The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-10-27
The Unparalleled Outrage.


ping of Capt Bell, in the public streets of
New Albany, are given in the Tribuns.-
1t is scarcely possible that such an act of
violence could have been perpetrated in
any other town in the State, than where it
occurred, without meeting prompt resist
ance. The conduct of the citizens after the
act was publicly known, reflects no credit
upon them, taking the 1ribune's version of
the affair to be true. ....
On Saturday afternoon while nearly all
our citizens were at the fair grounds, some
five or six rufians from Louisville, profess
ing to belong to the police of that city,
made descent upon our place, and kid
mapped Capt. Horace Bell, of Harrison
county, Indiana, and by force of arms car
ried him into Kentucky, without any au-
thority of law whatever. That our readers
may better understand the nature of this
outrage, and what led to it, we will briefly
recapitulate some circumstances that pre-
ceded it,: .0trf.
About a year since, an old man by the
name of Bell, together with one of his sons,
residing in Harrison county, nearly opposite
Brandenburg, KY, were kidnapped and car
ried into Kentucky on suspicion of secreting
runaway slaves. There was no positive
evidence going to implicate the Bells in
anything of the sort, the information being
given by miscreant, who has several in
dictments for perjury hanging over him.
However, the mere suspicion was sufficient
to put the chivalry of Kentucky in motion
Accordingly, gang of ruffians from Bran
denburg, came over in the night time
armed with pistols, bowie knives, and other
weapons, but no warrant of law, and seized
the Bells, the older one being seventy year:
of age While portion of these chivalrou:
Kentuckians were engaged in securing the
old man and his son, another portion o.
them stood guard over the old woman and
a little girl who were the only inmates o.
the house, besides the two kidnapped Bells
These gallant gentlemen stood over the old
lady with drawn weapons, threatening to
blow out her brains if she made any resist.
ance, and yet she was too sick at the time
to get out of bed The Bells were hurried
over the river and lodged in the Brandon
burg Jail, and there confined and guarded
as criminals of the darkest dye for more
than nine months. The friends of Bel
from this side of the river, endeavored tc
have his trial brought on, but this did moi
suit the convenience of those who were
prosecuting they were not ready. An at
tempt was made to have them admitted or
bail, but the Judge, in his wisdom, saw
proper to fix the amount at $4,000 for tn,
two-an amount so excessive that they
could not give it. Col. Marsh of Harrison
county, who had interested himself activel,
to procure the necessary bail, was shot dow
in the streets of Brandenburg, in broad day
light, and his murderer was allowed to es
cape, no doubt with the aid and connivanc
of the citizens of Brandenburg. This ha,
the effect to intimidate others from maxim,
similar attempts to serve the prisoners, an,
they had a cherries prospect before them
although guilty of no offence against tn
laws of Kentucky or Of the Union.
In the meantime Capt. Horace Bell, an
his brother John, who were then residing il
California, hearing of the condition of al
fairs, determined to return home to Indian
and release their father, or perish in the at
tempt. 1t was a noble and filial duty the
undertook to perform and most gallantl
did they perform it, all honor to them 70
the deed. They could have gathered aroun
them a regiment of gallant Indianians, who
if need be, would not have left one ston
upon another of the Brandenburg JAIL
But they chose rather toundertake the wor
of deliverence themselves and not implicat
others in the matter. Accordingly the
went to Brandenburg in a skif, in broa
day-went quietly and unostentatiously t
the prison-was admitted to see their fathe
and brother, and in very few minutes tn
whole four were on their way to the rive
without any particular violence being offel
ed to any one except the little wholesom
restraint imposed upon the lady who had tn
Jail in charge. They were soon in thei
skif and rowing for the Indiana shore
Before reaching midway of the Ohio, til
whole population of Brandenburg SCENE
to be in motion, and rushing down to tn
beach. Capt. Bell arose to his feet an
gracefully saluted them with wave of hi
hat. Those on shore soon opened upon hil
9 furious fire of pistols, shot guns, musket
&c. This was compliment which tn
Captain well knew how to return with b
Derringer pistol-a six shooter, that wi
kill man at half mile distant, rs easy 6
at ten PAGES This had the effect to di!
perse the crowd, most of whom took shelte
in blacksmith shop, the doors of whic
were pretty thoroughly riddled by the dii
charges from the skiff. And thus ended tn
second scene in the drama,