1 10 7 https://drvk.createuky.net/news-articles/files/original/860d5edd7c39c6275f9a4b7304bc5e09.png 72fba55df2853dd75a0e2bd1a70f3629 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Marion County Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource West and Dever, Crawford Avalanche, January 9, 1896 Subject The topic of the resource West, Martha Dever, William Mob, burning alive Mob, shooting Charge, murder Description An account of the resource <h3>Meet Death By Fire</h3> MAN AND WOMAN BURNED ALIVE IN KENTUCKY.  -------- Mrs. T. J. West Cremated and W. A Deveres [sic] Bullet-Ridden-Prayer of a Little Child Has No Effect on the Band of Brutal Outlaws. -------- Mob’s Awful Deed. In Marion County, Ky., the other night a mob of about fifty men surrounded the house of Mrs. T. J. West and called for W. A. Deveres [sic]. Mrs. West came to the door and asked what was wanted. The mob fired on her and she ran back. The men continued to fire, and as Deveres [sic] did not make his appearance they applied the torch to the house. The blackened and disfigured corpses of the victims were found in the ruins of the woman’s home the next day. The tragedy was one of the most brutal ever enacted. Despite the pleadings for her father’s life of a half-clad, frightened child, and the prayers and tears of the ill and helpless woman, the mob went through with its work with cold-blooded, cruel deliberation, and only left when certain that both man and woman were dead.  Several months ago Deveres [sic], a middle-aged widower, and Thomas West, a prosperous farmer, began a quarrel which continued throughout the fall until West instituted divorce proceedings and declared Deveres [sic] must die. The men met in Lebanon. West snapped his revolver, which missed fire, and Deveres [sic] killed him on the spot. On the plea of self-defense the murderer secured bail and scandalized the neighborhood by taking his two daughters and moving into West’s house. The relatives of the murdered husband swore vengeance, and Saturday night it came. Close to 10 o’clock a band of men rode up to the West homestead and demanded admittance.  “Tom West is dead. Now it’s your turn,” the spokesman called, and Deveres [sic] awoke to find the house surrounded. Mrs. West rushed to a darkened window and began a wild appeal for mercy. A dozen bullets answered her cries, and the demand for immediate surrender was repeated. A hurried consultation was held inside the house, and then, white and terror-stricken, the little girl of Deveres [sic] was thrust out to plead with the mob. Clad in her nightrobe, barefooted and unprotected, she bravely walked out into the moonlight and sobbed out a prayer for her white-haired father’s life. “Get out. You’re liable to get shot yourself,” a ruffian said, and thoroughly panic-stricken the child fled to the cabin of a negro neighbor. Mrs. West then appeared at the door and made a last appeal for mercy. It was unavailing, and in another moment the house was fired.  The shrieks of the imprisoned wretches failed to move their torturers, who, after the flames reached the living-room, could see the man and woman in the agony of death by fire. Just before the roof fell the woman was seen to reel across the room and plunge headlong into the fireplace among the burning coals, and there she died. Wild with pain, Deveres [sic], at the last moment, made a dash for liberty, but a score of bullets stopped him half a dozen steps from the door. In the morning the little girl led her negro protector to the scene, and there the bodies, scorched beyond recognition, were found.  Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/image/890831803/?terms=Deveres&match=1">Newspapers.com</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Crawford Avalanche Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1896-01-09 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Grace Yi Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Marion County 1890-1900 Grace Yi Marion County Transcribed West and Dever https://drvk.createuky.net/news-articles/files/original/9fc05423556765c285fc6f5832010ec5.png f7965b347fc3863b2fad4a4f15f7ad47 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Marion County Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource West and Dever, Newton (KS) Daily Republican, December 31, 1895 Subject The topic of the resource West, Martha Dever, William Mob, burning alive Mob, shooting Charge, murder Description An account of the resource <h3>To The End of the Law</h3> Governor Bradley Will Do All in His Power to Punish the Guilty. Cincinnati, O., Dec. 31.