Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 October 1897 — Excitement at San Pierre. [ARTICLE]

Excitement at San Pierre.

Messenger’s Face Slapped by Nelson's Widow, and Threatened With Lynching. Wm. Messenger, the slayer of Charles Nelson, was taken from the jail at Knox, Friday, over to San Pierre, the scene of his crime, for a preliminary examination before a justice of the peace, and where he was held to the Starke circuit court on the charge of murder. According to the dispatches in the daily papers, there was an exciting occurrence connected with the examination, which is thus described: “At the conclusion of the hearing, the prisoner, in the custody of the sheriff, was taken to the depot to await a train bearing them to Knox. While at the depot the wife of the murdered man came up tQ the prisoner and showing him her baby, told him he had murdered its father. She struck him a violent blow in the face with her clenched fist Immediately cries of “Lynch the fiend!” came from all sides. The mob began to crowd around the sheriff and his prisoner, but the timely arrival of the train gave the sheriff the desired opportunity and Messenger was hustled aboard, amid yells from the disappointed lynchers. Trouble is yet feared at Knox and twenty-five deputies have been sworn isl and the jail is under a * •• •* * heavy 1 guard.”