Better Than Hanging

A brute gets a coat of tar and a good whipping

Shenandoah, Iowa, Aug. 11- Thursday night a mob of about 200 men broke down the doors of the jail in this city and took from his cell Frank Philips, who was awaiting trial for an attempted assault on the little six-year old daughter of F.J. Pine, a prominent hardware merchant of this place. After stripping his clothes from him a liberal coat of tar and feathers was applied all over the prisoner’s body and a severe whipping administered, after which he was allowed to go, followed by the crowd through the streets and to the jail. Yesterday morning the jail was again entered by about a dozen masked men, who placed a rope around the prisoner’s neck, led him forth to the telegraph pole, hauled him up by the neck and lowered him a few times, and compelled him to make a full confession. He also admitted having committed other similar offences. On promising to leave the city and never to return, he was given his freedom. Philips is a very ignorant and brutal-looking fellow. He is twenty-seven years of age, unmarried and has resided with his parents here for about two years, working as a draymen.

source:The Daily Northwestern
location: Oshkosh, Wisconsin