|
“Another body was found in the ruins of French GODLEY’s house yesterday evening, which is unquestionably that of French himself, which nearly corrobates [sic] the story of Mrs. Godley that she went up stairs before the house was set on fire and found Pete HAMPTON lying at the north window dead, and downstairs she found her husband dead. The first body was so badly burned that no one could identify it.” “It was indeed a sad sight to see the funeral procession of Miss WILD this morning as it passed through the city on the way to the cemetery, and to think of the sad ending of the life of a beautiful girl like the deceased. It was a long procession and the many friends deeply sympathize with the family.” “Today there is hardly a colored person to be seen in the city, they all having left in the early part of the day. The very few who are here are packing up their household goods and will be away before night. And it is probably as well at the present time, for the temper of the people is not of the best as yet.” “Mob law is to be deplored, but under some circumstances it may be justifiable. The murder of Miss WILD was an awful thing and would naturally cause a strong feeling of resentment against any one who may have had any hand in the affair, or even knew the parties who did. The negro, GODLEY, who was hanged last night had been sent to the penitentiary from this county at one time for committing rape, and his record was against him. The hanging may have been justifiable.” |
|
Ernest YOUNG, of Monett, was in the city today. L. E. SENEKER, of Bowers Mill, was in the city today. Mr. and Mrs. SHERUBEL, of Wentworth, were in the city today. Postmaster CHAPPELL, of Monett, was in the city a few minutes yesterday evening. Farmer John MARTIN from near Wentworth Prosecuting Attorney MCPHERSON, of Mt. Vernon, was in the city today on legal business. Miss Iola LEGRAND is at her post of duty at the Postoffice Book Store again, after a few days illness. Jas. JOHNSON, a miner, was killed in a mine on the Ohio lease at Aurora Friday morning. A boulder fell on him. Miss Matie SHERMAN, who has been the guest of Miss Norma CHANDLER for a few days, returned to her home at Joplin last night. Mr. and Mrs. Sol MEREDITH recently lost their little six months old child. It was buried at Newtonia. Mr. Dallas PRUITT, from near Talpa, made us a pleasant call today. Mr. I. J. SMITH, departed for St. Louis last night, after a pleasant visit with Mr. L. L. L. ALLEN and other friends of this city. Mr. Smith now has a very responsible position in one of the St. Louis schools, being superintendent over 12 or 15 teachers. Joplin, Mo, Aug 15 -- E. W. CARLETON, city editor of the Joplin Daily Globe, shot himself through the heart in the newspaper office tonight and died almost instantly. He was an authority on mining matters in Missouri Kansas zinc fields and was 42 years old. Mrs. Tabitha TAYLOR, of Fayetteville, Ark., and Mrs. Nettie OHLSON and daughter, Mrs. Dina CAULEY and children, of Paris, Texas, arrived this morning from Fayetteville to spend three weeks visiting their sister, Mrs. Sarah GODLEY, of this city. This is the second time in twenty years that three sisters have met and there is quite a jollification over their reunion. FOULLY MURDERED ..There is sorrowing in our city today over the foulest crime of the many foul ones in the criminal calendar. The life of a handsome and bright young lady has been taken nearly within the city limits, and done in such a manner as to cause the most hardened to take a hand in the hunt for the brute who committed the deed. The facts as near as we can get them are as follows: Miss Geshel Wild, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Wild, who live about two miles west of the city, came in to Sunday school Sunday morning with her brother, both of them walking. After Sunday school they stayed for church and Miss Wild started home alone, something she had done many times before. Her brother could not have been more than fifteen minutes behind her. She reached the culvert just about a half a mile from the business portion of the city, and was there attacked by some one, her throat cut nearly from ear to ear, and thrown off the culvert into the ditch below, which is probably five or six feet deep. In the fall her head was cut at the back and also the front. Her brother came along and saw her laying at the bottom of the ditch and ran to Mrs. KANE’s residence, only a little distance away, where he telephoned to City Marshal JOHNSON. Accompanied by some of Mrs. Kane’s family, the brother then went back to where his sister lay and she was just breathing her last. The remains were tenderly raised and taken home where a scene never to be forgotten was witnessed. The parents, who had seen their daughter go from home in