The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1891-02-28 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

LYNCH LAW IN COLORADO. EXTRAORDINARY CONDUCT OF A MOB.  An extraordinary tragedy took place on Satur• day afternoon in Salina village, Boulder County, Colorado. A railway freight conductor of a local line named John Sullivan, engaged in the freight yard of the line in question, detected a man named Oliver Riley stealing some coal. He went up to the thief and asked him what he was doing. Riley was insolent and told the conductor to mind his own business. He started to move off, but Sullivan attempted to arrest him, whereupon Riley drew a revolver, and before the conductor could do anything to protect himself, the thief had shot him through the head, killing him instantly. The tragedy was observed by se /era' persons in the freight yard, and chase was given, with the result that Riley was taken into custody without further casualties. But for the timely arrival of some local sheriffs officers, however, a mob would have succeeded in lynching the prisoner. In order to protect Riley the sheriff swore in special guards, who were to remain in the gaol until the excitement cooled down. The mob, consisting largely of railway employs and freight handlers, held a meeting about 6 o'clock in the afternoon, and decided to attack the prison as soon as it was dark. About 8 o'clock a great crowd, fully armed, proceeded to the gaol, which is not a very strong building, and demanded the delivery of Riley. The guards refused, whereupon the mob fired at the gaol, without, however, doing any damage. The guards returned the fire and wounded two of the attacking party, who then retired. An organised attack was now planned and carried out. The gaol building was surrounded and the gates bettered in, and, after a brief handte hand fight with revolvers and knives the stronghold was stormed. One guard was knives, wounded in the encounter, and Riley, the pri• soner, was wounded. He was quickly torn from his Cell and a rope was placed round hie neck. In this manner, and bleeding from a gunshot wound, the murderer was dragged along the streets until be was nearly dead, arriving at the railway line where stood a sign board warning passers to "Look out for the locomotive." Over this the lynchers threw one end of the rope, and they then drew up the body of Riley into the air. 'While he was still struggling desperately the crowd riddled him with bullets, and the murderer's contortions then ceased. At this moment • railway train from Marshall passed, and the crowd, worked up to • pitch of madness and devilment, fired upon the train out of whose windows a large number of passengers were gazing horrified at the dangling body of the lynched murderer. Several passengers were wounded, and the train had to be drawn up so that the injured could be oared for. Steps will be taken with • view to punishing the lynchers, but there is little likelihood of any of them being it to justice.  Despite persistent statements to the contrary, there is good reason to believe that the Government have no intentk,n whatever to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into labour questions. Their policy rather is that subjects of vital interest to the industrial community shall be debated as they arise in Parliament, On Saturday a house in course of erection at Pwlleheli, • rising watering-place on the South Carriarvonshire coast, suddenly collapsed, five workman being buried in the debris. After some considerable difficulty the mass of stone and mortar was cleared away, and three of the bodies of the unfortunate men were found terrifily mangled, death having been instantaneous. The other two were badly injured.