Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-04-29
WHOLE NO. 1,242.


NAsHFiLLfg Afu, Aorii To- iooJ-
Editor Sentinsl Our town aud country were
thrown into intense excitement on account Of
most important occurrence that took place some
seven miles northwest of this village, YESTERDAY
That no misunderstanding may get sbroad,
erroneohsly nhnming the public mind propose
giving the the facts detailed by eye Witnesses
one of them under oath.
The Republicans held a meeting on the 18th
instant, al the premises of Mr.. Vim. Gould, about
one half mile from Baptist C1u-ch, and called
the Plumb Creek Meeting HcEse, and Messrs.
Phelps. ID. johnson, and Captain Cunning, of
the army. were the speakers. The Hon. Lewis
Prosser, Democratic candidate for Circuit Clerk
who lives in the neighbOrhood. was present near
the meeting house, with friend. one VIM Sni
der. They had been hunting squirrels With
their rifles, and were waited upon by one Milton
Flaner. Provost Marshal of the county and Mr.
Prosser was invited TO 20 down TO the Repub-
hcan meeting, and stated that the speakers there
would divide time with him in a public discus
sion. After repeated and urgent solicitations
Mr.. Pr0sser consented, and on repairing 10 the
place of speaking, he was informed that a voteo of
the crowd had been taken, and il had been de
cided that As other speakers bad arrived since
the proposition vas made 70 divide time Mr.
Prosser would not be allowed 20 speak tiII
the Republican speakers we're through Mr..
Prosser then turned 10 his friend, Mr. Snider and
remarked that as they would not divide the time
with him they could 90 home, and would kill
some squirrels on the road. At this remark
soldier, (and by the way Can't. Cunning had
brought with him four soldiers stepped up to
Mr.. Prosser, and told him he guessed he wouldn't
20, and wrested his (Prosser's) gun out of his
hands. sprung the triggers, and held it over his
(ProsSer'sl head in a menacing attitude, when
Prosser drew revolver, fired, and instantly
killed this soldier Another soldier ran up. and
fired at Mr. Prosser twice. Mr.. Prosser then fed
some sixty yards off, when Capt Cunning
snatched up two revolvers, which, when ne com
menced speaking, he had pulled out and laid near
him, and ran after Prosser, and fired at him. In
the meanwhile one Samuel Borif, citizen of
this county, snatched up Prosser's rife and fred
at him, and at the crack Of this gun Prosser fell,
wounded in the left leg, just above the knee, the
ball passing through and fracturing the bone
While the firing at ProSser was gong on, Snider
fired his rifle at those who were shooting az
Prosser. as is supposed. One of the soldiers ran
up to Prosser, when he was lying on the ground.
wounded and helpless, and endeavored 10 shoot
him, when Capt. Cunning interfered and pre-
vented it. The soldiers then seized Snider.
tied him, put him on a horse and gallOped out Of
the county. These are the facts as elected in An
examination before Justice, and cOrroborated
bv Republican present, with the single excep-
'tiOn that he believed Cunning shot Prosser and
Cunning claims TO have done it. From the char
acter of the wound. and the circumstances, the
general impression here is that Boriff shot him.
Accordingly a warrant was issued for his appre-
henson, and officer with posse proceeded 70
his house to arrest him. when he fed, and is vet
at large.
1t is not pretended by any one Democrat
Republican. that Prosser was guilty of any
interruption, until bis gun was forcibly wrested
from his hands. and that, too, when he about
to peaceably leave for home. Nor is it claimed
that any arrest was being attempted of him or
any else. by any authority. legal or arbitrary.
until the shot was fired. which resulted in the
death of the soldier Whatever offense was com.
mitted was purely of local jurisdiction. And the
taking away of Snider from without the county
is an outrage, to submit To which will be a virtual
confession that there is no law but the caprice of
wandering and sometimes disorderly soldiers. II
Snider violated the law he should have been ar
rested and turned over TO the civil authorities
here. But if brute force is law, must meet it
like men, or submit like slaves. Give Us the law
and we are content.
We do not tjustfy any interruption of any pub
lie meeting, and desire that those guilty shall be
properly punished We have never, at sny time,
encouraged desertion from the army, or resisted
efforts 20 arrest deserters. Such offenders have
been arrested here without the slightest disturb
ance. We long ago passed resolutions tina; We
did not countenance desertion. and would not
prevent the arrest of deserters.
Our people are law-abiding; and TO day we
would not depore bloodshed within our borders,
but for the mischevous effects of such men aS
Milton Flaner and other Republicans who have
been unceasng in their attempts 10 procure Wis
itation of the military to without and
without law. private citizens because they dared
to be Democrats. What is to be the end
BRowS COUNrT.
y. B. There we're but four or FIVE Democrats
present at the rencounter. most of the Democracy
being at a very large meeting at Williamsburg.