Lynching of Barger

BARGER

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 2/15/2008 at 11:53:33

Maquoketa Weekly Sentinel
June 4, 1857

LOCAL DEPARTMENT
Further Doings of the Vigilance Committee!
MORE LYNCHING!
Barger and Carroll Taken From the DeWitt (Clinton County) Jail!
BARGER TAKEN TO ANDREW & HUNG!

About the hour of ten o’clock, on Thursday last, an armed body of men, numbering from forty to sixty persons, passed through Maquoketa on their way to Dewitt, for the purpose of obtaining the murderers, Barger and the Irishman (Carroll). Arriving in Dewitt, but little resistance was shown by the officials, and the two Jackson County prisoners, consequently, were taken from the Clinton County Jail, and brought back to Andrew.

The fact of their being so small a number comprising the Vigilance Committee, and their passing in broad daylight through the most populous portion of Jackson and Clinton Counties, must be evidence sufficient that the people have but little confidence in the administration of our laws. That Barger was a most consummate black-hearted, murderous fiend in human shape, is clearly shown in the skulking, sneaking, dastardly manner in which he killed his wife, the facts of which are well known to our readers.

Arriving in Andrew, he was taken to the same tree that Grifford was executed upon. He was asked if he had anything to say why he should not suffer for the crime of which he was guilty, when he produced the following letter, which was handed to the Captain of the Band of Lynchers, and by him read. The letter is from Barger to his attorney, Hon. W. E. Leffingwell, and is as follows:
BARGER’S LETTER TO HIS ATTORNEY.
IN DEWITT JAIL, May 14th, ’57.

MR. LEFFINGWELL – Sir: I undertake to name a few circumstances, whether to any advantage or not you are to judge. – It has appeared to me I could see dishonorable advantages taken against me, that ought not to have been allowed. In regard to testimony, for instance, David McDonald states that I told him in March that my wife was going to swear her life against me, when she had done it in the winter. When he swore I said I had ought to have killed her before she went to Bellevue, a thing I never said. – Smith McKinlay swore false when he said I told him if I got justice done me it would go hard with me. I never told him such a thing, reason answers to the contrary. – Jim Cox swore false in different particulars, as I can prove. I never told him that I lay in the bushes watching for them to come along, as he swore. I never bit his thumb. Besides swearing false in various instances. Of his treatment to me he swore false before John Meaus, on whose docket the record of it can be proved. He is perjured. John Foley swore false I can prove. Mr. Pierce swore he seen smoke rise from where I was, but had to go the length of his porch before he knew where I was. John Dirkpatrick’s testimony did not agree with Mrs. Farrell’s. Some say my wife died in one minute or less. Samuel Reed swore she lived until he went after the Doctor, and got back in ten minutes. The most conflicting testimony, as I thought it required proof positive, as nobody saw me shoot. It all looked circumstantial to me, though you are to act your pleasure and I am content.

In regard to this last Court, I have seen it all winter that they meant to decide my case in spite of your efforts. Cook has threatened me with his influence, as I can prove to you. He had his doctor who volunteered to come and see me under pretence and ask me questions unbecoming a gentleman, you know how he swore. That jury I know was Cook’s friends. It was a mobourney jury. – Whenever a community will join in mobocracy, in defiance to the laws of the land, so far as to disregard perjury, merely to carry out their designs against a man who has ever endeavored to live uprightly and honestly and peaceably. That you may know in truth a part of the circumstances which has led to this combined prejudice and partiality against me, I say to you that my wife lived with me under as good a character until I came home and found that she had forfeited the bands of matrimony. This dissatisfied me and made a public talk, rendered me unhappy. She acknowledged her guilt and cause of all trouble, and after that she told that I was jealous of her, and abused her without grounds, which was false. I never was a jealous disposition.

