Murderer-lynched by a mob in Blair, NE
About 27 years of age.
Blair, Neb. Aug. 17, 1890. [ Omaha Bee Special. ] One of the most deliberately planned as well its most coolly executed lynchings in the history of the state was carried out about a mile from this place shortly before midnight.
It was just 11:30 when a crowd of mounted farmers rode into town , and were speedily joined by fully two hundred citizens. No time was lost and they proceeded to the jail where the sheriff and about fifteen deputies were keeping guard over Charles Pratt, the murderer of N. R. Town.
The sheriff ordered them to stand back and positively refused to turn over the prisoner. The mob was heavily armed, but made no demonstration with their weapons. The parleying was of short duration and the sheriff was overpowered and his keys taken from him. A rush was made for the cell room and in an incredibly short time Pratt was jerked outside the jail. He was surrounded by the lynchers, who at once started for a small grove about 1 mile from town.
The lynching party was led by Harry Town, son of the murdered man. Arriving at the scene of the intended lynching, young Town was given the privilege of tying the rope about the murderer's neck, and also of having the first pull on the rope.
Town was not bashful about accepting the honors offered, and tied a knot that would have done credit to a professional hangman. The end of the rope was thrown over a limb, and hauled taut. Pratt was then told that if he had anything to say he had better say it quickly. He replied that he would say a few words if the rope was loosened a little, and then they might pull away "just as hard as they d __d please. The rope was slacked and Pratt then stated that he killed Town and meant to kill the whole family. He declared that he came up from Missouri purposely to do the job, and firmly intended to kill every one of the Town family. He was sorry that he had failed. He said he had owned a farm near the one owned by the Towns, and worked hard to make a living, but the Town family imposed upon him to such an extent that he could not save a cent. At this juncture some one in the crowd wanted to know what that had to do with the girl. Before Pratt could respond the rope was given a pull, and he was jerked into the air. He struggled frantically for a few seconds , but the lynchers grimly held his neck tightly against the limb, and in two or three minutes the lifeless corpse of the murderer was swinging slightly to and fro in the night wind. The rope was made fast to the trunk of the tree and the crowd of vigilantes came quietly back to town. In about fifteen minutes the farmers left for their homes, but little knots of citizens gathered on the corners and discussed the event.
The sheriff, Frank Harriman , followed the crowd to the scene of the lynching and was a witness to the hanging. None of the lynchers make any effort to conceal his identity. Not a mask was worn, and no endeavor was made to keep the affair quiet. The lynchers were determined, and it is not believed that a company of militia could have saved Pratt's life. Pratt stated in jail that he had no regrets for what he had done, and public indignation ran so high that it would have been possible at any time to have raised a crowd inside of five minutes to have done the work that was not done until to-night.
The crime for which Pratt was lynched was the murder of N. R. Town, an old resident of Washington county, living southwest of Kennard, and the probably fatal wounding of his daughter. Pratt , who worked for Mr. Town four years ago, came upon them about sunrise and commenced shooting. They were out doors near the cow shed. A son of Town's ran in the house , procured a shot gun and followed the man on horseback, never losing sight of him, and ran him into a crowd of men that were threshing. He gave up and was bound and brought to Blair and placed in jail. The murderer admits he did it. When asked why he did it
he said : "l am even now. I expect to go to hell and may as well go now as any time. "
About 27 years of age.
Blair, Neb. Aug. 17, 1890. [ Omaha Bee Special. ] One of the most deliberately planned as well its most coolly executed lynchings in the history of the state was carried out about a mile from this place shortly before midnight.
It was just 11:30 when a crowd of mounted farmers rode into town , and were speedily joined by fully two hundred citizens. No time was lost and they proceeded to the jail where the sheriff and about fifteen deputies were keeping guard over Charles Pratt, the murderer of N. R. Town.
The sheriff ordered them to stand back and positively refused to turn over the prisoner. The mob was heavily armed, but made no demonstration with their weapons. The parleying was of short duration and the sheriff was overpowered and his keys taken from him. A rush was made for the cell room and in an incredibly short time Pratt was jerked outside the jail. He was surrounded by the lynchers, who at once started for a small grove about 1 mile from town.
The lynching party was led by Harry Town, son of the murdered man. Arriving at the scene of the intended lynching, young Town was given the privilege of tying the rope about the murderer's neck, and also of having the first pull on the rope.
