the alb
ductlon, Hale's tormentors re-
piled that he knew very well
what be had done and why he
Waws threatened.
Denies All Charges
Hale reported that he was
taken far out in the country By
his captors, who were joined by
other masked men en- route, and
that he was taken from the auto
and bound to a post near an oak
tree. 1t was here that his tor
mentors accused him of having
made improper advances toward
girls, and he was told that he had
been brought, there for the pur-
pose of making him tell the truth
regarding the charges. They said
that they wanted him to tell the
truth and nothing but the truth.
Hale denied all of the accusations
flatly.
Hung from Tree
1t was then that a rope was
brought forward and tied around
Hale's neck. Throwing the other
end Of the rope over limb of
the nearby tree, the masked men
pulled Hale off from the ground
and held him there until he chok-
ed' This procedure was repeated
second time before his attack
ers advised him that the real
reason for his abduction was to
compel him to halt prosecution OF
q lawsuit he had filed against
Aedford family, and to return
certain letters he held to the fam
ny with an apology.
Hale was finally released
with the threat that he would be
Killed if he ever said a word
ABOUT his abduction and mis-
treatment.
Arthur Burr, colored, who had
oeen held in the Jackson county
!all for 22 days on the charge of
having liquor in his possession,
was another victim of the might
Iluers. When Burr was released
from Jail on the night of March IA
ne was met by two masked men
VINO displayed revolvers and told
MN to go quietly with them or
'ney would kill him.
Burr was bundled into an auto
nioOlle and rushed out of the city.
Apout II miles from town the ma
Onihe was met by more masked
aud robed men and the party con-
,Iuued on to Shasta mountain.
mere Burr was taken from the ma
.nlne and was told that he was
oeihg punished for having been
ultimate with white women. His
Notestations of innocence were in
'aih and he was three times
s'rung up by the neck before be
ing freed and started for California
WIN the warning not to return
Foiley of shots into the ground
ground his feet was part of the
"srning directed at him.
me third victim of the nigh
0o was Henry johnson. John