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The Franklin Democrat, Friday, January 2, 1885, Volume XXV, Number 27, page 1, column 2
Hanged by Eight Masked Men.
OTTUMWA, IOWA, Dec. 30 - Near the town of Blakesburg, this county fifteen miles west of here, Pleasant Anderson was hung by eight masked men. In November 1882, near Blakesburg, Chris McAllister was murdered at his residence. A few months thereafter Pleasant Anderson was arrested for the murder, and finally one year ago at Oskaloosa, Iowa, he had a trial lasting two weeks. There was a strong array of circumstantial evidence against him, but he was acquitted. A very strong conviction prevailed at Blakesburg that he was guilty, and last night he was seized at the house of his father-in-law and taken to a school house where a kind of mock trial was had before a jury of eight men and by them sentenced to be hung. Nearly 200 persons had gathered at the school house, among whom he seemed to have no defender, and about 10:30 last night they took him to the scene of the McAllister murder and hung him to the limb of a tree. He protested his innocence to the last. The body was left hanging for over two hours and finally was taken down by the order of a magistrate who went to the scene and the Coroner sent for. From the temper of the crowd it was evident that it would brook no interference.
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The Franklin Democrat, Friday, January 2, 1885, Volume XXV, Number 27, page 1, column 2
Hanged by Eight Masked Men.
OTTUMWA, IOWA, Dec. 30 - Near the town of Blakesburg, this county fifteen miles west of here, Pleasant Anderson was hung by eight masked men. In November 1882, near Blakesburg, Chris McAllister was murdered at his residence. A few months thereafter Pleasant Anderson was arrested for the murder, and finally one year ago at Oskaloosa, Iowa, he had a trial lasting two weeks. There was a strong array of circumstantial evidence against him, but he was acquitted. A very strong conviction prevailed at Blakesburg that he was guilty, and last night he was seized at the house of his father-in-law and taken to a school house where a kind of mock trial was had before a jury of eight men and by them sentenced to be hung. Nearly 200 persons had gathered at the school house, among whom he seemed to have no defender, and about 10:30 last night they took him to the scene of the McAllister murder and hung him to the limb of a tree. He protested his innocence to the last. The body was left hanging for over two hours and finally was taken down by the order of a magistrate who went to the scene and the Coroner sent for. From the temper of the crowd it was evident that it would brook no interference.
Gravesite Details
Husband of Henrietta Anderson.
Family Members
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James Wickliffe Anderson Jr
1842–1917
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Sarah Ann Anderson Van Cleave
1843–1887
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Martha Marie Anderson Bivin
1849–1883
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Harriet Anderson Van Cleave
1851–1941
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Ruth "Ruthy" Anderson McIntire
1854–1931
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Thomas Preston Wingate Anderson
1856–1886
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Anna Eliza "Annie" Anderson Vice
1858–1935
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Telitha Francis "Fannie" Anderson Lewis
1861–1938
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Wilford P Anderson
1864–1919
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Araminta Anderson
1867–1884
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