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nytfi*eitt-itarSTARTLING!' sA Thrilling Account ofthe Hardy Hanging.ByOne of the Masked Men*Judge Lynch Tells How it was Done, And Who Did It.Mistakes of Former Reports Corrected.AdueinviA and butHarlan TMbtmo Extra, July 30.]Belowwe publish a thrilling letter received (Saturday night, postmarked “Avoca, July 2fL '83.”» July 27,1883.To Editor Harlan Tribune :—I have read with much interest comments in the State Register, Nonpareil and other good papers upon the hanging of the murderer Hardy upon the night of the 23d inst., and I feel called upou to giye you a few facta relative thereto, which I think will convince your readers thal all conjectures characterizing his treatment at the hands of the “mob” as fiendish, terrible, brutal, otc., has not only been extremely wide of the mark, but somewhat unjust to the actors in this unpleasant business.The men who felt called upon to take the law into their own hauds in this particular case, were of the beat, moat highly esteemed residents of Audubon, Cass and Shelby counties, good citizens, indulgent fathers, kind husbands; men who would not have taken the first step had they. believed for a moment that, under our present laws, sufficient evidence could haye been produced, with the dying declaration of Crwaford to the contrary, to have made the judge’s sentence “to hang” after a verdict of murder in' the first degree. The pros and cons of this open question, there is no space for here, and I will not conjecture, but make a truthful statement as condensed as possible as to “how it was done.”In number wo were forty. Arriying at a spot designated, near Chatburn’s mill, three men wore left in charge of the horses (including teams), the remaining thirty-seven going quietly and quickly to the jail. Before it had been surrounded a slight noise was heard, as of some one arising from bed. upstairs, in that portion of the house occupied by the jailor and his family. A call from the leader of the party to the jailor was answered after some little delay by Mrs. Watkins, to whom the leader addressed himself, the result of the conversation being that after more thaa ample timehad elapsed Mrs. Watkins unlocked the east door, when the number thought necess ity for the inside work went quietly in. Mr. Watkins was secured, much good argument and persuasion being produced. Mrs. Watkins was. patiently heard and replied, to in a gentlemanly manner, no revolver being leveled at her head, nor wbb the younger lady present treated in that manner. Little or no profanity was indulged in, and some time passed, the patience of the waiters out-Blde becoming almost exhausted ere the word came that the prisoner was in our hands.Hardy spoke a few words at the moment of leaving the jail. A handkerchief had been bound over his mouth, but not so tightly as to have preyented bis speaking. While upon.the wav toT“DcranOloieltieod* T helRe'duemosevheaGritioianctheditlyeianph roi ini tin is i cai pa:1b ;P«ansothiwiininthtilAu:Ito
Newspaper Details
Atlantic Daily Telegraph
Atlantic, Iowa, US
Mon, Jul 30, 1883
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Warren W.
NA, 05 Dec 2017
Other Publications Near Atlantic, Iowa
Atlantic Cass County Democrat
Atlantic Bruces Optimist
Atlantic Advertiser
Atlantic News Telegraph
Atlas of Cass County Iowa