--The Commercial Gazette’s special from Frankfort, Ky., says:  Governor Bradley feels that the law has been greatly outraged and the state disgraced by the brutal murder of William Deveres [sic] and Mrs. T. J. West at the hands of a mob near Lebanon yesterday. The governor dropped work on his message, with which he was busy, and acquainted himself with all of the facts obtainable. He is in communication with the local authorities. In his inaugural address the governor condemns lynching very vigorously. He will offer a reward of $500, the limit of the law, for the arrest and conviction of the unknown members of the mob,  Governor Bradley tonight gave out the following to the press:  “I regard the work of the mob at Lebanon as the most outrageous and barbarous crime ever committed in Kentucky. I shall spare neither labor nor force to bring its perepetrators [sic] to the punishment which they so richly deserve. I believe that the good people of Marion county and of the state at large both look with the same horror on this crime and will not be slow to give me their unflinching support.” Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/image/79571420/?terms=%22William%20Deveres%22%20&match=1">Newspapers.com</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Newton (KS) Daily Republican Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1895-12-31 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Grace Yi Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Marion County 1890-1900 1895 Grace Yi Marion County Transcribed West and Dever https://drvk.createuky.net/news-articles/files/original/3e6c2bd29b9693798630d6c782cb8ce7.png 7f256e61c0e8817c3ee5390cc79ddb9f https://drvk.createuky.net/news-articles/files/original/55c649312bc0187ee32fc8524c996548.png 409333eec2ad91b228321432da3e7f76 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Marion County Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource West and Dever, Louisville Courier Journal, January 6, 1896 Subject The topic of the resource West, Martha Dever, William Mob, burning alive Mob, shooting Charge, murder Description An account of the resource <h3>Prompted by Revenge</h3> Theory of the Double Assassination in Marion County. ------------- Even this Belief Affords No Clew To the Murderers.  ------------- WEST A DANGEROUS MAN Lebanon, Ky., Jan. 6.--(Special.)--At the end of a week the identity of the murderers of Mrs. Patty West and W. A. Dever is as profound a mystery as ever, nothing having occurred that so much as indicates the direction the guilty persons came or went. This at least could have been accomplished on last Sunday, but it seems that in the excitement no one attempted anything of the kind and as a result a very important clew [sic] was lost on the start.  The West home was situated on Burdett’s Creek, a small tributary of Cartwright Creek, and about one mile from the latter. The house was a double log affair, one portion of which was weatherboarded. A rock chimney in the middle furnished a fireplace for either room. A meat and buggy house stood a few feet away, both of which were burned together with the dwelling. The rock chimney stands as a monument to the awful night’s work. The farm is a reasonably good one and will probably be sold at no distant day.  The immediate neighborhood of the double crime the past twenty years has been in a lawless state. About the first or beginning of this bad state of affairs was the robbery of two brothers named Burdett. They were honest, upright citizens and lived on the little creek. By hard work a sum of several thousand dollars had been laid by. One night a band of robbers got the last dollar of it. Nothing was ever heard of the robbers after getting the money. There was a lull for awhile and then a system of thieving began which has extended down to a few months ago. Sheep, hogs, corn, orchard grass seed, in fact, everything that came in the way was stolen. Occasionally farmers’ meat-houses were broken into and their provisions hauled away.  All efforts on the part of the good people along Cartwright’s creek to apprehend the thieves proved futile. In fact many were afraid to take decisive action lest their barns and stock would be sacrificed by the midnight gang. There is no better section of country nor more substantial citizens than live along Cartwright’s creek, but the indignities they have suffered at the hands of a band of thieves can hardly be imagined but who compose the band will doubtless never be known. T. J. West had the reputation of being a dangerous man, and it is a well known fact that the neighbors were generally afraid of him. When drinking it was a word and then a blow, and the blow usually came first. When sober he was clever and accommodating, and his actions in paying his debts proved him to be honest. At home he often displayed his violent temper. At the examining trial of Dever for killing West it was proved that West on one occasion kicked his wife in the side, causing her to give premature birth. Two or three years ago while in this city the mule he was driving irritated him until he drew his pistol and shot the animal. During the last summer a horse with which he was plowing refused to cross a ditch. West took the animal to the woods and split its head with an ax.  