LYNCHING OF A BOY MURDERER.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1138, 4 September 1882, Page 4

LYNCHING OF A BOY MURDERER.

New York advices give details of the lynching of the boy named Tribetts who had coolly murdered two men —• Edward Washington and George Fermbacker. Washington was found with a gunshot wound in the back of his head, with his pockets rifled, his boots and hat gone, his maps and plans lying on the ground beside him, together with a pocket compass. The body of Fermbacker was found about twenty rods north of the body of Washington. He was found to be horribly butchered. The ground around the body indicated that he had made a hard fight with his assailant. Hie throat was cut and his skull broken by a savage blow from an axe. The “ New York Herald ” says Tribbets was caught and taken off the train at Frazer, Minnesota, and brought the rest of the distance by carriage. Four waggon-loads of men started to bring him here, thinking he was to be taken to Fergus Fall, but finding this was a mistake returned here quietly with him. He was brought up before Justice Rothpletz ; several witnesses were examined, but little was done, as the principal witnesses were at Red Eye, about twenty miles, and Marshal Pittingill went after them. All of the day yesterday people were gathering in the streets and discussing the propriety of lynching the young fiend. Towards nightfall the sentiment became more pronounced, in fact almost unanimous, in ’ favour of lynching. A large crowd gathered around the gaol, talking in low tones, As the hours wore on, and nothing was done, some began to jeer at the idea of lynching and say that nothing would be done. About 1 o’clock this morning the time for action seemed to have arrived, and about twenty resolute men broke through the surrounding crowd and began to batter in the door of the gaol. It offered little resistance, and they were soon inside. About this time a waggon drew up, and the impression spread that he would bo taken into the woods around the town and hung. The lynchers found hard work iu breaking open the door of Tribbetts’ cell; the sounds of the blows upon it could be heard at a great distance. The crowd kept coming doser and p}qspr ( but were warned back in menacing tones by the lynchers. As the door yielded to their blows and the victim was at their mercy, they took hold of him roughly wheri he exclaimed, "Pcm't. boys’ j this is too rough !" '! You will think it is rough," was the harsh answer. He was taken out, and the crowd exneoted Jo see him put in the waggon, but the latter was only a blind, an 4 drove off without him. The lynchers, carried him to the railroad track, a few rods away, and began preparations to finish their terrible work. A ladder had been provided and was braced up against a telegraph pole ; a rope was thenthejr own over one of the rounds, placed around thp wk pf jhe mur' < derer, and in a few minutes all was over. No one but the lynchers was allowed to come near the scene of the hanging, all others were warned to keep away, and the warning was enforced by the showing of revolvers, Thpy stayed long enough to assure themselves that life was extinct and then left in different directions. Several persons started to follow them, but the gleam of pistols showed them that it was dangerous business. The moon had just risen, and those who ventured to approach saw a body stiff in death ing to and fro. It was about half-past one o’clock when thejynphers departed, Tribbetts made a full confession. He said he was alone in committing the deed, and told calmly the full story of the bloody affair. His story was substantially the same as the account already published, He killed Washington first, who died instantly, but he had a desperate struggle with Fermbacker. Yesterday he laughed at the crowd who met him on his return, but toward evening he became depressed, v and seemed to have a presentiment of his fatp. Jlpspnt fqi Father Bun; and wqs baptised jqto thp Catholip Church. The lynphiugwas well done, and there were no baulks. The men acted in a quiet, resolute way, as if they had deliberately plftqppd the Mh fair, aqd pyerjjtninjjf nepeasqry in readiness. There is no clup to any qf the lynchers, and it ia probable that no attempt will be made to find opt who composed the party, as tjip ueqeral sentiment is deojdefily in approval of thp wlipje hfifair. ” ' '