the best of health, witnessed the sight of her lifeless body being brought home all cut and bruised. No motive except assault can be surmised to account for this foul crime, and around the spot where the body was found, near the railroad track, are evidences of a struggle, blood being found in two different places, and we presume the fellow found Miss Wild too strong for him and thought to hide evidence of his crime by adding murder to it. When the news reached the city the fire bell was rung and soon there was an immense crowd on the ground ready to hunt down the inhuman brute. Among those who were at the spot was Will ROARK, who stated he had seen a negro sitting on the culvert just awhile before the crime was committed, which caused people to suspect who the perpetrator was, and immediately parties of four and more went in every direction. Nearly all returned Sunday evening empty-handed, and at night other parties started out. Mr. John KLINE departed Saturday night for Chicago. Judge LANDRUM was in the city Saturday night on his way to Dennison, Texas. Ed SWEENEY was over from Wentworth yesterday to visit relatives and friends. Mrs. Julia ENGLE, of Kansas City, is visiting her parents, Mr. And Mrs. R. H. GEORGE. Judge SHIPMAN came up from the Territory Saturday evening to look after some business affairs. Miss HERMS, who has been visiting Miss Pearl CARLIN, returned to her home at Neosho this morning. Judge JONES went to Mt. Vernon this morning where an adjourned meeting of the county court is to be held. Rev. Harold B. WRIGHT, of Pittsburg, Kansas, came in Saturday night and is the guest of Mr. J. W. TAYLOR. Ed BOSTON went to Vinita yesterday where he met his wife and family on their return from their visit to Texas. Several officers from other towns came in on trains this morning to assist in the search for the brute who murder Miss WILD. Charley GEE was out for the first time yesterday since his eyes were hurt, and we are glad to state that one eye is all right with a strong chance for the other. Mr. W. A. DEARINGER this morning handed us two of the finest peaches we have seen in a long time. They were raised on a seedling tree which he planted just four years ago. Mr. J. W. SUTTON, from up on Spring River, was in today just in time to see the intense excitement which was everywhere in evidence. Mr. Sutton is one of the progressive farmers in this county. The two banks in this city have each offered $100 for the arrest and conviction of the man who committed the murder yesterday, and it will probably be increased to a thousand before the day is over. The city was full of Monett people today, all intent upon assisting in the search for the man who committed the murder near this city yesterday, and for the citizens of Peirce City we want to thank them for the interest they have taken. |
Nightwatchman MURRAY caught Will GODLEY’s wife near Solomon Bros. Music store this morning going toward the city hall with a revolver wrapped up in a handkerchief together with a lot of cartridges. He took both from her and put her in the city jail. Miss Rachel PETERSON, who has been visiting at home for a few days, returned to Carthage Saturday evening, where she was married Sunday afternoon at 5 o’clock at the home of Mrs. W. A. NANCE, 1030 West Cedar street. Immediately after the wedding they went to their new home at 416 Wooster street, where they will reside in the future. [No groom named.] Mr. L. L. L. ALLEN came very near getting his right leg fractured below the knee during the rain storm on the evening of the 11th. He had been out riding and had just arrived home as the rain came up. He drove the horse to the barn door and got out when there came a very hard dash of rain and he thought to get back into the buggy to get out of it, when the horse suddenly turned around, catching Mr. Allen’s right leg between the wheel and the bed, and holding it as if it was in a vice. The strain was awful. Mr. Allen cannot walk around very well yet. That case of murder which took place just west of the city Sunday evening, and one might say within the glare of the electric lights, was the most awful occurrence our people ever had to contend with, and it is to be sincerely hoped that the guilty wretch may be brought speedily to justice. No such crime should ever be let go unpunished, and every citizen should constitute himself an officer for the time being to help down the murderer. “Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord,” yet in this instance the crime is such that every nick and corner of the city should be thoroughly searched and when discovered no punishment is too bad. Don SMITH returned Sunday night from a visit to his parents in Indiana. A. B. DOWNS and Sanders BRITE, of Monett, made us a pleasant call this morning. A boy was