"Have they killed anybody else?" was his first and only utterance to the
officers who took him in charge. His captors did not deign to make
reply. The Negro was handcuffed and led back until the party arrived at
the outskirts of the city. The patrol wagon was telephoned for and the
Negro was soon safe in the station house. News spread like wildfire that
the criminal was in the prison and soon the street was full of
thousands. A mob was formed and an assault was planned upon the prison.
The chief of police came out on the steps of the building and, with
drawn pistol, declared that the majesty of the law would be maintained
at all hazards. He then retired within.
Nothing daunted the mob surged forward. The chief of police came forth
again and in a manner that left no room for mistake, declared that only
over his dead body could they take the prisoner. His long record as a
daring and faithful officer was well known and the mob now hesitated.
The sheriff of the county was out of the city at the time and one of his
deputies was in charge of affairs. This deputy had been laying plans
with a view to being the candidate of his party for the office of
sheriff at the next election, and he fancied that he now saw an
opportunity to curry favor with the masses. He elbowed his way through
the crowd and held a whispered conference with the leader of the mob.
Thereupon the leader took his place on the steps and harangued the mob
as follows:
"Fellow citizens, do not despair. The voice of the people is the voice
of God, and your voice shall be heard this day. I assure you of this
fact. I beg of you, however, that you now disperse. You shall meet again
under circumstances more favorable to your wishes."
The persons in front passed the word along, and knowing that some better
plan of action had been agreed upon, the crowd dispersed into
neighboring streets.
The deputy sheriff, armed with the proper papers, appeared at the
station house and demanded and secured the prisoner, as the city had no
jurisdiction over murder cases. When he had proceeded about a block with
his prisoner, a group of men who understood the matter raised a mighty
yell. The mob which had dispersed now reformed.
The prisoner was taken from the deputy sheriff, and was hurried to the
bridge connecting the two parts of the city. A rope was secured and the
Negro was dropped over the side of the bridge. As his form dangled
therefrom, every man in the crowd who could, and who had a pistol,
leaned over the railing and fired at the Negro. The rain of bullets made
the Negro's form swing to and fro. The crowd finally dispersed, leaving
the body suspended from the bridge.
Gus Martin had kept up with the mob from the beginning, walking about
with folded arms, betraying no trace of excitement save, perhaps, the
rapid chewing of the tobacco which was in his mouth. His blood was
stirred, but its Indian infusion contributed stoicism to him on this
occasion.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account