She then imposed the most contemptible falsehoods on me, to gain her former character. She having plenty of friends disposed to believe I did mistrust her without a cause, which was wrong. – She left me without just cause for good, and went to Spurr and Bangs who stood over ready to shield the woman, under that all availing sympathy for women, and to crush an innocent husband and father to distraction. I have a copy of her first affidavit against me, which is false, as I could and did prove it. It was couched in language she never could have uttered, had she not been put up to it by Spurr and Bangs, who meant to put me to State’s prison, on falsehoods through prejudice. I spent all I was worth endeavoring to get my rights by law, which I could not get under that conspiracy. Spurr told me at one time in Jenkins’ presence that if I opened my mouth in my own defense he would put me to jail. Bangs could do as he pleased with her for the sake of his services to be a loose character. But it hurts my feelings to know she was the mother of my children, and that I have loved her with the right sort of affection, to thus speak of her. Therefore I say to you if I could once have my liberty, I would like to talk a long talk to you, as you are the only man now I would like to talk to. I want to talk with you in regard to many things. Your vigilance in my behalf merits my warmest affection, and it seems I want to talk to no one else. As to further testimony I know of none unless Samuel McKinlay and old man Cobb in Andrew, and perhaps John Meaus and his wife might say I was not in my right mind.

John Kirkpatrick and wife know I did not sleep whole nights I was at his house. There has been three nights together I did not sleep any, but no one to know it but myself. Christian knows I never slept like I used to do. My own trouble I considered as much as I could. It is evidently plain I was imposed on in Bellevue in the worst way. John Foley holding me there for them to go and rob me of my children and goods. They went prepared with pistols, knowing that I knew the unjustness of their right to my children, knowing I would protect my own rights, and I believe the law ought to protect me in it. I have endeavored in all cases to throw a fee in your hands every opportunity. I say to you be careful of Pierce and get your pay before hand, as he is an unprincipled man. As to the falsehood you hear against me, I can only say they are such as other, for the sake of favors for themselves, will back Cook in anything – and him being a two-faced man and me his principal object, makes it harder with me. Carrol is the main cause of it here. If I could have a satisfactory talk with you, I could convince you, as I know you could subtract the truth from the falsehoods of the whole matter. John Quinn’s sentence is a just one. You have had a good deal of abuse here in jail. I shall want some clothes before Court again, and no one here will get them. I would be glad you would have Joshua Seamonds to attend to it. I would be glad you would see to and give me some satisfaction about my children’s land. I ask pardon for asking so many favors. My being deprived of liberty so long will partly excuse me.

Yours in due respect

WM. P. BARGER

After the letter was read, the arms of Barger were pinioned, a handkerchief tied over his face, the rope was adjusted round his neck, the end throne over the limb, the word given by the Captain, and as many as could get hold of the rope drew the unhappy wretch from his mother earth, and thus he was launched into eternity, in the presence of three or four hundred spectators. We are informed there was not one to plead for his life. All looked on with that cold indifference, indicative of the feeling fully expressed “he deserves it.”

That we deplore, may deprecate, the causes that have led to this, we may almost say, ineffaceable stain upon the fair escutcheon of our county, is already known. That the law was sluggish is evidenced in the time that Barger has been suffered to lay in jail at the expense of the County, even when it was adjudged and positively known that he was guilty.

After the hanging of Barger, it was put to vote whether Carroll (the Irishman) should be hung, or handed over to the Andrew jailor, to await his trial at the next term of the District Court, when the latter was adopted without a dissenting voice. There was also a fast youth confined in the Andrew Jail for stealing a watch some seven months ago, who was taken from the jail, and advised by the Committee to leave the County, where upon he “took up his line of march.” The horse thief broke jail on Thursday even’g last, and was not turned loose as reported

We have thus endeavored to give a brief sketch of this much-to-be-regretted occurrence. We had no reporter upon the ground, consequently are unable to give the particulars in detail. We earnestly trust and hope that this may be the last case of lynching in Jackson County and God grant, the last murder.