People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 November 1893 — LYNCHED IN COURT. [ARTICLE]

LYNCHED IN COURT.

A Mob la Ottumwa, la., Ha. its Revenge on a Brute. Ottumwa, la., Nov. 23.—Fred Gustaveson was taken from the officers of the law in a justice’s courtroom here Tuesday afternoon and hanged from the balustrade just ouside Jhe door. Monday he assaulted a little giri ♦years old, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Saxe, and inflicted injuries ■from the effects of which she will die. The child’s mother brought into the 'room the rope with which the man's life was strangled out Her grandfather, tottering with age, urged the crowd to its grim revenge and was the direct leader of the movement The deed was the climax of disapproval that has been growing in the public mind over the farces, miscalled “trials,” which have resulted recently in letting go, scot free, the perpetrators of eight murders in this city. The preliminary trial of Gnstaveson was set for 2 o’clock, but was kept secret The news soon got out that the prisoner was to be brought out for trial at Justice Truitt's court When they arrived at the justice's office not over twenty-five people were congregated when they started up the stairs. At the head with a number of persons was Jacob Provolski, the aged grandfather of the murdered girt He sprang at the prisoner, was pushed from behind, and a general scuffle ensued. The grandfather’s cries could be plainly heard. The crowd was pushed inside and the scuffle was still continued. The crowd below by this time had become larger and more demonstrative. A number of sworn officers and deputies were distributed along the sidewalk and inside the office. The sheriff saw that something must be done, and spoke to the crowd warning them they must not attack the prisoner and violate the law of the state. This was effective in quieting them, but the crowd did not disperse. Soon a window was raised, and the white head of the ola grandfather was seen. He began crying to the crowd below and urging them to vengeance. His cries roused the people to action. They darted into the doorway and made an attack on the small squad of police and deputies congregated at the head of the stairway leading to the courtroom, where the prisoner lay crouched in the corner guarded by the sheriff and deputized citizens. They experienced considerable difficulty in forcing their way to the head of the stairs and into the door. Once inside the little room the prisoner was at their mercy, and before he had a chance to say a word he was dangling in the air a lifeless mass. The rope broke after the body had remained suspended several minutes, precipitating the corpse to the sidewalk. Here it was picked up and thrown into a wagon, and, amid the hoots and cries of the now thoroughly excited mob, the w agon was driven at a rapid rate to the jail, followed by the mob.

The rope with which the fiend was hung was brought to the scene by the mother of the child, and by her furnished to the mob at the moment he fell into their hands. The mob surrounded the entrance of the jail and demanded to know if the wretch was dead or alive. Mayor Laforce mounted a high box and said: "Men of Ottumwa, the man is dead now; quietly disperse. You have done all you can da He is a dead man. Now quietly disperse;: do nothing now to disgrace yourselves ” Voices called out “that’s right,” and the mob gradually broke up and dispersed. The mob however would not believe that the man was dead and soon returned. More trouble was feared and Mayor Laforce again endeavored to persuade the mob to disperse. A committee of three was appointed. They went into the jail and found that life had gone out of their victim before he had been placed, in the undertaker’s big box. When the committee had reported the crowd dispersed and the body was taken to the morgue, where it was viewed by the board of supervisors and; other officials. Gustaveson lured the girl away from her home with candy and fruit. The first news her parents had of her calamity was when she came staggering into the house. Capt Dan Hannon of the police force soon arrested Gustaveson in his room. When the crime was bruited about on the street there was much talk of lynching. The officers took the prisoner to the Saxe home at an early hour Tuesday morning for identification before the little one might die. When she saw her assailant she drew back in abject horror and cried for protection.