Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 May 1895 — JUDGELYNCH’S WORK. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

JUDGELYNCH’S WORK.

HE HOLDS COURT AT DANVILLE, ILLINOIS. Infuriated Mob Hangs Two Fiends— Jail Doors and Walls Wrecked with Battering Rams of Telegraph Poles and Railroad Iron. End of Two Brutes. Early Saturday morning a mob which, »t Danville, 111., had been in possession of Vermillion County’s jail for several hours, succeeded in locating John Halls, Jr., and William Royce in their cells, took them outside and hanged them for assaulting Miss Laura Barnett. From midnight, when tho crowd first made its appearance at the jail doors, until the victims were reached, it was the determined, desperate struggle of a frenzied mob to mete summary justice, battling against heavy oaken doors and iron bars, and occasionally halted by the grim stand of a little band of defenders of law and order under the command of Sheriff Thompson. No amount of parleying on his part and no amount of plea from his wife could withstand the mob which had but the one object in view.

At 2 o’elock Sheriff Thompson sent for Judge Bookwalter, of the Circuit Court, Who addressed the crowd from the jail corridor. He counseled them to peace and »rder, and for a minute, and but a minute snly, his words were heeded. Then another desperate attempt was made to teach the cells where the two men were lecreted. Finally Royce was located Crouching and shivering with fear. A Icore of hands dragged him unceremoniously from his hiding place underneath the wooden bench which serves prisoners is their bed. Half dragged and half puahKl he was hustled into the dining room Ind Beated on the table. A rope was (laced over his head, and while part of

she mob kept close guard over him the Ethers continued the search for Halls until ke was discovered in another and more femote portion of the jail. At 3:15 o’clock the mob secured both of the prisoners nnd started toward tho kridge with ropes about their necks. They Ivere hanged almost upon the scene of their crime. Citizens of Danville joined the infuriated farmers in their work of tengeance. The story of the crime had keen the topic of discussion all day. Busiless was practicnlly suspended and shopkeepers and their clerks gathered in knots In the street corners and discussed the Effair with farmers who flocked to the tity during the day. Shortly after nightrail ominous mutterings were heard and tome openly counseled the more quiet of their neighbors to take summary vengeance on the perpetrators of the crime md not take the chances of tho law’s ielay or the technicalities which might Erise and eventually free the men. As early as 10 o’clock the crowd congregated on the main street, and it only Heeded a venturesome leader to proceed to the jail at once. Thut leader was soon found. From whispered threats the cry Erose for vengeance, swelling on the night dir until it echoed nnd re-echoed from one End of Danville to the other. A rush was made for the jail, where, under fear of lust such a proceeding, the guard had been re-euforevd, but constituted only a handful of men to face a frenzied, bloodthirsty mob, wrought up to an indescribable pitch and bent only on having the lives of the two cowering men within. Clamoring at the jail doors, the mob was met by Sheriff Thompson, who denied admission and, retiring behind the doors, locked and double bolted them. Rash for a Battering Ram. This action of the sheriff only added fuel to the already blazing fire of indignation. A hurried search was made for some instrument with which to batter down the jail doors. Part of the crowd rushed away, returning in a few minutes with a hemlock telegraph pole, which willing hands grasped ns a battering ram. The stout oaken doors of the jnjl were constructed to withstand any ordinary assaults, however, and the efforts of the mob proved futile until another party arrived with a steel rail.

Sheriff Thompson and his men warned the storming party to desist, but were met with hoots and jeers. The little band of defenders was powerless against the fast increasing mob, and when the furious blows, urged on with vengeful hearts, shivered the main door, they retreated behind the inner jail. The hallway was too narrow to permit effective work with the railroad iron, and a shorter piece was secured. With this the second door was attacked, and at 1:15 o'clock in the morning gave way before the impetuous mob which surged through the gap and demanded the keys of the cell in which the prisoners were confined. Tr and Royce were thoroughly frightened and cowered in the darkest corner of their cells, shivering at the sound of the imprecations on the outside and the victorious acclamations of those who found themselves in possession of a hitherto impregnable fortress. They begged for mercy, but Sheriff Thompson was utterly unable in the face of the determined men thronging the corridor to afford them any relief. In fact, with him discretion had overcome valor, and he with his little band retreated still farther before the angry administrators of lynch law. But with their battering ram of railroad iron the mob quickly wrecked the interior of the jail, and the end was soon over. Thursday eveuiag about 7:30 o'clock

Mias Laura Bennett and a friend. Miss Lillian Draper, were returning from an evening stroll. They were crossing the Vermillion rives foot bridge when they were attacked by Halle and Royce. Miss Draper escaped and gave the alarm. Halls and Royce were both well-known young men of Danville, and for several years had borne an unsavory reputation. They were arrested on complaint of Miss Draper, and further identification by John Downs, an old man who met violence at their hands while endeavoring to assist the girls. Funerals of the Fiends. The funerals of John Halls, Jr., and William Royce, the victims of mob violence, occurred Sunday. Both were attended by more than a thousand friends of the families and neighbors. The services over young Halls were conducted by Rev. Air. Griffin, of South Danville, at the Halls’ residence, a modest fourroom cottage. The burial was in the Danville Spring Hill Cemetery. The services over Royce were held at 2 o’clock in the afternoon at the residence of his father, Sylvester Royce. Rev. W. A. Anderreck, of the Danville Baptist Church, conducted the ceremonies. Royce was buried in a country cemetery, known as the Atherton graveyard, about three miles southeast of Danville. The citizens of South Danville, where Halls and Royce were born and raised, deplore the lynching, but say the boys received their just deserts. Royce was a carpenter, working with his father, who also followed that trade. Halls was a coal miner and addicted to drink. The evening of the assault on Afiss Barnett he was intoxicated. At the supper table his parents vainly begged him to remain home, fearing that he would get into trouble of some kind. Indianoln, Afiss Barnett’s former home, praises the work of the lynchers. The little passenger depot there was encircled by a dense gathering of people Saturday afternoon when the train steamed in bearing among its passengers the three’ leaders of the mob which lynched Halls and Royce. The appearance of the men was greeted with wild shouting and words of commendation. Excitement ran high and everyone was overjoyed at the revenge secured for Miss Barnett. The leaders talked freely of their midnight task and told of the devising of plans and of the gathering of the elans. One of the number who led the lynchers stated that he expected trouble at the hands of the State, but did not expect to be punished for the part ho plnyed. He was under the impression that the grand jury would find bills against some of the mob, yet he thought no jury could be found

which would find the men guilty. The lynchers will pay tho. damage done the county bastile, which will not exceed S2OO. Hie amount will be raised by voluntary, subscription. Aiiss Barnett’s condition is improving and she has been removed to her father's home in lijdianola.

HALLS.

ROYCE.

BATTERING IN THE JAIL DOOR.