William Dever moved from Knoxville, Tenn., a year ago. West treated him kindly, and the men soon became fast friends. Dever’s wife died shortly after their coming, and soon after her death the second death, that of a boy, occurred. After the killing of West by Dever, Susie, the eldest daughter of Dever, who had been ill for several months with consumption, rapidly grew worse, and on Thursday night before the awful crime died.  At the funeral a friend took Dever to one side and told him never to go back to the West woman’s house. Dever remarked that he was not afraid of West’s friends, and would never leave on that account. This was on Friday afternoon, and on Saturday morning, in company with his surviving daughter, he moved his effects to Mrs. West’s house.  Robert Parrott had qualified as administrator of the estate of T. J. West, and employed Charles Hill, living in this city, to care for the stock and make preparations for the sale. Mr. Hill left the place a day or two before the murderers came. There is no doubt among the people here that Dever was murdered as an act of revenge for the killing of West, and the horrible fate of Mrs. West was due to the belief that she also was implicated. Yet this seems to furnish no clew. All are anxious for swift punishment to be meted out to the assassins. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/image/32476069/?terms=%22William%20Dever%22%20&match=1">Newspapers.com</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Louisville Courier Journal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1896-01-06 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Grace Yi Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Marion County 1890-1900 Grace Yi Marion County Transcribed West and Dever https://drvk.createuky.net/news-articles/files/original/3c7e8c1c46dcc0c8caabc016882e6f23.png 8f7d216733f19cd9297511c397e6d7a1 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Marion County Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource West and Dever, Louisville Courier Journal, December 30, 1895 Subject The topic of the resource West, Martha Dever, William Mob, burning alive Mob, shooting Charge, murder Description An account of the resource <h3>Shocking Assassination. </h3> Horrible Crime of a Marion County Mob.  ------ WOMAN BURNED TO DEATH.  ------ Her Paramour Shot Down As He Fled.  ------ DONE AT MIDNIGHT.  ------ Mrs. T. J. West and William Dever the Victims.  ----- THEIR MURDERERS UNKNOWN.  ----- Three Weeks Ago Dever Killed the Woman’s Husband.  ----- HER INFIDELITY THE CAUSE ----- Lebanon, Ky., Dec. 29.--(Special.)--One of the most shocking and outrageous crimes ever committed in Kentucky was perpetrated near Lebanon shortly after midnight last night when a handful of men forced Mrs. T. J. West and William Dever to pay with their lives the penalty for their sins. Mrs. West was burned to death in her house and Dever was shot down in an effort to escape the mob. They had been living in open adultery, and Dever had been warned to leave the country, but had refused to do so.  Dever was fearfully burned, as he did not leave the house until his hair, eyebrows and whiskers had been burned off.  Three weeks ago Dever shot and killed Thomas J. West, Mrs. West’s husband, who had filed suit against her for divorce on the ground of her intimacy with Dever. West tried to kill Dever, but Dever was too quick and sent a  ball through West’s heart, killing him instantly. He was tried and acquitted, his plea being self-defense. It was common talk that Dever and Mrs. West had been too intimate, and as soon as he was acquitted he took up his residence at the West house, which is situated on Cartwright creek, about four miles from Lebanon. Mrs. West had three grown daughters, but when he, with his fourteen-year-old daughter Alma, moved into the West house they left and have not since seen their mother.  About ten minutes after 12 o’clock Saturday night the mob appeared at the West house, and, knocking at the door, demanded that Dever come out. Dever’s child answered the knock and opened the door. One of the men pulled her out and told her to run for her life if she did not want to be killed. They then called for Dever to come out, but he replied that he would not do so. The door was suddenly slammed and locked. Several shots were fired by the mob into the building and through the windows.  Seeing that Dever would not come out, one of the mob set fire to the house, which is a small log structure, and the entire house was soon in flames. Suddenly the door was thrown open, and, with a pistol in his hand, Dever made a dash through the mob for the brush near by. Shots were fired after him, and he fell behind a stack of hay with several bullets in his body. Finding that he was dead, the mob returned to the house, where Mrs. West’s body was found in the old-fashioned fire-place burned to a crisp. The woman had evidently attempted to crawl up the chimney, as her finger tips were torn, being about the only surface parts of her body that resembled flesh.  