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Show THE HANGING OF GORDON. 59 oner. They were forced by the frenzied crowd into a narrow, rocky glen. Several times a halter was thrown around the neck of Gordon, and as quickly cut by an officer. Darkness closed about them, and the howls and oaths of the mob made a din that was fearful. The prisoner begged to be hung, shot, anything to put him out of his misery. He was bruised and lacerated; every shred of clothing torn from him; nothing left upon his body but clanking chains. Middaugh at length carried his prisoner through the storm, and on the 28th of September they reached Denver. Intense feeling began to manifest itself. The crowd which met them soon adjourned to a grove to organize a court, for they intended Gordon's trial to be in accordance with law and justice. Judge H. P. Bennett, who sat far off with his back to the crowd, was nominated as prosecutor for the people, but he declined, saying the the Judges appointed would control the jury. If they would appoint a new set of Judges, he would prosecute. The" request was acceded to, and the Judge was chosen for the prosecution with a deafening yell. He arose and stated that it would require some time to collect his evidence, and requested the trial to be adjourned until the next morning at nine o'clock. He urged the people to let right be done, though the heavens fall. He said, "the trifling of one of the highest tribunals in the land with the life that is now in our hands, has turned the eyes of tens of thousands in the States towards Denver, where no law of the great American Union claims jurisdiction. Let us temper justice with mercy, and let no mob or unlawful attempt interfere with the ' People's Court.'" Even |
