The lynching of William Barker made national news in July of 1858. It was on the front page of Harper's Weekly (published in New York, distributed nationwide) on July 31, and even included a lithograph of the event made from a photograph taken by Lexington Photographer J.C. Elrod, whose studio was across the street from the scene. Below is a transcript of the article, and copy of the lithograph.
THE LYNCHING OF WILLIAM BARKER AT LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY
We subjoin an excellent picture of the execution, by a mob, of William Barker the murderer, at Lexington, Kentucky, on the 10th inst. The picture is from a Melainotype (the earliest tintypes), taken on the spot my Mr. J.C. Elrod of that place - an artist who, we can readily imagine, ranks very high in his profession in the West.
Mr. Charles E. Mooney thus writes concerning the affair:
"On the morning of the 10th instant William Barker, one of a notorious gang who have infested Lexington for some time, was engaged in an altercation with another person, and had his knife drawn as if to strike. Joseph Beard, the city Marshal, was at that time in the market-house across the street, making some purchases. His attention being attracted to the fracas, he went over, and, seizing Barker by the arm, started with him to the watch-house; they had proceeded but a few steps when Barker uptripped Mr. Beard, and, as he was falling, stabbed him in the hip; the murderer then very deliberately turned his victim over and thrust his bowie-knife in his breast, drawing it toward him and twisting it around in the wound. Mr. Beard died instantly, and the assassin fled, but was arrested and placed in jail. The enraged citizens would at that time have visited summary punishment upon Barker; but it was too early in the morning, and but a few were present.
"About seven o'clock A.M. the court-house and fire-bells were ringing simultaneously, and in a remarkably short space of time hundreds of the best citizens had assembled at the court-house. A motion was made to proceed to the jail and take out the murderer and hang him. The proposition was received with an assenting shout; in a few moments the multitude had reached the jail, forced the keys from the jailer, and secured Barker; he was taken to the court-house, out of a second-story window of which a beam was thrust. The rope was then placed around the wretched man's neck, and the other end fastened to the beam; his hands were then tied, and he was let out the window as gently as possible; but the rope proved too weak - it snapped, and the murderer fell to the pavement. Another rope was procured, and he was supported until it could be fastened; he was then swung off. He remained suspended for over an hour. Thus ended the fearful tragedy. That such demonstrations of popular indignation are to be deprecated all will readily admit, but that Barker deserved death no one will deny; and it is only because the people have seen for years their best citizens slaughtered, and the murders permitted to go unwhipped of justice, that they resolved, in this instance, to show their determination not to be insulted by mock administration of law."
The following account of the same affair is by the correspondent of the Baltimore American.
"William Barker, the murderer, just discharged from prison upon a charge of theft, a notorious malefactor and rowdy, had a difficulty at early dawn with a person of the name of M'Chesney. Barker drew a knife, and made several attempts to stab M'Chesney, without serious result. Captain Beard, the murdered man, just from his home and bed, attempted to arrest Barker by clasping the arms whose hand contained the knife. The individual of the knife was possessed of a stalwart person and superior physical powers, and wrenched his arm out of Captain Beard's grasp, then grappled with him, threw him on the pavement, and, with his foot on him or leg thrown over him, raised his knife and stabbed him to the heart. Several citizens saw the deed done. Barker had previously threatened to kill Captain Beard. He was knocked down, by way of a warrant and lugged off to jail.
"No questions were asked; no second consideration formed a part of any person's mind present, perhaps, except my own. The purpose was to lynch him. The immense crowd, embracing citizens of great respectability, seemed to regard matters very quietly, and I looked in vain for the earnest eyes and clenched hands that to me seemed an indication of so awful a purpose.
"The brother of the murdered man stood silently and collectedly apart from the crowd. Like a person of honor called to the field, he seemed to have left the entire management of the vengeance to his friends and fellow-townsmen.
"No doubts were entertained of the result.
"The affair now began to assume an import so terribly solemn to one whose sympathies, by reason of knowing no one concerned, were not enlisted, that I bethought me of getting away until all was over. Just at this moment an immense cheer and cries of 'They've got him!' passing from mouth to mouth from the dense mass around the jail door, announced a more explicit demonstration. Forth they came by twos and threes, and now I saw the countenances of determination that I had previously looked for. Presently I had a momentary glimpse of the doomed personage, as bareheaded, with open collar, he was hurried away by the crowd to the court-house. The fascination of the occasion, which can only be explained by likening it to the serpent's charm, drew me with the rapidly moving crowd. Over the fences, through the gates, came the eager assemblage, as the foremost ones hurried him from tree to tree in the court-house yard, with a rope of the consistency of a well-used bed-cord, seeking vainly for some limb sufficiently strong to sustain his guilty weight. An officer of the law made a sort of demonstration with his hat from the steps of the court-house. 'Friends, fellow-citizens!' 'Hang him, Hang him!' 'My friends, I entreat -' 'Hang him!' 'No mercy, no trial - hang him!'
"During this temporary outbreak, to which attention was directed, I had a fair opportunity to observe the doomed man - a burly, healthy-looking personage, with a not unhandsome face, clear eyes, hair of dark brown, so ruffled as to give it the appearance of curls, his neck bared, and the blood flowing in little drops from the scratches inflicted by officious hands; his collar parted and thrown back, by accident, assumed a very melodramatic air, and his perfect silence and composure of demeanor gave to him very much the appearance of a theatrical personage.
"But now a beam for use had been discovered, and was pushed out the upper window of the court-house. At the moment, without any previous appearance of the clouds to indicate it, the rain began falling with considerable force. It was vain, however, to change the purpose of the multitude.
"I withdrew. I am told the rope was tied around his neck, and he was pushed from the window. The rope broke, and he fell a distance of twenty feet on the pavement. It is supposed, in pity, that his sufferings were terminated by death or insensibility. A stronger rope was procured and tied around his neck as he lay, and he was raised to a very moderate height, and left swinging from the beam.
"In the heart of this city, with all the business houses and sidewalks overlooking the scene, stands the court-house yard. The clouds have cleared away, the sun shines, the birds sing, but he is still hanging, with little boys gazing within two feet of his suspended body.