Town was not bashful about accepting the honors offered, and tied a knot that would have done credit to a professional hangman. The end of the rope was thrown over a limb, and hauled taut. Pratt was then told that if he had anything to say he had better say it quickly. He replied that he would say a few words if the rope was loosened a little, and then they might pull away "just as hard as they d __d please. The rope was slacked and Pratt then stated that he killed Town and meant to kill the whole family. He declared that he came up from Missouri purposely to do the job, and firmly intended to kill every one of the Town family. He was sorry that he had failed. He said he had owned a farm near the one owned by the Towns, and worked hard to make a living, but the Town family imposed upon him to such an extent that he could not save a cent. At this juncture some one in the crowd wanted to know what that had to do with the girl. Before Pratt could respond the rope was given a pull, and he was jerked into the air. He struggled frantically for a few seconds , but the lynchers grimly held his neck tightly against the limb, and in two or three minutes the lifeless corpse of the murderer was swinging slightly to and fro in the night wind. The rope was made fast to the trunk of the tree and the crowd of vigilantes came quietly back to town. In about fifteen minutes the farmers left for their homes, but little knots of citizens gathered on the corners and discussed the event.
The sheriff, Frank Harriman , followed the crowd to the scene of the lynching and was a witness to the hanging. None of the lynchers make any effort to conceal his identity. Not a mask was worn, and no endeavor was made to keep the affair quiet. The lynchers were determined, and it is not believed that a company of militia could have saved Pratt's life. Pratt stated in jail that he had no regrets for what he had done, and public indignation ran so high that it would have been possible at any time to have raised a crowd inside of five minutes to have done the work that was not done until to-night.
The crime for which Pratt was lynched was the murder of N. R. Town, an old resident of Washington county, living southwest of Kennard, and the probably fatal wounding of his daughter. Pratt , who worked for Mr. Town four years ago, came upon them about sunrise and commenced shooting. They were out doors near the cow shed. A son of Town's ran in the house , procured a shot gun and followed the man on horseback, never losing sight of him, and ran him into a crowd of men that were threshing. He gave up and was bound and brought to Blair and placed in jail. The murderer admits he did it. When asked why he did it
he said : "l am even now. I expect to go to hell and may as well go now as any time. "
Murderer-lynched by a mob in Blair, NE
About 27 years of age.
Blair, Neb. Aug. 17, 1890. [ Omaha Bee Special. ] One of the most deliberately planned as well its most coolly executed lynchings in the history of the state was carried out about a mile from this place shortly before midnight.
It was just 11:30 when a crowd of mounted farmers rode into town , and were speedily joined by fully two hundred citizens. No time was lost and they proceeded to the jail where the sheriff and about fifteen deputies were keeping guard over Charles Pratt, the murderer of N. R. Town.
The sheriff ordered them to stand back and positively refused to turn over the prisoner. The mob was heavily armed, but made no demonstration with their weapons. The parleying was of short duration and the sheriff was overpowered and his keys taken from him. A rush was made for the cell room and in an incredibly short time Pratt was jerked outside the jail. He was surrounded by the lynchers, who at once started for a small grove about 1 mile from town.
The lynching party was led by Harry Town, son of the murdered man. Arriving at the scene of the intended lynching, young Town was given the privilege of tying the rope about the murderer's neck, and also of having the first pull on the rope.
Town was not bashful about accepting the honors offered, and tied a knot that would have done credit to a professional hangman. The end of the rope was thrown over a limb, and hauled taut. Pratt was then told that if he had anything to say he had better say it quickly. He replied that he would say a few words if the rope was loosened a little, and then they might pull away "just as hard as they d __d please. The rope was slacked and Pratt then stated that he killed Town and meant to kill the whole family. He declared that he came up from Missouri purposely to do the job, and firmly intended to kill every one of the Town family. He was sorry that he had failed. He said he had owned a farm near the one owned by the Towns, and worked hard to make a living, but the Town family imposed upon him to such an extent that he could not save a cent. At this juncture some one in the crowd wanted to know what that had to do with the girl. Before Pratt could respond the rope was given a pull, and he was jerked into the air. He struggled frantically for a few seconds , but the lynchers grimly held his neck tightly against the limb, and in two or three minutes the lifeless corpse of the murderer was swinging slightly to and fro in the night wind. The rope was made fast to the trunk of the tree and the crowd of vigilantes came quietly back to town. In about fifteen minutes the farmers left for their homes, but little knots of citizens gathered on the corners and discussed the event.
