Hanging of George Sharpe and John Johnson
Return to Executions main page.
On May 12, 1857, Franz Jacob Barth, a peddler, was traveling on the road between Troy and St. Jacob, while returning home from St. Louis. Three men – George Sharpe (alias George Gibson), Robert Sharpe (alias Joseph Watson, and brother of George), and John Johnson (alias Edward Barber) “waylaid” Barth and shot him, supposedly because Barth wouldn’t let the men ride in his wagon. All three were captured early the next morning near Lebanon, and taken to the Edwardsville jail. Barth lingered three days before he died on May 15, 1857. The men were tried and convicted of murder, however Robert Sharpe’s sentence was commuted, as he was but a mere youth. George Sharpe and John Johnson were hung on June 19, 1857.
TRIAL OF GEORGE SHARPE, ROBERT SHARPE, AND JOHN JOHNSON
Source: Alton Weekly Courier, May 28, 1857
Further advices from our assistant at Edwardsville inform us that
the trial of the murderers of Jacob Barth is progressing quietly,
and without any undue excitement. The apprehended attack from the
mob was not made on Thursday night.
P. B. Foukr, the prosecuting attorney, is assisted by J. H. Sloss,
Esq., of Edwardsville. The following are the names of the jurors:
George Hedges, Jacob Pruitt, Benjamin Huestis, Lewis W. Tindall,
George D. Williams, J. H. Williams, Wimmiam Sandrach, Adam Pruitt,
I. B. Randle, Ignasius Sneeringer, Francis Agnu, and William Cursey.
The case was opened by the prosecuting attorney in a short speech to
the jury, setting forth their duties and responsibilities in their
present position. Mr. Trible opened the case for the defense in a
short, but appropriate speech. Nineteen witnesses were sworn in
behalf of the prosecution. The following is a very brief abstract of
the testimony given by each:
John Ferguson:
Saw deceased on Tuesday morning in Illinoistown (East St. Louis);
did not see the murder; saw Jacob Barth last in Troy; saw prisoners
following deceased, and eighty steps behind at Troy; prisoners had
on same clothes as now, in court; is sure they are the same; took
dinner with deceased that day.
Caleb Brown
Saw deceased at Troy at 8AM on the day he was shot; saw prisoners
same day at 11:30 o’clock, eating lunch at Miner’s Tavern; saw them
leave in direction of Highland; prisoners had a gun and carpet sack;
heard what Barth said after he was wounded.
James Armstrong
Is a harness-maker and saddler. Saw prisoners pass through Troy
towards Highland at noon on day of the murder; noticed them
particularly; they were walking, and Barber was lame; were dressed
nearly the same as now in court; Gibson had a gun.
Mrs. Narcissus Regan
Saw prisoners on Tuesday – the day of the murder – one mile and a
half from Troy, and one and a half miles from where the murder was
committed, at twelve and a half o’clock; they were going towards
Highland, one was lame, and another had a gun and a black carpet
sack; is sure prisoners are same men, and described their outer
clothing accurately.
John Hollis
Saw prisoners on day of murder on road from Troy to Highland, within
one mile and a quarter of where Barth was shot; noticed them
particularly, and is sure they are the same; Gibson had a gun –
thinks it was a musket.
James Johnson
Saw prisoners on day of murder, one and a half miles from Troy,
going towards Highland; Gibson had a double-barrel shotgun and
carpet sack.
Mrs. Smith
Lives a quarter of a mile west of where Barth was killed; prisoners
passed her house about one o’clock on day of murder; Gibson had a
gun.
Solomon Rhoads
Saw prisoners about two o’clock on day of murder, near Highland;
Barber walked lame, and kept looking back; Gibson had a gun and
carpet sack; heard of the murder between three and four, and went to
the place; found tracks of three men – one denoting small heel to
boot; tracks were similar to boots worn by one of the prisoners;
when found, prisoners’ boots corresponded to tracks, and mud on
boots same as in vicinity of murder; heard shooting in direction of
murder before he saw prisoners; lives three miles from Troy; the
murder was committed within three quarters of a mile of his house.
Mrs. Smith
Was working in her garden; saw prisoners about a quarter of a mile
from where Mr. Rhoads saw them, and a half mile from where the man
was shot; is sure prisoners are the same men; Barber looked back at
her frequently; heard a gun fired twice, and heard a man “halloo.”
