The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-08

him in that neighborhood coming up Vine street
since the failure of the sugar house, year and q
half ago. in that general neghbOrhood from five 10
six months; do not know that Josiah &. Jones had
been in Robert Krkpatrick's employment directly,
before he was in my fathers employ, but he had
done many things for him.
Doings Of the .sIe gulators' In Indiana.
THREE OF THE HORSE THIEVES HUNG
The following account Of the Lynch law execution
Of horse thief in Noble county Indiana, is taken
from the correspondence Of the indianapolis Jour
nal
GOSHEN Jan. 20, 1853
You have doubtless heard from the Noble county
excitement, but q few words from an eye witness
may not be unnteresting To the readers OF the Jour
nal. For several years there has been regularly
organized band of horse thieves blackegs, counter
feiters and murderers, whose range extended from
Chicago 70 Toledo. The swamps and oak barrens OF
Noble and adjacent counties have been their head
quarters and principal hiding places. At last their
numbers became great and their vlan0us deeds
so bold and daring, that it was unsafe for stranger
or any one who 1t was supposed had money, to pass
along the public highways with any degree OF safety.
Within the last few months there have been several
highway robberics and attempts To commit murder.
At length the better portion OF the citizens in Noble
and the adjoining counties organized themselves into
vigilance committees, horse companies, &c. to see If
they could not ferret out some of the leaders.
On last Thursday week they aresteda man by the
name OF Burnam, a leader (who is now at Goshen in
jaD, and in his possession they found wash tub
full of coin and moulds, and instruments for the manu-
facture of gold and silver bogus COIN The "Regua-
tors, they style themselves, took possession at
him and tried TO force "a confession from him, and
also make him reveal all he knew in relation to this
band, and tell who and where they were. To accom-
plish this end they tied rope around his neck and
threw il over pole, and threatened to hang him
unless he detailed all: but he declared he was inno
cent and knew nothing about the affair They then
drew him up ana let him down again. He still de-
cared he knew nothing. They then repeated it q
nd ri m ia
would hang him, when he confessed, and also eX-
posed the remainder of the band.
The Regulators have already made about TWENTY-FIVE
arrests, and have them safely lodged in the jas
of Noble La Grange De Kalb and Elkhart counties.
They have found number of stolen horses, bug
gies, and almost everything else. On yesterday the
committee had before them OF the principal lead
ers-a man who goes by the name Of MClain
McDOugal, and in fact mas name for every town he
goes to. The evidence against him was so plain and
strong that he made full concession and the "Regu-
lators' concluded to hang him. He was known here
by the name of Gregory McDougal, was about u
years of age, born in Wallaceburg, Kent county,
Canada West, and leaves behind him wife and
child
After the verdict of the Regulators, about five
hundred horsemen from this and the adjoining coun
ties formed procession and with their prisoner in
a wagon in the lead, slowly and soemnly proceeded
to the place of execution, romantic spot about
five miles ont from .igonier, near small lake. The
procession arrived at the selected spot about three
the wagon containing the prisoner and his collin,
was driven under an oak tree, from branch Of
which the fatal rope dangled The prisoner seemed
cool and collected; indeed he evinced throughout
the whole of the terrible scene the utmost sang froid
and self possession.
The following is an abstract of his last remarks:-
am happy TO zee such crowd around me, and
! hope all Young men will take a warning from me.
My old father and mother advised Inc TO do good.
never committed murder. They say killed man
and woman in Canada, and that | helped burn a
man 10 make him tell where his money was. IL IL
false. The first crime committed was in New York
there stole, and hurt man, which long troubled
me- but he got well. have stolen many times, and
have taken many horses. Mr.. Briden has my con
fession, which am willing you all should see. am
sorry 10 be here but II Is right. IL had well be
my lot another's. say to young men, keep from
houses Of i'll fame and instead of playing cards read
your Bible. The first deviation is the worst. The
progression is easy then and rapid and goes quickly
on to robbery and finally 10 murder No man has, |
think any hard feelings towards me, and have hard
feelings 10 no one The citizens of Ligonier have
treated me kindly. IL IL my unhappy portion that
my doom should he warning to all young men, and
am glad 10 see so many here II l. said fear nei-
Their God man, nor the devil. do fear God. IL IL
but few years since commenced this course. |
broke Jail in Canada. then left home, and since
have fallen into bad ways.
was forced by circumstances into the society OF
bad men, aud have myself pursued had course.
There are good many who think the committee are
mistaken in what they do. | say they are not.
They are perfectly justiiiable, and hope they will
succeed in their good undertaking. and root out all
the tbieying and counterietng men In the country.
Many present are ~ bad as ! am, but hope they
viii al, especially the young men: take warning by
me. My only source IL God. j trust In him for
mercy. thrust in the Lord.
He then continued for few minutes TO make "a
few dsjointed remarks, partly npctifons Of the
above, and partly wild appeals 70 God to have mercy
ON his so.l. After a feeling prayer by Rev. Mr.
WHIT the prisoner babe farewell 10 Messrs Writ and
HraJeD. and the eDeCtltOr~.
He was then bound and walked firmly on the
drop, which consisted Of plank running from the
tail end Of the wagon, and supported at the other
end by two posts, which at II signal were drawn
quickly from under, and the wretcbed man was
launched into eternity. His neck was not broken,
and consequently his death must have been long and
painful, although he struggled but little. After
hanging half an hour life extinct. He was then
cut down and placed in the coffin, and carried 10
Lgoner, subject to the disposal of his friends His
very last words were -
Little did think IL would ever come 10 this. Let
this be warning 10 all young men. Hard - hard.
but il may bt just trust the Lord will have mercy
my poor soul"
Thus ended the career Of one Of the leaders Of this
desperate band. Great excitement has prevailed in
Ligoner ever since the commencement of the trials.
About 500 horsemen from all over the country
were IN town yesterday, and about 500 went cut to
the place Of execution to-day and formed a circle
around the wagon. Not a word was spoken after
the prayer OF TIE minister All was still and quiet
and after the wa cut down the crowd quietly
dispersed, each one looking a. though he sorry
that such thing had been done.
heard a rumor toSay that two more men were
~ be hung in Lagrange Centre. Lagrange county.
In a few days, the Regulators succeed
in catching driving from the country the entire
party, which was almost in the sscendency. they will
publish the confessions of some Of the worst, which
they now have in writing.
The Journal of the 3d instant. says
correspondent NJ Fort Wayne writes 90 US that
the REGULATORS" in Noble county hung two more
men On saturday, at Keadalyhle. The excitement
in Noble and adjoining counties continues great. The
ame Regulators who hum, McDouCal at Ligonier
hung che two men al kendavillc on Saturday.
PERSONAL.