The Warwickshire Herald. — 1888-01-19 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

FAMILY OF MURDERERS LYNCHED. Several weeks ago a discovery was made in Texas which startled even the inhabitants of that lawless State. A man who was missing was traced to a balf.way house kept near Oak City by a family named Kelly, and frequented by cattle-men and others who had money and carried it with them. On the house being searched, his dead body was found in a cellar. Other five bodies were found in the cellar, and four wore (including that of a woman) in a stable. The Kelly family, which consisted of William, aged 55 years; Bill, a son, aged 20; Kate, the old man's wife; and "Kit," the eighteen-yearold daughter, bad disappeared some time before. When information of the discovery reached Beaver City, it was recollected that the Kelly family bad passed through the town driving a span of horses, and apparently having plenty of money. Twenty citizens at once started in pursuit. When at length they sighted the pasty they mounted fresh horses and gave chase. After two hours' hard riding the horse ridden by Mrs. Kelly stumblel and fell. Holding on, the pursuers were, in half an hour, near enough to the son and daughter to shoot. They stopped when called on; but the old man, who rode a better horse, kept on. Upon the citizens coming up with Bill and Kit, the girl began to beg for mercy, saying she "never killed anybody." Bill said, "Oh ! shut up; it isn't any use, kit, you've got to go with me. You know you had just as much to do about it as I." Ropes were speedily procured, and the two were bound. One of the party climbed A tree and slipped two ropes over one of the outstretched branches, at the ends of which two running noeses had been made. The murderers were then placed beneath them, the ropes adjusted about their necks, and in a moment the two bodies were hanging, in inid-air. The ropes were tied to an adjoining sapling, and the bodies left hanging, while the citizens rode on after the old man Kelly, who by this time had disamwared from sight. His trail was easily followed. After three hours of terrific riding the party caine near enough to the old man to order him to halt. This he refused to do, when a shot was fired. Still he kept on, when another shot WAS fired, and the old nuin stopped his horse. II) an instant the band surrounded him and dismounted. The leader told him that he had but a short time to live and that anything he had to say would be heard. The old man commenced talking in an almost inaudible voice, and made a brief statement. Preparations were at once made to hang him. In a few minutes his body was swinging in the air. ,He was then let down and asked to confess his crime. This he did, lie and all members of his family were equally guilty. He said they , had killed and robbed nine men and two women. He told where the money was hidden that had I been taken, and gave up what he had on his person. He professed not to know where the murdered persons came from. He was again swung up and let to hang. The accident to the wife ended fatally, and made her execution unnecessary.  By the death of Sir Henry G. Harnage, at Betteswardine, his seat in Shrowhire, the baronetcy becomes extinct.