Joshua Ensmingle
Was only a short distance from the place of murder; heard two large
reports of gun, and three small ones; went to the spot and heard
groans when he got near; went to a mill nearby to get assistance;
returned to the wagon and found Barth leaning on a box in wagon,
wounded; the wagon was forty yards off main road and mules still
hitched; took the wounded man to his house where he remained three
days, and then died; the shooting was done about three o’clock, two
hundred and fifty yards from the bridge over Silver Creek, and half
a mile from the mill; the first two reports sounded like a shotgun,
and all the reports were in quick succession.
Dr. John L. Dewey
Was called to see deceased after he was wounded, and before he died.
(A debate here arose as to the propriety of allowing the jury to
remain in court while Dr. Dewey’s testimony in relation to sanity of
deceased, and the propriety of introducing deceased’s deposition,
was taken. The jury was withdrawn, and the witness continued.)
Thought Barth would die, and so told him in a few moments; Barth
gave the circumstances of his wounds, in a manner indicating that he
was in all senses; had no pulse at first, but his system rallied;
said he should never recover; expected to die, and would be willing
to die if he could shoot his murderers first; this was while his
deposition was being taken; was suffering considerable pain;
deposition taken about twenty-four hours before his death; two
depositions were taken; he appeared collected and calm at all times
during presence of witness; administered small doses of morphine;
was with him on first visit three hours; did not examine the wounds
particularly on this visit; no clergymen present to my knowledge.
Mr.
Friend Rutherford objected to the introduction of depositions of
deceased as testimony, and quoted authorities against it. The court
ruled out the objections, and exceptions were taken to the ruling by
counsel for defendants.
The jury returned to the courtroom, and the examination of Dr. Dewey
was resumed.
Found deceased in a collapsed condition; no pulse; was present when
defendants were brought in; deposition was taken by consent of
deceased.
Dr. Dewey was withdrawn from the witness stand for the present, and
Mr. Swain was sworn and brought upon the stand to prove the identity
of a memorandum of facts taken by him at request of deceased. The
memorandum was introduced into court by Prosecuting Attorney Fouke.
Court adjourned over to seven o’clock yesterday morning without
hearing testimony of Mr. Swain.
We expected another report from our assistant yesterday evening,
giving us the proceedings of the trial yesterday; but up to ten
o’clock last night, nothing further reached us. It will be seen that
the testimony taken, as far as reported to us, is entirely
circumstantial and not very conclusive. Although there is not the
least doubt in the minds of those who are at all advised of the
circumstances of the case that the prisoners are guilty, something
more to the point will have to be testified to, or conviction will
be impossible. But the weighty evidence has yet to come. The
depositions of deceased; the testimony of the man by whom the
murderers were frightened, and the testimony of those present when
deceased recognized the prisoners as the persons by whom he was
shot, when introduced, will beyond a doubt fasten the guilt of a
cold-blooded and brutal murder upon the prisoners at the bar. Our
assistant writes us that the prisoners are all very young men,
neither of them appearing to be over twenty-two years of age. They
are Englishmen, and have been in this country but a short time; they
say that they came West in search of work.
Friday morning:
Court was opened at 8 o’clock on Friday morning, and the trial of
George Gibson, Edward Barber, and Joseph Watson, for the murder of
Jacob Barth, was immediately resumed. A motion was made by the
counsel for defendants to clear the courtroom of all witnesses,
except the one on the stand, which was ordered to be done, and all
but one of the witnesses were removed. The testimony on the part of
the prosecution was then continued.
John R. Swain
Is a Justice of the Peace; went into the house where deceased was
lying wounded, in advance of prisoners; did not pay particular
attention to conversation between deceased and prisoners;
administered oath by consent of deceased; probably a little before
oath was administered, deceased remarked something like: “if he had
a knife he would like to cut prisoners’ throats;” stopped to satisfy
himself about manner of putting questions; asked him his name – he
answered Barth; asked if he was sensible he was mortally wounded,
and would die; he said yes; spoke to him of importance of his
testimony; he made no reply; took down what he said, and it is
contained in this memorandum (referring to a memorandum introduced
into court yesterday); asked prisoners their names; wrote them down;
Barth said Gibson held mules and demanded his money.
(A debate here arose on the admissibility of the declarations of
deceased, as heard by witness, as testimony; objections were urged
on the ground that they were the expressions of a man not in a
proper state of mind to take a solemn oath. The court overruled the
objections, and the examination of the witness was resumed.)