Almost frantic with fear, the little girl ran to the woods and was found early this morning by a neighbor, Mr. Thompson. She was almost bereft of reason, and it was a long while before she could tell anything of the horrible affair. All she knew was that a mob had visited the house and had set fire to it. Mr. Thompson and others went to the spot, and, placing the bodies together away from the smoldering ruins, came into Lebanon and told of the horrible affair. The child could give no description of the men who composed the mob, but it is expected that she will be able to do so when she becomes somewhat composed. She is in terrible condition, and it is not improbable that her mind is permanently shattered.  This horrible affair created the greatest sensation Marion county has ever known and hundred of persons to-day went out to Cartwright creek. The remains of Mrs. West and Dever were brought into the city this afternoon and placed in Creel’s undertaking establishment, where they were viewed by large crowds.  Justice Nooe held an inquest over the bodies, but was unable to develop anything beyond the fact that Dever had been shot four times. The only witness before the jury was Dever’s daughter Alma, and she was in such a condition that almost nothing could be gleaned from her. She said there were only six men in the mob, and that she had never seen any of them before. The Justice announced no verdict in the case and to-morrow will resume his investigation, determined to run to earth the perpetrators of the most outrageous crime that ever blackened Marion county’s history. The authorities are thoroughly aroused over the affair, and no expense will be spared in getting at the murderers.  Up to a month ago the Wests and Dever stood well in the community, and were regarded as worthy people. West was a farmer in fairly good circumstances. He was a man of domestic habits and seldom left his farm where he lived with his wife and seven children, three of whom are grown girls. He was about fifty years old. His wife was about forty years old and was far from good looking. Dever was a widower, and came to Marion county from Knoxville, Tenn.. about a year ago. He was about fifty years old and, aside from occasional indulgences in liquor, was looked upon as a rather steady man. His daughter Alma was a frequent visitor at the West home, and an infatuation resulted between Mrs. West and Dever. It attracted no attention at first, but about a month ago West accused his wife of infidelity and finally left her and filed suit for divorce, naming Dever as co-respondent. West took to drinking and it became generally known that he and Dever were armed for each other. On the morning of December 6 last they met for the first time since the divorce suit was filed and he left his home, boarding at a neighbor’s.  The morning West was killed, Dever was at Beaver Green’s on Cartwright creek, and on starting to leave the house West came around the corner and snapped his pistol twice at Dever. Dever was taken completely by surprise, but he finally managed to draw his pistol and fired one shot, killing West almost instantly. Dever surrendered and at the examining trial was acquitted. One of the witnesses at the examining trial testified that Mrs. West told her that Dever offered to buy poison if she would give it to her husband.  The trial was no sooner ended than Dever moved into the West house with his daughter and all his effects. At the same time all of Mrs. West’s children left and took up their abode with neighbors, declaring they would countenance no such open profligacy. Mrs. West was pleaded with by her children, but she was deaf to their entreaties. Then threats were made, but the woman appeared to be helpless in her infatuation. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/image/30195983/?terms=%22William%20Dever%22&match=1">Newspapers.com</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Louisville Courier Journal Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1895-12-29 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Grace Yi Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Marion County 1890-1900 1895 Grace Yi Marion County Transcribed West and Dever https://drvk.createuky.net/news-articles/files/original/de12f695c3098f05ebe56b1e9f709885.jpg 01fb2b7819d4fb65d661dbc15924ed92 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Marion County Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource West and Dever, Maysville Public Ledger, December 30, 1895 Subject The topic of the resource West, Martha Dever, William Mob, burning alive Mob, shooting Charge, murder Description An account of the resource <h3> Burned Alive. </h3> A Mob Wreaks Vengeance on a Faithless Woman.  ---------------- They Attack the House in Which She and Her Paramour Resided.  -------------- Failing to Get the Couple Out They Fire the Dwelling--The Man, Attempting to Escape, is Shot to Death--The Woman Perishes in the Flames.  Lebanon, Ky., Dec. 30.