The sheriff, Frank Harriman , followed the crowd to the scene of the lynching and was a witness to the hanging. None of the lynchers make any effort to conceal his identity. Not a mask was worn, and no endeavor was made to keep the affair quiet. The lynchers were determined, and it is not believed that a company of militia could have saved Pratt's life. Pratt stated in jail that he had no regrets for what he had done, and public indignation ran so high that it would have been possible at any time to have raised a crowd inside of five minutes to have done the work that was not done until to-night.
The crime for which Pratt was lynched was the murder of N. R. Town, an old resident of Washington county, living southwest of Kennard, and the probably fatal wounding of his daughter. Pratt , who worked for Mr. Town four years ago, came upon them about sunrise and commenced shooting. They were out doors near the cow shed. A son of Town's ran in the house , procured a shot gun and followed the man on horseback, never losing sight of him, and ran him into a crowd of men that were threshing. He gave up and was bound and brought to Blair and placed in jail. The murderer admits he did it. When asked why he did it
he said : "l am even now. I expect to go to hell and may as well go now as any time. "
About 27 years of age.
Blair, Neb. Aug. 17, 1890. [ Omaha Bee Special. ] One of the most deliberately planned as well its most coolly executed lynchings in the history of the state was carried out about a mile from this place shortly before midnight.
It was just 11:30 when a crowd of mounted farmers rode into town , and were speedily joined by fully two hundred citizens. No time was lost and they proceeded to the jail where the sheriff and about fifteen deputies were keeping guard over Charles Pratt, the murderer of N. R. Town.
The sheriff ordered them to stand back and positively refused to turn over the prisoner. The mob was heavily armed, but made no demonstration with their weapons. The parleying was of short duration and the sheriff was overpowered and his keys taken from him. A rush was made for the cell room and in an incredibly short time Pratt was jerked outside the jail. He was surrounded by the lynchers, who at once started for a small grove about 1 mile from town.
The lynching party was led by Harry Town, son of the murdered man. Arriving at the scene of the intended lynching, young Town was given the privilege of tying the rope about the murderer's neck, and also of having the first pull on the rope.
Town was not bashful about accepting the honors offered, and tied a knot that would have done credit to a professional hangman. The end of the rope was thrown over a limb, and hauled taut. Pratt was then told that if he had anything to say he had better say it quickly. He replied that he would say a few words if the rope was loosened a little, and then they might pull away "just as hard as they d __d please. The rope was slacked and Pratt then stated that he killed Town and meant to kill the whole family. He declared that he came up from Missouri purposely to do the job, and firmly intended to kill every one of the Town family. He was sorry that he had failed. He said he had owned a farm near the one owned by the Towns, and worked hard to make a living, but the Town family imposed upon him to such an extent that he could not save a cent. At this juncture some one in the crowd wanted to know what that had to do with the girl. Before Pratt could respond the rope was given a pull, and he was jerked into the air. He struggled frantically for a few seconds , but the lynchers grimly held his neck tightly against the limb, and in two or three minutes the lifeless corpse of the murderer was swinging slightly to and fro in the night wind. The rope was made fast to the trunk of the tree and the crowd of vigilantes came quietly back to town. In about fifteen minutes the farmers left for their homes, but little knots of citizens gathered on the corners and discussed the event.
The sheriff, Frank Harriman , followed the crowd to the scene of the lynching and was a witness to the hanging. None of the lynchers make any effort to conceal his identity. Not a mask was worn, and no endeavor was made to keep the affair quiet. The lynchers were determined, and it is not believed that a company of militia could have saved Pratt's life. Pratt stated in jail that he had no regrets for what he had done, and public indignation ran so high that it would have been possible at any time to have raised a crowd inside of five minutes to have done the work that was not done until to-night.
The crime for which Pratt was lynched was the murder of N. R. Town, an old resident of Washington county, living southwest of Kennard, and the probably fatal wounding of his daughter. Pratt , who worked for Mr. Town four years ago, came upon them about sunrise and commenced shooting. They were out doors near the cow shed. A son of Town's ran in the house , procured a shot gun and followed the man on horseback, never losing sight of him, and ran him into a crowd of men that were threshing. He gave up and was bound and brought to Blair and placed in jail. The murderer admits he did it. When asked why he did it
he said : "l am even now. I expect to go to hell and may as well go now as any time. "
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