The Jim Cullen Lynching: Pa...

It was estimated that between 75 and 100 enraged citizens gathered, likely in front of the Hotel, then known as the Reed Hotel, and plotted despite the late hour, perhaps a bit before suppertime. They disguised themselves in any way they could, some with simple hoods others with bandanas tied around their faces like bad guys in western movies, while others, it was said, dressed up like Indians.

In any case, they all swore to protect each other and never ever to talk about their mission once completed. They had, therefore, commissioned themselves to hang Cullen…..never mind the authorities (Sheriff Phair and others) who had gone before them to fetch Cullen. They equipped themselves with a hanging rope; Cullen himself would become the victim.

The mob began its short journey toward Mapleton. Somehow they learned that Cullen was in custody and being held. They didn’t know that Sheriff Phair had made the decision to transport the prisoner to Presque Isle (after release of the prisoner from Constable Hughes to Phair) regardless of the late hour. It’s likely if they had known, they would have waited in hiding and grabbed the prisoner here rather than making the journey to Mapleton.

It was shortly after nine when they arrived just east of Mapleton village. There, in the cold of the night, the mob met the posse of about six with Cullen tied up in the back of a high wagon. Phair’s posse was stopped and he (Phair) was ordered to release the prisoner. Phair, a sworn deputy of the law, refused, but to no avail; his party was quickly overcome by such great numbers. Cullen was pulled out of the wagon and rope was tied around his neck. He was then dragged about 150 feet into a field to a tall tree just perfect for a necktie party.

Phair called out that they were acting illegally and ordered them to stop and disperse. The order was ignored. Several men surrounded Phair and his men. It was dark and little, if anything, was spoken by any member of the mob for fear of being recognized. The scheme had been rehearsed during the hour or so ride to Mapleton. The prisoner was to hang ‘til dead.

Dr. Parker, a member of Phair’s party which met Hughes in Ball’s Mill (Mapleton) to aid in the arrest of Cullen, was then ordered to examine Cullen, as his body swung to and fro, to ascertain whether or not the hanged was truly dead. Although he wished not to become complicit in the dreadful event, he had little choice. As the body was lowered to accommodate Parker, he (Parker) placed his hand on Cullen’s chest and felt for a heartbeat. Now, according to Phin Ellis, Parker got the distinct impression that Cullen wasn’t quite dead; that would call for a little more time at the end of the rope. It appeared at that moment that Parker, regardless of his station in life---a physician---and sworn to save lives, not to destroy lives, had a change of mind and decided that Cullen should swing a bit longer.

Moments after the swingin’ body of Cullen was assumed to now be fully dead, the 75 or so disguised members of the hanging party quickly disbanded and disappeared into the dark of night. Sheriff Phair cut the rope allowing the body to fall with a thud to the snow-crusted earth. It took four men to pick up Cullen’s body and place it into the box which, ironically, had been meant to bring back Granville Hayden’s remains from Swanback’s camp.. The body was crowded into the box and the lid shut.

That box would now become a seat for the riders for the short ride back to Presque Isle. Shortly after midnight, the posse arrived. Fred Barker allowed the body to be stored in a small, unoccupied room in his store on the south side of Bridge St. (now State St. almost across where Roy’s A&N use to be). It was late and Phair thought they would go home, return early the next morning and then deal with the situation in an official manner. The box containing Cullen’s body was suspended between two barrels. Yes, tomorrow they would return , call forth a coroner and administer the law as the law called for. Perhaps the body could be viewed by the public…for a short time anyway.


Addendum:

Coincidentally, Paul Cyr posted this aerial in Mapleton which exactly pinpoints the two suggested venues of the Cullen hanging. See that red garage on the right? that's where it's most likely he was hanged (in that small garden/field in front of the red barn). Others have suggested it was across the road. The jury is still out on this matter, but the grandson of one of the deputies who pulled Cullen out of that cellar in Castle Hill (2 miles west from the hanging), was always told it was to the right of the road as one views it from Paul's aerial...

Next week, part VI, “The Burial”……………