Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 August 1891 — HANGED AT MIDNIGHT. [ARTICLE]

HANGED AT MIDNIGHT.

At 12:30 o’clock on the night of the 22d a mob of 300 men surrounded the county jail at Shelbyville, where Charles Hawkins was incarcerated, for the purpose of taking him out and hanging him. About one hundred approached the jail and knocked at the door on the south sjjle. Sheriff McDougal responded, crowd grappled and Overpowered him> The keys of the jail proper were quickly secured, and Hawkins was found oa the ower floor. He asked time to pray, and crossed his hands over his breast. A rope was placed around his neck and the desperado dragged to the court house yard. The nearest tree was used and the man quickly strung up. The body was shot full of bullets, and the crowd ned, leaving it still hanging to the tree.