The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1868-07-29
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.l
ADAMS EXPRESS ROBBERY.
The Robbers Lynched-H1story of
the Case.

Jackson and adjoining counties in
Indiana, for several years past, has
been the home and rendezvous of as
desperate a gang of robbers and mur-
derers as has ever been known, Life
& prosperity have become unsafe. But
a few nights ago respectable mer-
chant OF Seymour, Jackson County,
had his horse shot under him while
going home and himself barely es-
capped his life. 1t will be recollected,
also, that in those counties the Adams
Express Company has been repeated
ly robbed by men getting on board
of the train and overpowering the
messengers, and by taking possession
of the engine and express car and
running them off from the train, and
then leaving them after rifiing them
of their treasures. = robbery of this
kind occurred, also, on the Cincinna-
ii, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad,
when the American Express Compa-
ny was robbed of large amount. All
these robberies have emanated from
the same source. A family named
Reno, living at Rockford, two miles
from Seymour, have been the leaders
or instigators of the whole of these
daring outrages, They are also the
parties who led the raid in Iowa last
spring, when so many county safes
We're robbed.
On the 22d of May last the Adams
Express Company's car was robbed
about eighteen miles from Seymour,
or the line of the JeffersonviiIe, Mad
ison and Indianapolis Railroad. This
robbery was done by the Ren IS and
their friends, some of whom are now
in Canada to avoid capture, and 9TH
ers are under arrest for this outrage.
On the 10th instant, the Adams Ex-
press was again attempted to be rob-
bed, on the Ohio and Mississippi
Railroad, about thirteen miles west of
Seymour. The armed guards of the
Company, however, repulsed the rob-
bers, captured one and wounded some
of the others, two of whom have
since been captured, and for the re-
mainder a large reward has been Of
fered for their delivery to the author
tiles. James Volney Ellitz was one
of this gang, and was captured on the
night of the attempted robbery.
Chas. Roseburg, a resident of Sey-
mour, and a pupil of the Renos, was
afterWard arrested by the citizens of
Seymour, who turned out en- 9nGSse.
Frail Clifton was also arrested. They
all owned up to their connection with
the affair, and also the attempt to kill
the guards.
For safe keeping they were brought
to Cincinnati for a short time, when
were put on the train of the Ohio and
Mississippi Railroad bound for
Brownstown, the county seat of jack
son County, Indiana on the evening
of the Goth instant; hut on the arri-
val of the train, two or three miles
west of Seymour, it was stopped by a
large body of armed men, the guard
in charge of the prisoners being over
powered.
| LYNCHING OF THE PRISONERS. .
During the trip from this city,noth-
ing of interest occurred until the train
approached Seymour. Three miles
out of that place it was met by a
crowd of intensely excited citizens,
heavily armed, breathing vengeance
against the prisoners, and demanding
Immediate and summary punishment
upon them.
The subterfuge resorted to by the
mob was the exhibition of a signal OF
distress-a red Iight-upon the track,
upon seeing which the engineer whis.
tied down brakes. No sooner had the
train ccme to stand-stiIl, than the
bulk OF the so-called Vigilance Com
mittee, who were concealed in a thick
ct near by, boarded and took posses.
sion of the train, overpowered the
guards, and removed the prisoners tc
terra JfTnlG.
The poor wretches too fully compre
lSLuSu WlldG WIS W DG NlOiiGs L lHS
minutes were given them in which tC
prepare for death, while the eXecu
TONERS with gIim earnestness placed
the fatal moose about their necks.
They at first begged Tor mercy, but
finding it in vain, they concluded tc
make confession, and while standing
with the moose around their necks, the
unfortunate men confessed to thC
whole affair, and also admitted theil
knowledge of the celebrated Marsh
field robbery committed some month!
ago on the louisville and Innianapo
lis Railroad, each blaming the othel
two, and denying any personal con
nection with the same.
For the purpose of receiving thi
| confessic n, the time was extended t.
haif an hour, at the end of which tn,
: ropes were drawn, ana these wretcheC
! despeFadoes, covered with crime, ,wert
= launched into eternity. .-
= The crowd then dispersed, after tn,
8 writhing bodies had stiffened in tn
| chilling embrace of the King of Ter
3 rors, and yesterday morning the!
: ! were seen dangling from the branche