Deceased said that the man who gave his name as Edward Barber, and
the man who gave his name as Watson, shot at him with a pistol;
deceased stated, in answer to question put by self and Dr. Dewy,
that he expected to die; asked him if he made answers to the
questions in view of approaching death; answered “yes;” called
attention of bystanders to this fact; prisoners stated in presence
of deceased that they had never seen deceased before; at this time
deceased appeared to be cool; in conversation with friends
manifested considerable feeling; witness thought it very solemn
occasion; room full of persons when prisoners were brought in;
deceased recognized prisoners in the crowd; when identified,
prisoners manifested great boldness; was satisfied deceased would
die; am satisfied deceased thought so too. This occurred on the 15th
inst., between ten and eleven o’clock a.m. in Madison County, the
day after deceased was shot; prisoners were brought into the house
where deceased was, by Charles Crouse; but little was said when
prisoners were brought in; George Gibson was the first brought in;
deceased recognized him as soon as he saw him; prisoners denied the
shooting; deceased recognized the other prisoners as they were
brought in; deceased was a little excited; face white and eyes
glassy; made no answer to question when asked if he would have
deposition taken; was not acquainted with Barth; took him to be a
German from his language; he talked pretty good English; was not
engaged more than fifteen minutes in writing depositions; deceased
was in well-lighted house; prisoners were standing, one at the head
of the bed, the other two towards the foot, but not close together;
they were held while standing all the time; deceased recognized
prisoners without being asked if they were the persons who made the
attack; endeavored to take down all answers made by deceased to
questions; can’t say certain whether prisoners had ropes about their
necks or not; did not see ropes; think language used by deceased
was, “if I had a knife I would like to cut their throats;” don’t
know whether this was before oath was administered or not; don’t
remember if the question was asked of deceased, “here are the
prisoners; don’t you know them;” heard no proposition to lead
prisoners in and let deceased have a shot at them; when recognized
the prisoners were (the farthest) about six feet from deceased;
prisoners could not have been recognized as accused when in the
crowd by the actions of their jailors; they were recognized by
deceased in the crowd; deceased recognized prisoners as soon as he
saw them.
Dr. John S. Dewey – recalled
When first saw deceased, found wounds made by nine buckshot in the
side and on the left shoulder blade; eight shots struck shoulder
blade; one passed through and came out between third and fourth ribs
in front, through clothing; probed the wounds five or six inches
deep second day; wounds ranged upward and outward; person shooting
must have been behind and to the right of deceased; the wounds were
the cause of death of deceased; was present when he described the
men who shot him; description was not minute; said he had seen the
men before; they had followed him; one had a gun, another a carpet
sack; prisoners had asked him to let them ride; he had asked them if
they were Germans, and they could not speak to him; overtook them
first about Collinsville; was present when he made the declarations
to Mr. Swain; this was the evening on which Barth was shot, the day
before arrest of prisoners; deceased was notified prisoners were
coming, there was a large crowd in the house; thought it best he
should have free air, so went in from yard and tried to get the men
from around him; before witness knew prisoners were in the house,
deceased said, “there they are, there is one of ‘em!” prisoners came
in with the crowd; a great many strangers were present; had not seen
the prisoners before; took me some time to pick them out; there were
two men between prisoners and Barth; deceased pointed out the one
who took the horses and which one made demand of his money; Barth
died third day after wounded; wound mortal of necessity, and not by
accident; death was the effects of concussion and bruise of wound;
circumference of wounds that of my hand; wounds were near enough
together to cause death by concussion; blood had settled around
wounds; deceased thought he was dying; did not hear him express a
hope of recovery; he was faint and weak, but in his senses; spoke to
him of his murderers; he hoped they would be caught and hung; said
he would kill the men if he had a rifle; said nothing about a knife;
great excitement in the crowd in the house; heard no proposition to
bring prisoners in and let the wounded man shoot them; one man said
prisoners ought to have their throats cut; prisoners, when brought
before deceased, had ropes about their necks; deceased’s eyes were
sure; had no fever; first I knew of the prisoners was from the
recognition of deceased; saw ropes about prisoner’s necks; deceased
was forty-three or forty-five years old, and died of his wounds;
there are instances where men have died of wounds through the lungs,
mortal from accident, and not of necessity; did not see the ropes
when prisoners came in; when I did see them, they were hanging down
behind; Barth appeared to be a very resolute man, rather stoical.
(The clothing of deceased was here brought into court, bearing
bullet holes, and identified.)
