Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1923-08-09
H0LDMAN,AG
40, FOR CRIME
AGAINST GIRLS
Two Children, Each IA Years
Old, Are Alleged Victims
of Grangeville Blacksmith
Eller Takes Prisoner to Lew
iston After He Hears Rum
ors About Mob Violence

Fearing possible lynching,
Sheriff w. H. Eller, Wednes-
day afternoon, spirited Lem
Binnion, charged with a sta
tutory crime, to the Nezperce
county Jail in Lewiston for
safe keeping.
Although a few minutes
prior to the sheriff's depar-
ture, it was learned that he
was to take Binnion to Lew
iston, aside from the officers
and the driver Of the car in
which the trip was made, there
was no one at the county Jail
at 2 o'clock when the sheriff
departed with his prisoner.
~ am just a little bit afraid
of lynching," declared the
sheriff, at 80, when pressed
for his reason for deciding to-
take Binnion to Lewiston.
TALK ON QUIET
If there has been any talk in
Grangeville of mob violence against
the prisoner, it has been carefully
guarded among those who have had
the matter under discussion, it was
pointed out to the sheriff.
Sheriff Eller, however, asserted that
on Tuesday night there had been talk |
among a crowd of men which indi-- |
Gated that violence might possibly be
attempted, and he elected to take the |
prisoner TO Lewiston, rather than keep |
him in the Idaho county Jail, under |
heavy guard.
1T would be cheaper to take him
down there" the sheriff declared, |
than to put on extra guards at night"
1t is pointed out by the officers
that it would be easy for lynchers
at night to peer through the windows
OF the lighted Jail. pick Binnion from !,
The other prisoners, and shoot him
through the window, without effecting
an entrance TO the jail.
EXTRA GUARD PATROL
In order to safeguard against an
emergency, the sheriff asserted, it
would he necessary to employ extra
'rmed guards to patrol the Jail yard
at night This would entail extra
expense to the county, so il was de-
,lded to take the prisoner to Lewis
ion' where he will be held awaiting
,,onvening of the district court in Ida
40 county, in October.
ATTY. Nj. r. Hattabaugh, counsel for
nihnion. had asked that measures be
taken for the safety of his client,
,Sheriff Eller disclosed Wednesday, as
ne was about to leave for Lewiston
with his prisoner I
Keeling against Binnion is in
tense in Grangeville. and remarks have
eeen heard that. Hanging is too good
,or him. These remarks, it is be-
heved, have been made casually, and
without thought as to the meaning
ssney may have conveyed to the Of
iicers. They decided. though. to take
no chances that Binnion would meet
with violent death.
olflcers distinctly recall the lynch
ing OF an Indian in the county jail
III i9ll, when he was shot dead by
masked mob, and are determined
anat a repetition of the affair shall
h0t occur.
MAN 40 YEARS OLD
ni,ihlon, who is blacksmith, and
'"s oeen employed in local shop for
I year or more. is 40 years of age.
ne Is accused of two heinous crimes,
1;n'lctlol ON either one of which car
s' term in the penitentiary of from
I'VE Years to life
me crimes were alleged to have
v;,in committed against two Grange
IA slrs' mere children. each aged
th ears The complaint states that
.ne crime against one of the girls
ps committed on July 21, in the
uh I'm mouse, local rooming house,
"nere' Binnion had a room The
'Continued on Editorial page)