Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1882 — A Mob’s Vengeance. [ARTICLE]

A Mob’s Vengeance.

Owlngsville Courier-Journal. On last Wednesday Samuel Ramey shot John Smith, in the upper portion of the county, from the effects of which Smith died on Friday. The most iuteuse feeliug was manifested against Ramey, who was captured after compelling offiers to shoot him, aud brought to this city. Great fears were were entertained that he would be taken from jail aud lynched, but the mob not coming Saturday night they were hot looked for last (Friday) night. But to the surprise of all they came. About 1 o’clock this morning a band of thirty-two well armed men went to the residence of the jailei, James Maury aud got the keys. After the door was unlocked they went to the cell in swhich Ramey was confined, opened it aud called him out. He responded readily, and came out cool and collected. He was then blindfolded and his arms tied behind him. In response to the inquiry if he wanted to pray, he replied in the affirmative, and, kneeling on the sidewalk in front of the jail, prayed tor three or four minutes, after which he asked of the mob how they were going to kill him, aud they replied by throwing a noose over his head, saying they never shot their men. He was* then placed on a norse behind the man who put the noose over his head, aud taking Robertson with them, they went just outside the city limits to a large white oak tree, iu J. M. Richart’s pasture, where, after giving Ramev permission to pray again, they asked him why he bad killed John Smith. His reply was Smith shot at him first, with a single-barreled pistol, in the back room of Smith’s house, and tried to shoot him the second time with Ramey’s own gun, and started agaiu into the house for his (Smithes) rifle before he (Ramey) did any shooting. This, however, is not true. Ramey killed Smith without any warning or provocation. Ramey was then asked at- veral other questions, to all of which he gave ready answers. One of the party then blimbed the tree, and the loose *eud of "the rope that was around Ramey’s neck was thrown to him. The rope was tightened around Ramey’s neck by the man in the tree, aud two men grabbed him on each side to raise him high enough for the man above to fasten the rope. Before raising him again the spokemau of the crowd said: “Sam. your end is near; you have but a moment or so to live. Have you anything to say as your last words before you go?” To which Ramey replied. “Nothing except I hope tbe lord will have mercy on your souls as well as mine. I have prayed for forgiveue -s for you and myself, too." You have placed yourselves in my shoes. If lam a murderer, you are in the same fix. May the Lord God have meny on your souls and mine, is my prayer.” He was then hoisted by the men below until bis feet were at least four feet from tbe ground, when the rope was fastened around the limb, and those below let loose of him. As he was being pulled up he said: “Lord have mercy on me; Lord have; mercy on me.” When let go his weight, the giving of the limb and stretching of the rope let his feet touch the ground, and he hung there for seven miuu‘es exactly, when the tree was agaiu climbed, and three men took hold of the body aud raised it about two and half feet fropi the ground, and the rope was again fastened to tbe limb. Iu less thau a minute one of tbe party examined tbe pulse, etc., and, finding him dead, said to the captain of tbe gang: “All right; that will do. You can go,” aud orders were at once made for the men to mount aud Robertson to leave. He died without a struggle, and never pleaded for mercy a single minute, but said he knew be mhst did, and would try and reconcile himself to R. The body bffng all the mprniug until about 9 o’clock, when the coroner holding the inquest cut it down. The verdict of the coroner's jury wat: “We, ol the jury, sum , .ed, to hold an inquest on the !*• 'd body of Samuel Ramey, fiud Ihat he came to his death by banging, and that the hanging was done by a body of armed men, none of whom are kuow’n to us.” \l