LYNCH LAW IN OHIO.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 106, 15 April 1876, Page 3

LYNCH LAW IN OHIO.

A few weeks ago Miss Allin Laughlin the daughter of a well to-do fanner of Logan Country, Ohio, was murdered in a very shocking manner by a tenant on her father’s farm, a man named Schell. The murderer was arrested and lodged in gaol at the neighboring town of Bellfontaine ; bub tbe same night about one hundred of the friends of Mr Lauhglin, all of them respectable farmers, came into town with the avowed purpose of anticipating the slow course of tbe law, and putting the murderer to death forthwith. At eleven o’clock that night, these farmers met together on the outskirts of the town and organised themselves in four companies of about twenty-five men each. They covered their faces witli masks, and the captain of each company gave every man a number by which he was to be called. One of the companies then took an iron rail from some railway metal lying near at hand, and the whole assemblage marched to the gaol. Here their leader knocked at the door three times, but the summons being unanswered he said, “ Company 1, do your duty.” The company thus addressed came forward with the rail, and, using it as a battering ram soon broke open the door. Entering the gaol, they went to the cell where the murderer was confined ; they broke open the door of his cell with hammers, seized their victim and brought him forth. A rope was put round his neck, and he was led to the corner of the public square where stood a large tree. Here he was made to mount a largo box, and the rope thrown over a lar<re branch of the tree, was drawn tight. The flickering light of a few torches shone upon his face ; he was calm, and impassive, and when he was told that lie had only ten minutes longer to live he made no reply. Ho was urged to confess his crime, but be answered that he was innocent. He was asked what ho wished should be done with bis body. “ Bury mo beside my little boy,” be replied. The last moment now arrived, and be was told to say his last words. “ May Cod have mercy on me and all of you,” he exclaimed ; and as these words left Ids lips the box was pushed away and lie dangled in the air. At the end of fifteen minutes lie was pronounced dead ; and the leaders of tbe lynchers said : “ Citizens, wo have met and done justice ; now let us disperse peaceably to our homes.” The farmers marched away as they had come, and the citizens of the town, who had not ventured to interfere, were left to cut down the body and bury it.