born to Mr. and Mrs. Will MURPHY Monday morning. -- Stotts City Sunbeam. Mrs. Harriet SCHOOLING, who was staying with some of her relatives out near Clarkson, died last night. Mrs. Barney KIRKPATRICK came down from Springfield this morning and is the guest of Wm. BUCHNER and family. We have just learned that Eugene BARRETT was taken to the Mt. Vernon jail this morning by a Monett officer. A telephone message we have just received from Judge NEVILLE, of Springfield, states that Joe LARK is in jail at that place. Already the citizens have subscribed one thousand dollars towards a reward for the arrest and conviction of the murderer of Miss WILD. The Springfield Republican is wild in its statements in regard to the damage done last night, and should correct its statements for the good of the town. Mr. Joe NEWMAN and Mrs. Celia ETTINGER and family returned last night from Colorado Springs, where they have been for the past month for their health. Dick MEANS and several others from his neighborhood were in the city yesterday and last night. They had been beating the brush up north of the city for the murderer of Miss WILD. A telegram was received this morning by the authorities stating that the negro, FLAVORS, had been arrested at Tulsa. Joe LARK is supposed to have got off the train at Springfield. We received an invitation yesterday to the wedding of Miss Minnie STOCKER and Mr. Felton COX, of Monett, at the home of the bride’s parents at Monett on the evening of September third. Rev. J. E. PERSHING returned home on the belated Oklahoma train this morning. There was a wreck down near Vinita, and the passengers were transferred to another train which brought them on to Peirce City.” WILL GODLEY TAKEN FROM THE CITY JAIL AND HUNG. GENE BARRETT CONFESSED WHO DID THE DEED. ..All day Monday there were mutterings among the people of the city and the strangers within our gates over the awful crime which was committed just west of the city Sunday, and last night about 9 o’clock it terminated in a wild and ungovernable mob which marched up to the city jail and took Will GODLEY and Eugene BARRETT from it. There were ropes put around their necks and they were led up Commercial street and told to confess as to who did the deed. Godley would not open his mouth, but Barrett made a statement that a fellow by the name of FLAVORS, who stayed at Joe LARK’s, across the creek, was the man who committed the crime. Barrett was tolerable roughly handled, but was allowed to go with his life, while an attempt was made to hang Godley to the telphone [sic] pole on the corner northeast of the Windsor, but the rope was too short, and the crowd surged back down the street, howling and shooting as they went, until they reached the Lawrence hotel corner, when the end of the rope was tied around one of the iron banisters which encircles the upper porch, and his body was swung off into eternity. Hardly a muscle moved, and then a shot was fired at the body, which meant a fusilade. [sic]. For a few minutes bullets went thick and fast. The body hung there for fully half an hour, when Attorney Joe FRENCH cut it down and it lay upon the ground for a little while when the officers picked up the corpse and removed it to the city hall. Not a member of the family paid nay attention to the deceased and the city was obliged to bury it in the potter’s field. So much for the first action of the mob. This all happened before midnight, and it appeared as though the work was finished, yet there was more to follow as the frenzied men thought of some other negroes who needed attention, and the march was taken up to the residence of Pete HAMPTON, on South Elm street, across the railroad track, where fire was set to the building and it was burned to the ground. Next the residence of Chack BRINSON was fired, then another and another, until there had been five of the houses consumed. At the house of French GODLY [sic] the old man was shot by some one and his body was consumed by the flames, all except the trunk, and the report is also that Pete Hampton was killed at French Godley’s. However, we do not believe the latter to be true. ..The mob was composed of probably a thousand men, and as they marched to the city jail the shooting sounded like a battle. When at the jail door a sledge hammer was procured and the lock broken. The two negroes were found crouching and trembling on the floor of the jail. They were bound and ropes tied around their necks and led out, one to his doom. ..The blood hounds from Lamar were brought to the city yesterday evening at 5:48 on the inter-urban in charge of Sheriff HARLOW, of Barton county, and after supper they were taken to the culvert upon which the negro who is supposed to have committed the crime sat. They were given the scent, and in less than one