--A mob inflicted horrible vengeance on a faithless woman and her paramour Saturday night when they burned Mrs. T. J. West alive and killed W. A. Dever, her paramour, at Mrs. West’s house on Cartwright’s creek on the Springfield pike, three miles north of this city.  The mob is said to have numbered about seventy-five and it was about twelve o’clock when they appeared at Mrs. West’s house. Mrs. West, Dever and his little daughter were the only persons in the house, and when the mob called to Dever to come out Mrs. West and the little one responded, but Dever remained inside. Just as Mrs. West reached the door several shots were fired at her and she ran back, but the child remained on the outside. The mob then fired several shots into the house, none of which took effect, and after several attempts to get Dever to come out the mob fired the building. Intense heat finally forced Dever to run out, and with pistol in hand, he started to a cornfield, a few steps from the house, where he took shelter behind a corn shock and was shot to death. Mrs. West perished in the burning house, and Sunday morning her remains were found in the chimney where she had taken refuge. Her legs and the upper portion of the body were almost entirely burned off. The little girl gave the alarm Sunday morning, but meager information can be gained from her. W. A Dever [sic] is the man who shot and killed T. J. West, husband of the burned woman, December 7, at Beaver Green, on Cartwright’s creek. Dever had a preliminary hearing and was released on the ground of self defense. The killing is thought to have been caused by intimacy on the part of Dever and West’s wife. After Dever was released he was charged with living with the woman as his wife. It is said that Dever had been warned that he would be killed if he did not leave. He is from Knoxville and leaves a widow and several children. Mrs. West also leaves a large family, but none were at the house at the time of the horrible tragedy.  West and his wife had been living apart for some time, and the woman had instituted divorce proceedings. She had been induced to withdraw the suit, however, and West was on his way to see about the matter when he met Dever. He snapped a pistol twice at Dever, after accusing him of adultery with Mrs. West, when Dever drew his gun, and despite West’s ples [sic] for mercy he shot and killed him and ran away, but returned when the coroner’s jury brought in a verdict of justifiable homicide. He is said to have then renewed his relations with Mrs. West. This incited the neighbors to fury. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/image/68290113/?terms=Dever&match=1">Newspapers.com</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Maysville Public Ledger Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1895-12-30 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Grace Yi Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Marion County 1890-1900 1895 Grace Yi Marion County Transcribed West and Dever https://drvk.createuky.net/news-articles/files/original/c4878729103844908833d2b1d545123a.png 1ca2633118a79214c6cb1e7576224ff5 https://drvk.createuky.net/news-articles/files/original/da8f7cd11d4c8fd41cee250fd345a1c0.png d48c51c8a9824a8e10482cb2b544ade4 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Marion County Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource West and Dever, Wichita Eagle, December 31, 1895 Subject The topic of the resource West, Martha Dever, William Mob, burning alive Mob, shooting Charge, murder Description An account of the resource <h3>Now It’s Women They Burn</h3> Southern Mob H lds [sic] an Auto-Da-Fe to Punish Suspected Immorality. Lebanon, Ky., Dec. 30.--Within two miles of this city Saturday night a relentless mob burned to death a woman and riddled with bullets her grayhaired paramour. The blackened and disfigured corpses of the victims, Mrs. Thomas West and William Deveres [sic], were found in the ruins of the woman’s home today by the 14-year-old daughter of the murdered man.   The tragedy was one of the most brutal ever enacted under the gruesome sway of dread Judge Lynch. Despite the pleadings of a half-clad, frightened child for her father’s life and the prayers and tears of the ill and helpless woman, the mob went through with its work with cold-blooded, cruel deliberation, and left only when certain that both the man and the woman were dead.  The affair was the outgrowth of the old story of faithless wife and vengeful husband. Some months ago, Deveres [sic], a middle-aged widower, was accused by Thomas West, a prosperous farmer, of intimacy with Mrs. West. Quarrel followed quarrel throughout the fall until West instituted divorce proceedings and declared that Deveres [sic] must die. The men met in Lebanon. West snapped his revolver, which missed fire, and Deveres [sic] killed him on the spot. On the plea of self-defense, the murderer secured ball and scandalized the neighborhood by immediately taking his two daughters and moving into West’s house. The relatives of the murdered husband swore vengeance and Saturday night it came.  