Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2017 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Labor Journal August 19, 1887 SHERIFF LYNCH IS NO MORE! Another of MORGAN'S victims cold in his coffin - taken to Detroit Sanitarium - His Fortitude and nerve even at Death's door - Sketch of his life, political career and tragic end - Died Aug. 17, 1887, aged 37 years - How the sad news was received by Circuit Court and county officers - Flags at half mast and public buildings draped in mourning - The funeral and last rites. The curtain has fallen on another scene of a tragedy that will long be remembered in Alpena - the tragedy in which "BLINKY MORGAN" played his murderous part. - SHERIFF LYNCH is dead! As the circumstances surrounding this sad affair are al- ready well known to our readers, we need not repeat them here. The full particulars were painted in the Labor Journal of July 1st; and also in many other papers. While arresting MORGAN, the Ohio desperado, for whose capture $16,000 reward was offered by the Cleveland authorities and other interested citizens of Ohio, and whose infamous record is strewn with the dead bodies of many victims, SHERIFF LYNCH was shot through the leg, just above the knee, on Monday evening, June 27th. The Sheriff's wound was not considered very serious at first, but when his case began to look doubtful, he was taken to the Detroit Sanitarium on July 28, and placed under the skilful treatment of Doctor DONALD McLEAN. All that medical science could do to save his life was done, but it was too late! The suppurative abscess which had formed in the track of the ball, refused to heal, rendering him weaker and weaker each succeeding day until he finally closed his eyes in the sleep of death, with his wife and eldest little boy, ORRIE, about 12 years old, sister and brother-in-law, Rev. and Mrs. POTTER of Tecumseh and CHAS BROWN, who accompanied the Sheriff from Alpena and who was one of his most faithful friends, and others, at his bedside. It is said by the physicians and others who attend- ed him on his death bed that no man was ever known to suffer more patiently or show more genuine courage in the face of death. Speaking of his disposition, Dr. McLEAN said: I have never yet had a patient like him. Not a word of complaint has passed his lips since he entered the sanitarium. He has a smile and happy reply for everyone, and, knowing the inevitable, as he must, is meeting it without a sigh." CHAS. BROWN said that although he had been repeatedly assured, during the last few days, that there was no hope of his recovery, he stoutly maintained to the last that he was not going to die. But at 10:30 o'clock Wednesday morning, Aug. 17, he passed peacefully away, leaving a grief stricken wife and four little orphans to mourn his loss, and thousands of sympathizing friends who heard the sad news with the profoundest sorrow. On receipt of the news Judge EMERICK announced the death of Sheriff LYNCH in open court (the Circuit Court being in session) and adjourned until Thursday at 2 o'clock P. M. Court opened at 2 o'clock P. M. Thursday and adjourned again until Monday at 10 o'clock A. M. - until after the funeral. The County officials met in the County Clerk's office and adopted appropriate resolutions. There were present: Hon. GEO. S. LESTER, Judge of Probate, JAS. McNAMARA, Prosecuting attorney, JAS E. DENTON, Under-sheriff, W. H. POST and ANGUS McDONALD Deputy sheriffs and JNO. F. KELLY, Register of Deeds; CHAS. D'AIGLE Circuit court commissioner, A. J. SIMMONS County Treasurer and M. O'BRIEN County clerk. CHAS. L. LYNCH was born in the township of Clyde, St. Clair county, Mich., March 21, 1850, and was therefore, at his death, 37 years and nearly 5 months old. He came to Alpena in 1866 as a laborer and for many years worked in the lumber woods and in the sawmills and was known only as a hardworking, sober, honest man. We now come to HIS POLITICAL CAREER He was three times a candidate for the office of Sheriff on the democrat ticket - was defeated twice in the convention and, unfortunately for himself, was elected last fall. He was first heard of as a candidate for this office in 1876; but was defeated in the convention by F. H. DYER. After Mr. DYER had served two terms, Mr. LYNCH was again a candidate in 1880; but was defeated in the conventin by J. E. DENTON. But Mr. DENTON was defeated at the polls by DUGLASS SCOTT. Mr. DENTON was elected Sheriff in 1882 and reelected in 1884, and Mr. LYNCH served as DENTON'S under sheriff during those four years, to 1886. Mr. LYNCH was also elected Alderman in 1883 to 1885, to represent the second ward in the city council. After ten years in the political arena, for the office of Sheriff, in the campaign of 1886 he secured the nomination and election to that long coveted responsible and hazardous position. Had he been defeated at the election, as he was compara- tively a poor man and had invested all he was worth in the campaign, he would, no doubt, have felt down- hearted and discouraged. But he was elected; and is consequently, today lying cold in his coffin! But it fails to demonstrate whether defeat or victory is the greater evil. How truly: "The paths of glory lead to but the grave!" As CHAS. LYNCH was, in season and out of season, an uncomprosing democrat, as a natural consequence, he had strong political enemies. But the strongest and most unreasonable of these never dared to openly distrust him as a conscientious and trustworthy of- ficial, for his honesty was above suspicion. However, since he captured "BLINKY MORGAN," cooly and deliberately at the risk of his life, with hero- ism that stands unrivaled in the history of Northern Michigan, CHAS. LYNCH has had no political enemies. As soon as he received the fatal wound partisan feeling vanished and was replaced by the fraternal feeling of humanity, when the life of a brother and faithful public servant is in danger, and Sheriff LYNCH became at once an object of public interest and anxiety. It is indeed a subject of consolation that diver- sity of political opinions has not yet extinguished the sentiment of public gratitude. The universal sorrow manifested over the tragic end of a life that was lost at the post of duty, is a flattering testimonial of the public opinion of his worth. His once happy home is now over-spread with a dismal gloom that bespeaks the presence of a public calam- ity, and the prejudices of party are absorbed in the overflowing tide of public sympathy and sorrow. Superintendent SMITH and Capt. HOEHN, of Cleve- land, Ohio are here to attend the funeral. The remains will be in state in the court house all day to-morrow, to afford every one who may wish to see them an opportunity to do so. The funeral will take place at the Congregational church next Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock; and will be under the auspices of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, of which Sheriff LYNCH was an honored member. ========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more of our growing collection of FREE online information by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/ ==========================================================================