L. C. Cornmann
Saw deceased 9 p.m., the day he was wounded; took deposition; on
return from Edwardsville, met Dr. Dewy, who said he had just left
deceased; went and saw him; a large crowd was at the house;
administered oath, and took his answer; asked if he was willing, he
consented.
(The deposition was here introduced without the signature of
deponent, the witness stating that the deceased was unable to sign
it. A discussion between the opposing counsel ensued upon the
admissibility of the deposition without the signature. The court
decided that the paper was lacking in an essential requisite, and
that it could not be received as a deposition.)
The testimony of Mr. Cornmann resumed:
Barth told me he had lodged the night before at the tavern two miles
from St. Louis; left early in the morning; about 10 o’clock he found
or overtook three men near the tollgate, between Collinsville and
Troy; they were either standing or walking; one who was lame, asked
him to let him ride; said he was afraid of some devilment; said two
of them had on black coats, the other, light colored coat; one had a
double-barreled gun and black carpet sack; he said they could not
talk German, and he thought they were Americans; had on black hats;
when he was stopping at a tavern near Troy to feed, these men
passed; they went up to Troy; he stopped at the tavern about an
hour; about 12 o’clock he started towards Highland; in Silver Creek
Bottom, near a bridge, the men came up; one of them either put his
gun into, or shot into back of wagon, and shot a load into his back;
one caught his mules by the head, and demanded his money; the mules
would not stand; two of the men fired at him with pistols – one from
the front, the other from the side of wagon – three or four times;
did not hit him; the mules struggled; one of the mules was hit by a
shot; prisoners heard someone coming and ran off; he was sure those
who attacked him were the same he saw on the road before.
(The court here took a recess of five minutes, after which the
examination of witnesses was resumed.)
Andrew Kimberlain
Was the first man who saw deceased, after he was shot; found him
leaning on a box in his wagon, too weak to be removed; went for Dr.
Dewy, who came to see deceased; the vehicle was a common lumber
wagon, with white cover; deceased told witness that he saw the same
men who shot him at the tollgate, and again at Troy; described
prisoners correctly; said they had a shotgun, two were common-sized
men, and one a small man; did not describe their clothing; was not
at the house when prisoners were brought in; did not follow
prisoners to arrest them.
James Regin
Was one of the party that followed the prisoners; the first he saw
of them was at 1 o’clock about, on the day of murder, three men –
one carrying a carpet sack and gun; after hearing a man was shot
(knew deceased, saw him half an hour behind the three men); witness
suspected those three men; went on horseback to the place; noticed
footprints; noticed one in particular – it was that apparently of a
fine boot; one hundred yards above Silver Creek Bridge, saw the
wagon; blood was dripping through the wagon; the men had not been
tracked; witness was taken down the road a short distance, and saw
where the wagon had turned out of the usual track, where a gun patch
was found; the wagon was stopped at the side of the road by a
sapling about six inches in circumference; found the tracks where
the deed was committed, and noticed the track seen before; the
tracks from the wagon indicated that the murderers had been running;
tracked them to east fork of Silver Creek, where they had crossed on
a log laying in the creek, and stepped in the mud; the tracks were
the same seen near the wagon; has compared boots of prisoners to the
tracks, and found they agreed; was not present when prisoners were
arrested; mud on boots of prisoners, when arrested, same as that in
bottom over which they were pursued; no direct road from the place
of murder to Lebanon; took no definite measure of tracks, only by
sight; is pretty good judge of measure; thinks track was about 11
inches long, heel of boot track peculiar shape.
Charles Crouse
Was not present when the men were taken; half a mile off; they were
taken on the Lebanon Road, three and a half miles this side of
Lebanon; took from them, on search, two small pocket knives, a small
compass, a bundle of keys, a cloth with blood on it, which they said
had been used by one of them who said he cut himself in shaving;
blood was fresh; found what had the appearance of being a amrod,
bearing the marks of powder on the end (things shown to the court);
were arrested about six or seven a.m. on the road, Wednesday, on
other side of Silver Creek bridge; arrest made on road from Troy to
Lebanon; distance from Highland Road to Troy and Lebanon road, about
three miles; the men were traced by the peculiar track mentioned by
Mr. Regin; tracks found corresponded with boots worn by prisoners;
first discovered this track about six in the morning at the
intersection of Lebanon and St. Louis Road; did not notice tracks,
but pursued the men, having heard they had been seen; coming back
noticed the tracks, and they corresponded with the boots worn; men
had ropes upon their necks when taken to Ensminger’s, where Barth
was; and men had hold of the ropes; was acquainted with deceased;
when prisoners were brought before Barth, he said they had
threatened to cut his throat after they shot him; Gibson and Watson
had ropes around their necks.