Close to 10 o’clock a band of men rode up to the West homestead and demanded admittance. “Tom West is dead. Now it’s your turn.” the spokesman called, and Deveres [sic] and the woman awoke to find their house surrounded. Mrs. West rushed to a darkened window and began a wild, hysterical plea for mercy. A dozen bullets answered her cries and the demand for immediate surrender was repeated. Deveres [sic], too, asked for a hearing, but his request was greeted with a shower of shots.  “We’ll give you ten minutes to open up. Then you burn.” said the mob’s leader, and his men quietly retired from the door. A hurried consultation was held inside the house, and then, white and terror-stricken, the little girl of Deveres [sic] was thrust out to to [sic] plead with the mob. Clad in her night robe, barefooted and unprotected, she bravely walked out into the moonlight and sobbed out a prayer for her white-haired father’s life.  “Get out. You’re liable to get shot yourself.” a ruffian said, and, thoroughly panic-stricken, the child fled to the cabin of a neighbor.  Mrs. West then appeared at the door and, referring to her condition, made a last appeal for mercy. It was unavailing, and in another moment the house was fired. The shrieks of the imprisoned wretches failed to move their torturers, who, after the flames reached the living room, could see the man and woman in the agony of death by fire. Just before the roof fell, the woman was seen to reel across the room and plunge headlong into the fireplace, among the burning coals, and there she died. Wild with pain, Deveres [sic] at the last moment made a dash for liberty, but a score of bullets stopped him half a dozen steps from the door.  Yesterday morning the little girl led her protector to the scene and there the bodies, scorched beyond recognition, were found, untouched by the lynchers.  There is little doubt that the members of the mob will be captured, as they were without masks and made no attempt at secrecy.  It is not improbable that the scenes of last night will be re-enacted in the vicinity shortly, as the outrage has aroused the most intense indignation among the people of the county. Because of the fact that West’s relatives had threatened vengeance, there is a strong belief that they are responsible for last night’s crime. The uncertainty, however, as to just who was implicated has so far prevented further trouble.  The child of Deveres [sic], who was a witness to the tragedy, is dangerously ill as the result of the fright and exposure but upon her recovery she may be able it is [sic] hoped, to identify some of the lynchers. The night was brilliant with moonlight and the unmasked faces of the members of the mob could easily be identified as soon as the child is able to appear in court.  The scene of the horror was visited by crowds of curious people yesterday and it was well towards noon before the bodies were cared for by an undertaker.  Mrs. West’s corpse was charred almost beyond human semblance. Overcome by the flames, she had fallen into the large old-fashioned fireplace of the living room and the head was almost burned from the body.  Deveres’ [sic] body was pierced by at least twenty-five bullets. Before his desperate dash for liberty he had been frightfully burned, and would probably have died without the gunshot wounds. His hair and beard were burned off, his clothes were in charred shreds and his face blistered and blackened. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/image/49929565/?terms=Deveres&match=1">Newspapers.com</a> Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Wichita Eagle Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1895-12-31 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Grace Yi Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Marion County 1890-1900 1895 Grace Yi Marion County Transcribed West and Dever https://drvk.createuky.net/news-articles/files/original/798e078ca06e922fe02a3ae7a40b433a.jpeg fd4f78fe41d42e6b9388d98b79b3caf9 https://drvk.createuky.net/news-articles/files/original/55a302548772785fe20f96ddae9f645c.jpeg 420a9e94f6f3851862993ff55f442f82 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Marion County Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rich, Crittenden Press, October 4, 1894. Subject The topic of the resource Rich, Berry Charge, associated with unliked man Mob, hanging Description An account of the resource <h3>A MOB'S WORK. Berry Rich Called from his House in the Night and Hung. SOMETHING ABOUT WILLIAM GOODE.