Barger lynching.

BARGER

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 2/22/2008 at 16:08:48

Maquoketa Weekly Sentinel
June 11, 1857

From the Dubuque Express and Herald

Another Execution of a Murderer, by the Citizens of Andrew, Jackson County.

The town of Andrew, Jackson County, in this State, was the scene of another execution of a murderer by the people on the forenoon of Friday last.

Many of our readers, no doubt, recollect the circumstances connected with the murder committed at Bellevue some two years ago, by the shooting of Mrs. Barger by her husband. The deed was a cold blooded one, Barger having remained out the whole night lying in wait for his wife, and just as she appeared at the door in the morning, of the friend’s house where she was stopping, he fired his gun through a hole he had made in the fence for the purpose, and killed her.

Barger, we believe has had one or two trials already for the murder, and at the last, on a juryman stating had formed an opinion, Barger’s council, Mr. Leffingwell, moved the court to grant a new trial, which was complied with. This being accomplished, with a change of venue to Clinton County, Barger was lodged in the Dewitt jail to await trial.

This being the State of affairs, and the people of Andrew and vicinity having an idea that Barger would escape from a just punishment, visited the DeWitt jail, and demanded him and a man by the name of Carroll, confined for the same crime and awaiting trial, of the keepers, and from thence carried them to Andrew, and there executed Barger without any ceremony or his making any confession, on Friday, as above, on the same tree on which they hung Grifford a short time ago. Carroll they placed in the jail of Andrew, where they keep him at his own expense until he meets his trial, which they are determined shall be had in that county. For these particulars, we are indebted to D. O. Montagne, Esq., of Andrew.