James Bradley
Saw Barth soon after he was shot; found a bullet or buckshot in the
wagon; found where Barth was shot what appeared to be a rifle wad.
(Wad presented in court, and shown to jury, together with bullet
patching found in possession of prisoners, for their comparison;
ball also introduced; see testimony of Charles Crouse.)
The things were found where the man was shot; found tracks similar
to those described by former witnesses; was one of the first two
that reached the wagon of deceased; started to take Barth to
Ensmingers; went about one hundred yards when Barth said he could
not ride any farther in the position he was in; he said he had been
shot by three men; Dr. Dewy came up and gave him some medicine – an
opiate; was at Ensminger’s mill when notice of murder was given; the
sheet covering of wagon was drawn down at sides, and possibly so
behind; Barth said he was shot; didn’t say as to the position of men
who shot him; said they were young men, and German or English; have
seen deceased several times; he wore goggles and was a dark man; was
not present when prisoners were arrested; never saw them until I saw
them in court yesterday.
Charles Grouse – recalled
Arrest was made by Messrs. Lize and Wendle Smith; found bloody towel
on Barber, also the ramrod; Gibson had the shucking pin; Watson the
keys; breast pin I took from Gibson; shot bag from Barber.
Only two witnesses were sworn on the part of the defense, and their
testimony was very limited and unimportant.
Mr. Baumann
Has known deceased about two years; he always had sore eyes a
little, but not much; he wore glasses on account of his sore eyes;
he lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania seven years.
Mr. Barth
Knew deceased; he had sore eyes about a year; wore goggles; was a
farmer; has been a peddler for a year; did not quit farming on
account of his sore eyes.
The testimony was closed at 3 o’clock on Friday afternoon, and the
time from that hour until a quarter past eight was consumed in
arguments of the counsel – the prosecuting attorney making an
opening and closing speech, and Messrs. Rutherford and Sawyer both
speaking on behalf of the defense.
After being out forty minutes, the jury brought in a verdict of
guilty of murder in the first degree, as charged in the indictment.
Confession of the Murderers Following Trial
We are just in receipt of dispatches from a reliable source,
obtaining information to the effect that on Sunday morning the
prisoners confined in the county jail under conviction of the murder
of Jacob Barth, have made full confession of their guilt. They say
that the act was committed from a spirit of revenge and not for the
sake of money. They were incensed at Barth, because he had refused
to let them ride, and from a desire for revenge, shot him.
They confess that the names given by them when arrested are assumed,
and that their real names are George Sharpe, Robert Sharpe
(brothers), and John Johnson. George Sharpe has been in this country
three years. The other two came over one year ago. George Sharpe is
twenty-two, Robert nineteen, and Johnson eighteen. They are all of
English birth and parentage. The criminals protest that this is
their first crime. They have friends in Will County, Illinois, and
Fayette County, Iowa. They say that before dark, the day of the
murder, six men were within twenty feet of them, and had they raised
their eyes from the tracks which they were examining, must have seen
them. The Sharpe brothers seem to realize their situation, but
Johnson manifests a stolid indifference to his fate.
The National Guards
The promptness and willingness with which the National Guards
answered the call made upon them by the Sheriff, on the 18th inst.,
when the peace and quiet of the county was threatened by an enraged
mob, is deserving the praise and highest commendation of not only
the press, but every individual citizen of the county. They have
shown themselves worthy the confidence of the citizens of the
county, and men to be relied upon in the hour of danger, men who are
willing to sacrifice personal comfort and face danger in defense of
the laws which they respect, and of the lives of each and every one
of their fellow-citizens, by the watchfulness and faithfulness with
which they obeyed the commands of their officers, and of the
Sheriff, during their week’s stay at the county seat. To Captain
Turner and his assistant officers, great praise is due for the
perfection of discipline which marked the conduct of the men who had
chosen them as their leaders and disciplinarians.
THE VERDICT
Source: The New York Times, June 1857
The trial in the case of the People vs Gipson, Barber and Watson,
for the murder of Jacob Barth, was closed, and the case given to the
jury at 8:15 o'clock yesterday evening. After being out just forty
minutes, the jury returned and rendered a verdict of "Guilty!" Mr.