minute were trailing. They followed the trail to Joe Lark’s house, across the creek, and then struck out up over the hill to near HUGHS’s where the trail was lost in the tall, wet grass. J. K. SAUNDERS and R. H. EDWARDS of this city, Marshal CONNER and Oscar SMITH, of Aurora, and the two men from Lamar, were all who followed the dogs. They trailed directly by the place where the bloody pocket handkerchief was found Sunday afternoon, and appeared to be surely upon the trail of the fiend. Some mishaps are reported today on account of accidental shooting last night. Mr. J. A. RODGERS was hit in the ankle very slightly by a stray bullet, W. B. GUTHRIE was also hit, and a man by the name of VEITH, who lives north of the city, was shot in the hip. The latest report is that when Pete HAMPTON saw the crowd coming he was at the north window of French GODLEY’s house upstairs, and that he opened fire, which was returned, and that he was seen to fall backward. The burned body taken from the ruins of the dwelling is supposed to be his. |
|
Fresh Bread, pies and cake at Fred ALBERT’s restaurant. Dr. LOCKEY, of Monett state vetennary [sic] surgeon, was in the city last night. Household goods for sale. Enquire at the residence of J. H. BARBER. M. P. GLASSFORD went to Cassville this morning to attend the reunion, which begins today. Dave LUSTER, one of the old-time railroad boys, who used to make Peirce City his headquarters, was here last night. Sarah GODLEY, and the rest of the colored folks took the evening trains yesterday for different points on the Frisco. The body of Will GODLEY, and the two taken from the ruins of French GODLEY’s house, were buried today. Congregational church prayer meeting tonight at 8 o’clock. A full attendance is desired. J. E. PERSHING, Pastor. Robt. FRENCH, son of Rev. S. A. French, was called to Monett this morning, and sent to Afton, I.T., to work for the railroad company. A gentleman from this city left for Tulsa and Oklahoma City this morning to get the men who have been arrested at those places for committing the crime last Sunday. They will be taken direct to the Mt. Vernon jail, and will not be brought to this city. The guests of the Windsor hotel had a great time Monday night, as the hotel was in direct range of the shooting on the south side of the tracks. None of them claim to have slept very much all night, as they were afraid a stray bullet might come through a window and hit them. Everything was peaceable in the city last night, and there was no disturbances. Now the proper thing for the officers to do, and it is plainly their duty, is to take away every gun and revolver from the hands of those who are not sworn in as peace officers. There has been enough lawlessness in this town for the present, and now it is time to call a halt. Do your duty. Judge NEVILLE, of the Springfield Leader Democrat telephoned us at 10:15 this morning and he said that Joe LARK continues to stick to the conversation he had with him yesterday, and which we publish elsewhere. Also that Lark has consulted a lawyer, and said he believed he would not be afraid to come to Peirce City to have his preliminary. Judge Neville further stated that the sheriff of Greene county had no intention of bring him to Peirce City any time soon. This will set at rest the talk on the streets that Lark would be brought back right away. It was stated that Joe’s wife had said he came home Sunday with blood on his shirt front, and said his nose had been bleeding. Judge Neville further states Joe claimed he now has on the same shirt he has worn since Saturday. Go to Dr. [W. J.] TINKER for dental work. Over D. S. FLOWERS hardware store. |
Lile LECOMPTE came over from Carthage last night and stayed over night. Prosecuting Attorney MCPHERSON, of Mt. Vernon, and Postmaster COLEMAN, of Aurora, were in the city last night to look over the seat of war. Frank MILLER, who lives out north, was in from the farm yesterday and pushed his subscription to the Empire up a year. During the fusilade [sic] Monday night several bullets crashed through the transom over the door of the depot waiting room, and through the windows of the baggage rooms. The occupants of the rooms soon put the brick wall between themselves and the mob. It is told that Wiley GODLEY was in the city this morning and that he left for the east. He stated he was in the French GODLEY house when the crowd fired on it, and that there were nine men in the building. He saw Pete HAMPTON fall and knew he had been killed, and then lit out for the brush. From this and other facts gathered it seems as though Pete Hampton was certainly killed, but there were many of our citizens who would not believe it at first. ..The following interview is from Joe LARK, who is in Springfield jail and is from the Leader-Democrat. |