</h3> Berry Rich lived on a farm about 9 miles east of north from Marion, and about one and half miles north of the country store of Mr. E. C. Moore, known as Mattoon. About 3 o’clock Monday morning Rich and his family were awakened from their slumbers by a call from near the door. Rich answered the summons and after lighting a lamp and dressing himself opened his door and invited the unknown person or persons to come in and take a seat. The reply was, “we are in a hurry and want you to go with us up to the cross lanes to the sycamore, to meet Bill Goode, who wants to see you.” Rich stepped out, several men came from around the house, and Berry Rich went up the public road with them never to return alive. At daylight he had not returned and his son-in-law, Gus Query, of Balckford, Ky., and Rich’s son started in search of him. Following the food prints made in the dust of the highway during the night, they went down the road some three hundred yards and there, in plain view of the road, held in a standing position by a rope around the neck, was the dead body of Berry Rich, cold and stiff in death. One end of an ordinary grass rope, which had evidently been used during the season as a plow line, was tied to a limb (about two inches in diameter and eight or nine feet from the ground) of a small sycamore tree; the other end was around Rich’s neck, tied in the regular hangman fashion; the feet were resting on the ground, hands hanging at his side and face somewhat swollen. The tree stood at the edge of a little bearing, and on a hill about four hundred feet from the front door of Wm. Rich’s residence, which is only a cabin. The news was soon scattered over the neighborhood. Justice of the Peace Taylor was sent for; when he arrived a jury was summoned and an inquest held. The verdict was that Berry Rich came to his death by hanging, at the hands of unknown parties. The body was cut down and carried to his house where it remained until late in the afternoon when the interment took place at Mt. Zion cemetery. Mrs. Rich, wife of the dead man, was called upon by a representative of the PRESS, just before the burial. She is a stout woman of perhaps forty years, not unpleasant face, but full of determination. She talked freely of the affair, and as she stood in the yard, surrounded by her four small children, one at the breast, detailing the event of the morning, her face lit up with intelligence, while the emotions of anger and sorrow would chase each other across her countenance. When she said, “we would have fit um,” there was a fire in her eye, and you knew she meant it. When she related how Gus could not tell the dreadful news a tear came and the lip quivered. Her story was as follows: MRS. RICH TELLS THE STORY. “About 3 o’clock Monday morning we were awakened by some one at the door calling for Berry. He got up and told them he would open the door as soon as he had pants on. He lit the lamp, put on his pants, and opened the door and said ‘come in and have a chair.’ The man outside said ‘we haven’t got time; we have Goode up at the cross lanes at the sycamore and want you to go consult with him.’ Berry asked them if they had Goode arrested and they answered ‘yes.’ Berry asked me where his coat was, and while he was dressing they said, ‘hurry up, we are in a hurry.’ When Berry had finished dressing he stepped outside and a man outside said: ‘come on boys.’ When they started off I got up and went to the door and heard them ask Berry when he saw Bill Goode. Berry said, ‘fellows, I have not seen Goode,’ and those were the last words I ever heard him say. I think there were five or six of them. When they were at the door Gus Query cleared up his throat or made some noise that attracted their attention, and they asked who was there. Berry told them it was Gus and his wife. “Of course Berry nor none of us was expecting any trouble of any kind; had we known or even thought of this terrible thing we would have fought them till they were all killed. We had a gun and two pistols in the house, of these we never even thought. Only a day or two ago Berry said to me that he would hate to be in Goode’s fix–having to lay out and away from his family. About eight months ago Berry told Goode in my presence that he must keep away from us, that he would have nothing more to do with him; that people were telling him they would have nothing to do with him if he went with Goode. Goode said that he didn’t give a dam and has not been here since I don’t know when. “About daybreak I began to mistrust something and felt uneasy about Berry staying away so long, and I went to the barn before it was good light. As soon as it was light Gus and Jeff went to hunt him, while I was getting breakfast. Soon Gus came running back and he could hardly talk, and he told us they had hung Berry. “I did not see one of them. They kept back in the dark. I have no idea who any of them were.” Gus Query, who married Rich’s daughter, gave substantially the same account as Mrs. Rich. He lives at Blackford and he and his wife were visiting her father’s family. While Mrs.Rich thought there were only five or six, he was sure there must of been a yard full of them. When daylight came he followed the tracks down the road and they led him to the dead man, and he gave the alarm. In the woods nearby where Rich’s