Sawyer entered a motion for a new trial, which after argument, was
allowed by the Court. The Germans from Highland and vicinity, and
other friends of the deceased, were very much incensed in
consequence of the new trial being granted, and the attack from the
mob, for the purpose of seizing the prisoners and hanging them, in
Judge Lynch's summary manner, was confidently expected last night or
today.
Upon hearing of the gathering of a mob in Edwardsville for the
purpose of administering summary punishment to the three murderers
of Barth, and of the likelihood that they might be arraigned before
the court of Judge Lynch, we dispatched one of our assistants to the
scene of action for the purpose of gathering all the particulars of
events as the occurred. It appears that several hundred of the
citizens of the southeastern part of this county, friends and
acquaintances of the deceased, hearing that the prisoners were
about
to take a change of venue, determined to take them from the jail and
hang them without trial. This body of men was composed principally
of Germans, fellow countrymen of the murdered man, and were led on
by two men named Smiley and Savage. Between ten and eleven o'clock
Monday, the mob entered the town from the south on horses, in
wagons, and on foot to the number of four hundred. The leaders and
some of the other members of the gang bearing red and black flags,
with which they marshaled on their blood thirsty companions. As soon
as Sheriff Zephaniah B. Job received intelligence of their approach,
he proceeded to take steps for the protection of the jail. He had
placed some twenty or thirty men in and about the jail, and provided
them with such arms as could be procured, when the mob made a rush
towards the building, headed by the leaders, Smiley and Savage, who
each bore a flag. When the two leaders had approached as near as it
was thought proper they should, the officers and some of the
citizens who had resolved to sustain the law at all hazards, headed
by Sheriff Job, rushed upon and unhorsed them, taking from them
their flags and their arms. Several others of those foremost in the
ranks were unhorsed. This determined and bold action appeared to
intimidate the remainder to some extent, though threats were still
made and continued for a number of hours (the mob neither advancing
nor retreating), during which time speeches were made in English by
Messrs. Gillespie, Metcalf, Job and others, and Mr. Krafft in
German. These speeches appeared to have a good effect, for soon
after, the threats of the rioters began to be less frequent and less
savage, and in half an hour the whole gang had left town.
THE SENTENCE
Source: Alton Weekly Courier, June 4, 1857
Yesterday, between nine and ten o'clock a. m., sentence of death was
pronounced upon Robert Sharpe, George W. Sharpe, and John Johnson,
for the murder of Jacob Barth. The sentence is that between the
hours of ten o'clock a. m. and six o'clock p.m. on June 19, proximo,
the prisoners are to be hanged by the neck until they are dead.
[George W. Sharpe’s sentence was commuted by executive clemency due
to his young age, and was imprisoned. During the Civil War he was
pardoned. He entered the army and served faithfully to the end, and
later resided in St. Louis as a respected citizen.
THE EXECUTION
On the day of the execution, June 19, 1857, the town of Edwardsville
was thronged with people from all parts of the county to see the
hanging of Robert Sharpe and John Johnson, which took place on the
grounds of the Edwardsville County Poor Farm, south of town. The men
were buried in the Poor Farm Cemetery.
RECOLLECTIONS OF SHERIFF JOB
According to the obituary of Sheriff Zephaniah Job: In 1856 he was
elected sheriff of the county, and it was in this capacity that he
officiated at the hanging of some men who had killed a German
peddler near Troy, Madison County. There was intense excitement at
the time, and an effort was made to lynch the prisoners. Sheriff Job
could get no one to guard the jail except three men, Josh Dunnegan,
John Wheeler and Nelson Montgomery. These three men were posted with
the sheriff where they could command the approach to the jail and
had instructions to shoot to kill, when the mob made the attack. The
demand was made for the prisoners, and Sheriff Job defied the crowd.
As the aged gentleman told of this story of the past, the strong
heart of older days which had not quailed was no longer so strong,
and the tears which came not in the olden time when the incident
occurred flowed freely, showing the shadow of the emotion of an
event fifty years gone by, which was then concealed, but through a
half century reached out its influence and touched the old man
keenly. By a trick Sheriff Job got a delay from the mob and managed
to get a company of militia from Alton, who defended the prisoner.
When it came time to hang the prisoners, Sheriff Job refused to
permit anyone else to do the work. One of the prisoner's sentence
was commuted to imprisonment, and he was afterward pardoned.