Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 March 1886 — IN A MOB’S CLUTCHES. [ARTICLE]

IN A MOB’S CLUTCHES.

The Brothers Archer, Three in Number, Taken from Jail and Lynched. [Shoals (Ind.) special.] The members of the notorious Archer gang, who have been confined in the County Jail here for several weeks past on a charge of having been concerned in several brutal and unprovoked murders, but more especially for the killing of old man Bunch, expiated their crimes just before 1 o’clock this morning at the hands of a mob of determined men, all armed and thoroughly prepared to carry out their purpose. The mob was composed of many of the farmers of the surrounding country, and was quiet and orderly. On reaching the city the men passed rapidly along through the streets until the jail, situated in West Shoals, was reached. The keys were at once demanded of the jailer, but were refused. Without tarrying a moment for a colloquy the spokesman of the mob pushed the jailer aside, and, crying out to the men to follow him, led the way up to the door. A few vigorous strokes against it, and it fell in with a crash. In an instant the excited men were before the iron gratings of the cells. These were speedily broken open by a hammer, and the doomed prisoners led out into the court-yard adjoining the jail. The mob was as silent as death. From the court-yard the prisoners were led a short distance up the road to a place where three trees had been extemporized into three ghastly gallows. Here the prisoners were given a few moments in which to exchange parting greetings or to make confession of their crimes. But the three men made no sign, and as the three nooses were slipped about their necks they stood composed and resigned to their fate. The ends of the rope were then thrown over the limbs of the trees, a strong pull was given by each of the little groups of men who held the ropes, and in an instant the three lifeless bodies of John, Martin,, and Thomas Archer were dangling heavily in mid-air. In a moment the lynching party was gone, leaving its victims still warm in death. Anxious citizens are now thronging in to view the bodies, and the people are wild with excitement. The hanging is generally commended by the entire city.