Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 April 1887 — MOB LAW IN IOWA. [ARTICLE]

MOB LAW IN IOWA.

Marked Men Fores Their Way Inlo the Jail at Corning and Hang John H. McKenzie. The Entire Proceedings Conducted in a Quiet Manner—McKenzie’s Crime. [Coming (Iowa) telegram.] John McKenzie, tie murderer of John H. Biggs, was taken from tho jail Sunday morning by a party of masked men and hanged to a tree in front of the jaiL About 2:20 a. m. about twenty-five armed and masked horsemen and a wagon loaded with men and a battering-ram appeared in front of the jail, moving with strict military discipline under orders from a bold and skillful leader. When awakened by them Jailor Pumroy found he had been locked in his room by the hasp and staple on the iron door. He fired three guns of alarm from the windows, and McKenzie’s voice was heard in an unnatural, terrifying cry. Shots through his window quieted him. Mounted pickets were placed about the block, designated by numbers and with soldierlike demeanor. Approaching citizens were quietly arrested, but permitted to observe the proceedings under guard. The thunder of the battering ram and the splintering of the doors gave way to the rattling of the ram on the iron doors. Then the jailer was overpowered. The keys svere found, and the work of unlocking proceeded as if by men familiar with the details. McKenzie was heard to exclaim: “If there are any old soldiers among you let them step forward first.” He was tied, and n rope thrown about his neck. His intense nerve and grit did not forsake him. He talked with the mob as they took him down-stairs and across the street to a maple tree, asked them to give his watch to his wife, protested he had killed no other man than Big«s,nnd did not intend to kill him. To one wakened from peaceful slumbers to look out upou stern men dragging forth a fellow-man, even though a murderer, to see him lifted into the air, held while struggling, and guarded until the strangulation was comElete, was indeed horrifying. Before disanding the leader addressed the mob in a low voice, saying: “Gentlemen: The work of this night must remain forever a secret. Let every participant and every observer take warning from the man hanging to this tree. Tho fate of any man who divulges the name of any participant will be as his fate.” All departed except half a dozen horsemen, who kept guard for half an hour, fired two shots, and rode rap dly away to the northward. The identity of no participant was discovered, as they were completely masked and disguised their voices. The Coroner’s verdict was: “John H. McKenzie came to his death by strangulation at the hands of infuriated {jersons to us unknown, caused as we veriy believe by the tardiness of our courts of justice.” The Murder for Which McKenzie Was Lynched. Biggs and McKenzie were neighboring farmers, and lived near Eureka, about eight miles from Corning. McKenzie had leased about twelve acres of com land last year from Biggs from a field of, perhaps, thirty acres, Biggs farming the remainder. McKenzie did not utilize the stalks for fodder until after March 1 of this year, when crop leases expire uuder the lowa law, and on his then attempting to turu cattle in the fodder Biggs objected because there was no division fence, ami the cattle would overrun his fields. Biggs had sought legal counsel, • and in accordance with it he locked the gate to the field with a padlock the morning of March 5. Soon after McKenzie arrived with bis cattle. Having been informed by his hired man the gate was locked, he was on horseback, armed with a revolver. To Biggs he said: “I’ll give you just three minutes to open that gate.” There were no witnesses, but from McKenzie’s own version Biggs started toward the gate when McKenzie fired, not to hit, but to scare him, as he says. Biggg Btopped and faced McKenzie, who immediately shot at him, the ball penetrating below the eye and killing him. McKenzie came to Coming and gave himself up as coolly as though he had killed a neighbor’s dog.