A WHOLESALE MURDERER "LYNCHED,"

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2593, 23 February 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

A WHOLESALE MURDERER "LYNCHED,"

The " lynching" of a man named George R. Wotherell, for the committal of several revolting murders, is described in despatches received in Liverpool by the last arriving mail steamer from America. Wctherill wns arrested for tho murder of a man named McCann, a few miles outside Denver, lie was first of all lodged in the prison at Canon City, Colorado ; but the public excitement was so intense 1 hit he had to be secretly removed to Gallon City to take his trial, the public got wind of the matter, and an organised band of about a hundred citizens demanded the giving up of the prisoner. The sheriff refused, and told the mob that any attempt at securing the man would mean bloodshed. The crowd then went off and resorted to diplomacy, one of their band knocking at the prison house on a pretext which got the door partially opened, when in rushed the infuriated mob. Once in they commenced to tear down the steel cage which enclosed Wotherell. This they tore to pieces. Wetherell knew what it it all meant, so seizing a club ho knocked several of his assailants down, until a couple of pistol shots broke his shoulder. He then quietly suffered himself to be bound and taken through the town. At the nearest telegraph-pole tho wretch had a rope put round his neck, and was quickly hauled up to the cross-piece. He was instantly lowered iifain, and asked if he had anything to say, to which he shook his head, when he was once more dragged up by the neck to the cross-bar of the telegraph-pole, remaining there nntil quite dead. The record of Wethetcll'a crimes shows him to have been of a ferociously heinous nature. In 1872 ho, along with another man, was herding sheep for a man named Wall. The two herders conspired, and Wetlicrell murdered Wall by battering out his brains. The two then took the herd of sheep to New Mexico and sold them. They were, however, captured, and Wethorell was sent to a penitentiary for twenty years, his companion being sentenced to eight years. Getting free after fifteen years, Wetherell was next heard of at Ironton, where he got into the friendship of two Swedes. He set out with them to Silverton, and the Swodos wore never afterwards hoard of: bat Wotherell arrived at Silverton with their horses, which lie sold for three hundred dollars. It was supposed that he had killed the two Swedes and thrown their bodies down an old inino. This crime, howwas never brought home to him, as the bodies were not discovered. After this he ingratiated himself into tho friend--Bhip of McCiinn, who was the owner of two teams. He induced MnCann to accompany hi'" with his horses to a place where ho (Wet.hiwll) was supposed to have a mine, at which ho required the horses to work. Wetherell arrived at Denver with the team, bui; no MeCann whs with him. Suspicions wrre aroused, Wetherell was imTstcd, »nd a scaiv.h brought to liifht. the body of M'Owin, which whs buried in find just oul.sido tho rown, who™ the two inra had been camping for the nk'lit,. Public feeling rose int'enwlv nt thr-> discovery, a»d, without judce or jury, Uμ; '■'•n..vd resolved to give WeUieri'll his deserts, winch they did bv lvnchinsr him.