body was found, horses had been hitched. Berry Rich has been a resident of the county for a number of years. He came here from Webster county some sixteen years ago, and has never been very prosperous. He was a man without much energy, a hard drinker, rarely ever coming to town without getting intoxicated. By many he was regarded as a harmless inoffensive, rather confiding, shiftless man. He was apparently always in a good humor, ready to do whatever favor asked; and was offended at nothing. He owned a small farm, worth probably $700; his house was a modest, box structure of three rooms; his family consisted of a wife, two married daughters, one single daughter about grown, three small boys, one in his teens, and a baby. In the neighborhood in which he lives but few men will express an opinion in reference to him. Some regard him as pictured by the foregoing description, while others will shake their heads and say nothing. The consensus of opinion is, however, that he did not deserve the fate he met, and the deed is condemned, and on every hand the affair is regretted by the people of that section of the county. Who did the deed is of course unknown; nobody hazards a guess and even the surmises are few and unsatisfactory. For the past year or two things have been occurring in that section that have harassed and tormented the people greatly, and about these things they would never talk, and now they will not talk. There are no better people on earth than many in that part of the county, while … of the past months prove that there are some bad characters also. Residences have been burned, barns have been destroyed by fire, hay and wheat stacks consumed, while the good people have been absolutely afraid to even discuss the matter. There was a general feeling in the community that these depredations were chargeable to a certain party, but there was not sufficient evidence to convict any one and if a man even hinted at what he thought was the truth, it would not be long until he felt the hand of the miscreants. This is the state of affairs that has existed there for many months, and it was these things that led up to the untimely end of Berry Rich. The man whose name was connected most prominently with various arsons and other petty crimes was William Goode, who for two years has been the keeper of the county poor house. Whether he was guilty of them or not most of the people thought his hand was behind them all, and they regarded Berry RIch as associated, to a greater or less extent, with him. Some weeks ago a number of men disguised went to Goode’s house, in the night, and searched the place for him, but he was gone, and no one could or would tell his whereabouts. A few days later, according to reliable reports, he sent to a citizen of that section and requested an interview, the meeting to take place on Heath mountain. The citizen went and found Goode and a number of other men in camp, armed and provisioned sufficiently to endure a long siege, and so situated as to command the situation against even a large body of men. Goode wanted to arrange an armistice; he wanted hostility suspended until he could get his stock and farming implements and household goods away, proposing to leave the county as soon as possible and he wanted the citizen to act as ambassador in patching up a truce. The citizen did not know Goode’s enemies, and told him he could not bear the message, because he did not know where or to whom to take it. Goode it is said gave the information, stating that he knew who they were. A few days later the stock was driven out and everything indicated the speedy departure of Goode; his family were, however, still in charge of the poor house. On Sunday night, according to Mrs. Goode’s statement, the mob was there again in search of her husband, the place was again ransacked, but Goode was nowhere to be found. The men were disguised. Some wore masks while others had blackened their faces, all were strangers to the woman; they told her that they would hang her husband if found. It is some four or five miles from Goode’s to Rich’s, and a few hours after the visit to the former, Rich was called up and out, and went to his death. Goode is evidently a bad man, and he is a shrewd, thrifty one too. Said that he drove out forty or fifty head of cattle, that perhaps he owned a hundred head of hogs, three or four yoke of oxen and log wagons, all of which he moved over into Union county, when the situation go so uncomfortable in this county. Rich’s association with Goode evidently led the mob to believe that he knew where Goode was, that he was connected with him in the unlawful acts; hence its work. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Newspapers.com Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Crittenden Press Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1894-10-04 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Katie Craig Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Marion County.