GUNMAN HANGED BY CROWD
NEW YORK, November 21. Marshal] Ratliff, the gunman nicknamed “Santa Claus,” was hanged late last night by a mob which stormed the county gaol of Eastland, Texas. For hours his naked body hung from a telephone post in one of the main streets, while a gaping crowd, of men, women, and children stood around. Ratliff was already under sentence of death for participation in a bank robbery on Christmas Eve 1927. A bank official was slain in a gun battle in which Ratliff took part dressed as Santa Claus.
“STRING HIM UP !”
On Monday night he shot and killed his gaoler in ah attempt to escape. Feeling against him ran so high that a party of 2CO men gathered to execute vengeance. Ratliff was seized as he lay in bed and earied out into the street. The first rope from which he was suspended broke, but another was obtained and the lynching was continued; “He wants to speak,” cried someone. The rope was lowered ,'and the noose loosened. Ratliff gasped, but was unable to utter a word, and the cry rang out, “String him up again!” In a few minutes he was dead. Up to the present no arrests have been made.
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Hokitika Guardian, 3 January 1930, Page 2
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206GUNMAN HANGED BY CROWD Hokitika Guardian, 3 January 1930, Page 2
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