Traitor Hanged in Effigy

Clarence Chamberlain, of Jefferson, Stirred Up Popular Indignation by Disloyal Remarks.
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His Mother Undertook to Defend His Course and Was Roughly
Handled—Similar Proceedings at Chariton—Iowa News.
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IOWANS BROOK NO TREASON.
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Disloyal Utterances Stirred Up Popular Indignation.

     Jefferson, Sept. 16.—Special: A hanging in effigy took place upon the court house square here last evening, the impersonation being Clarence Chamberlain, a man who resides with his mother in the south part of town. This action grew out of a remark made by Chamberlain Friday evening that McKinley, in being shot, had received what he deserved after causing the death of so many people in the Philippines.
     For some time Chamberlain had been employed upon road work about the streets, and Editor V. H. Lovejoy, who is a member of the city council, went to the street commissioner and protested against employing a man who would make such anarchistic remarks. The commissioner demanded an explanation of Chamberlain, who denied saying it, although the proof was conclusive that he did.
     Later in the afternoon, Chamberlain’s mother, who is somewhat of a fire eater herself, waited upon Editor Lovejoy and heaped upon his head vile epithets so fast and thick that a word in edgewise was impossible. She incidentally mixed with her remarks that she believed, in McKinley’s case, the Bible prediction of an “eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” had come to pass after his oppression of the Filipinos.
     At this Lovejoy ordered her out of the office. She replied that she had come there to tell him a few things, and she was going to stay until she had had her say. Whereupon Lovejoy took forcible means to eject her, a sleeve of the woman’s dress being torn off as she was thrown from the office.
     Lovejoy shut the door, but she returned, upon which he called the city marshal, who ejected her once more and marched her down the street. On the way she poured forth vile epithets at McKinley and all other “black Republicans.”
     The indignation of the citizens is manifest, and, while the hanging in effigy was applauded by them, they feel that more drastic measures are deserved. In the meantime the Chamberlains are remaining away from the business part of town and keeping quiet in the presence or hearing of anyone.

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Unpatriotic Citizens Chastised.

     Chariton, Sept. 16.—Special: The news of the president’s death was received in Chariton with almost universal sorrow. The business houses and postoffice were draped in mourning and flags were flying at half mast from all corners of the square and every place where a flag could be hung. There were a few, however, that did not mourn his death, and some were even unwise enough to express satisfaction over the outcome of his wounds; but now they are all sorry that they spoke. One man, Frank Wilson, a blacksmith, narrowly escaped bodily injury for his remark that the president should have died long years ago. When his statement became generally known a mob of nearly two hundred enraged citizens, mostly farmers, went at once to his home and demanded an explanation. He at first denied the statements and attempted to scare the crowd by a show of a gun. They were not to be that easily frightened, however, and cries of “Lynch him” were heard on all sides. The officers who arrived on the scene attempted in vain to disperse the crowd, but were successful in getting him away from the house and down town, where he took the first train out of town and has not been heard of since.
     Not being satisfied, the crowd continued to grow, and, in the evening they could not find Wilson, but heard of similar remarks made by other people, and, hunting them up, they choked and severely pounded one of them, and, after making him take an oath of allegiance to the United States, his friends were successful in getting him away from the crowd. They then waited upon another man and gave him just twenty-four hours in which to leave the town, and he promised to do so. Another man for whom they were looking, having heard of the treatment accorded these, left town of his own accord and could not be found.