Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 January 1875 — An Innocent Man Hung by Lynchers [ARTICLE]

An Innocent Man Hung by Lynchers

A MOST painfolly interesting story cant into my poaseisioa recently, which I send to yon witK nome hesitation, for fear friends may not desire the matter made public. An Stowe or less publicity has been given it in some quarters, how -ever, and a» there to no disgrace attach* ing to the victim of the murder, I give it *8 I learned it in my peregrinations through the West. Many of the oldest citteens of Illinois will remember Thomas Ford, one of the old lawyers of that State, who was elected Governor some time back in the ‘‘forties.’’ Gov. Ford was reckoned one of the “ big” man of the State, albeit he was possessed of an overweening modesty that retarded his advancement and kept him poor. When he died he left a number of children and no property, excepting a history of Illinois, in manuscript. This, Gen. James Shields, now a resident of Missouri, had published, and the proceeds were divided among the children. The children were adopted by different citizens—the youngest, Thomas, with whom we have to do in this sketch, being adopted by the late Hon. Thomas E. Moore, of Peoria, DI., and assumed that gentleman’s name. Tom served in the One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry, and there made many friends, and was accounted a good soldier. Upon his return he entered the artillery service and did g<» d duty there for a year. Then he return. d to Peoria, and for a short time was engaged in writing squibs for the Transcript, the leading paper in Peoria. In the fall of 1871 young Ford, or Moore (he always wrote his name Thomas Ford Moore), became dissatisfied with Peoria and determined to go to the far West to seek his fortune. His older brother was somewhere in the vicinity of Wachita, Kan., and thither Tom shaped his course and arrived in due time. For a number of months Tom and his brother wandered up and down the plains of Kansas, now joining a hunting party for the West, now helping to bring huge droves of Texas cattle from the South. Sometimes he was in company with his brother, at other times he went alone. At this time excitement was running unusually high in regard to horse-steal-ing. It was near the close of a beautiful day in July that voung Ford for the first time approached State Creek Ranche, situated in Sumner Countv, near the town of Caldwell. He bad walked all day, coming from the southeast, and looked forward with joyful anticipations to the rest and food he should obtain at the 'ranche previous to pushing on to Caldwell six miles further, whither he was bound. Just before reaching the ranche he became cognizant of the fact that two men were following him, but he had a revolver, and, supposing if the men inter sered with him it would be for the purpose of robbery, he had no fears of them. He soon arrived at the ranche, where he refreshed himself with meat and drink for half an hour, and then started for Caldwell His journey lay through a w-oods of scattered trees and abundant brush. He had gone scarcely a mile when three men suddenly sprang upon him from a haze copse. So sudden was the attack that he had no time to draw a weapon, no time to make any defense. The three men were quickly joined by three others, and the leader informed their captive that "he was exceedingly happy to have succeeded in capturing him so easily. “ For," said he, “we have been watching you for several hours past." Tom inquired for what they had arrested him. At first 'he could get no satisfaction, but at length he was informed that he was! arrested for horsestealing. The horror of his situation then forced itself upon the young man. He realized that be was in the hands of a mob who knew no law but that of Judge Lynch, in whose court they were jurors, judge, witnesses, attorneys and executioners. Though a thousand times innocent, he knew lie would die if he could not fully convince these men of his innocence. He knew that some of the loudest and most active of those vigilants were the real horse-thieves, who would not hesitate to hang an innocent man to divert suspicion from their guilty selves, and he knew that if the present party were of that number he would certainly perish. « Thev asked him his name, and he told them Thomas Moore, and then informed them that he was the son of Thomas Ford, former Governor of Illinois. "How can your name be Moore, then," said the leader, “if you are the son of a Governor named Ford?' The young man, amid the shout of derision that followed, attempted to explain. He was dragged along. “ Shut up your cackle,” says one burly ruffian, striking him in the face with his fist. A rope was here brought in view. “Take him to yonder tree,” said the leader. “ My God, gentlemen,” protested the unfortunate youth, “ are you going to hang me upon bare suspicion? Before God, I am innocent of the crime, and if Tou will give me time and opportunity can prove it." “We have all the proof we want," said the leader. "If you’ve got any prayers to say, make them short, for we have so many of you fellows to attend to that we haven’t much time to give each of you.” - -t ... “In God’s name, men, is there no chance for life? Must I die like a dog for nothing? Give me some chance for my life, and, if you will take it, don’t murder me in such a cowardly manner." Vain were the words of the poor boy. They attempted to bind him, but with all the young strength of a well-built frame, intensified and augmented by desperation, he threw them off. Again and again they threw themselves upon him, but in his despair he hurled them from him. But what must be the result of this? What could be the only result? They were six to one. He was exhausted, overpowered, thrown down and his hands and feet securely bound. Then a rope being passed over the fork of a tree, and the other end placed about his neck, he was asked if he had any confession to make. “No,” said he; “my chief consolation in this moment of my death is that I am innocent. I never stole a horse. You doubt my stories. I have letters in my pocket to prove that I am who I say I am. For God’s sake, look at them.” “ We’ll hang you first and look at your letters afterward,” shouted one of the ruffians. " Pull away, boys, and let us get away with this business.” “ Oh, give him a minute to pray,” said the toader. “Here, young man, you may liaye two minutes to pray in, but make ’em short.” The rope was slacked up, and the

doomed boy fell upon his knees and engaged in silent prayer. The two minutes over, the cruel hands at the other end of the rope pulled it taut and with another Jerk the poor innocent youth was dangling between heaven and earth. A few moments and the dark transaction was done. After he was dead the men examined the pockets and found letters and papers proving his identity and also proving his innocence. The villains had literally hung their man first and heard his defense afterward. One of them expressed the fear that they had been engaged in a bad job. The facts of the murder came out nearly or quite as above detailed and occasioned no little feeling in the vicinity. It was months before even a rumor of the sad fate of the young man reached his friends in Peoria and elsewhere. They knew him to be out upon the borders of civilization and did not expect frequent letters from him. The news was first brought back by a rough character who heard it ih Kansas, but whose word was not believed. It was not until lately that the matter was put finally to rest and the dreadful truth forced itself upon the minds of his friends.—Leavenworth (Kan.) Cor. Cincinnati Commercial.