Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-12-18
THE SEYMOUR VIGILANCE COM
MITTEE AGAIN AT WORK.
Attack on the New Albany JaiI-The
Express Robbers Taken Out-They
are Beaten and Hanged.

of being connected with the stoppage Of a
train on the D. and NJ. Railroad, and the
robbery of the Adams Expresscar on the
night of July 10. A few days later, three
others of the same gang, Sparks, Rose
berry, and Jerrell shared the same fate.
Frank Reno and Charles Anderson, sup
posed TO be accompliees in the train rob-
berry and other crimes, fed to Canada,
whence they we're taken, after much argu-
ment over the extradition laws. II was
not deemed safe to carry them to Seymour.
They were therefore imprisoned at New
Albany, together with two others of the
Reno family. Their trial was to take
place in February, but on Saturday the
case was summarily and violently ended,
as will be seen by the following account
given in the New Albany Commercial
extra:
Another terrible tragedy was enacted in
this city between 3 and o'clock, this
morning, resulting in the breaking open
Of the county jail and the shooting of
Sheriff Fullerlove. .s
At twenty minutes past o'clock this
morning the famous Vigilance Committee
put in an appearance. They arrived here
on the train from Jacksonville, getting of
the cars at Pearl street. There we're from
seventy to seventy-fve men, all we'll
dressed, wearing red flannel masks that
completely concealed their features. Each
man was armed with one or more revolt
vers, heavy club about 80 inches long,
aud slung shot
Upon getting off ofthe train they placed
patrols along the street from the railroad
to the Jail, aud strong guard was placed
around the Jail.
Before placing the guard around the
Jail, five or six men seized Mr.. Luther
Written, one Of ex-Sheriff Fullerlove's
guards, employed to keep watch at night
in the Jail yard, tied him, hand and foot.
and carried him into the Sheriff's Office
and placed him in a chair. The com.
mittee then SECURED the other persons in
the SherifFs office, and Immediately went
to the room in which Sheriff Fullerlove
and his wife were sleeping.
Sheriff FullerlOve had been awakened
by the noise, and stepped to the door just
Us the committee were about to enter il.
The committee demanded of the Sheriff
the keys to the Jail, aud told him if he
made any noise they would shoot him,
at the same time pointing their reyolyers
at him.
The Sheriff told them TO shoot--he
would not give them the keys, aud would
also raise the alarm. Sheriff Fulerlove
then opened door aud ran down stairs
into the basement Of the house and
climbed out of the window.
AS he did this, half dezen pistols
were pointed at him, and he told the crowd
Of Vigilants not 10 Ere at him, M he was
the Sheriff. Gaining the yard, he attemp.
ted to reach the gate lending into the
street, but was fred upon aud severely
wounded in the arm just below the elbow,
the bullet buryng itself in the bone.
Several men seized Sheriff r., one Of them
striking lin IN the forehead with the butt
OF pistol, knocking him down. Some
Of the mob told the men not 10 hurt tho
Sheriff, but TO carry him into the house,
which was done.
On their reaching the house, Mrs. Il
seeing blood upon her husbands clothing.
commenced crying, but she was told by
the mob to stop aud keep perfectly quiet,
or she would be killed. The Sheriff had
no clothing on except his drawers aud
shirts.
The mob then searched the house until
they found the jail keys. They then shut
up the Sheriff aud guards, aud proceeded
to unlock the doors Of the Jail. When
they reached the inside doors Of the cell
Of the room they encountered MIR. Mat
thcws, the patrol Ia the cell room. lie
drew his revolver and threatened 10 shoot
any man that would nttempt 20 unlock
the door. The mob showed him rope,
and told him if he fred even one shot
they would break the door down and hang
him. lie then surrendered 10 them, un-
der promise from them that bis life would
be spared The mob, however, were un.
able to unlock the door, aud they com.
PEELED Mr.. Matthews TO unlock II for them.
They then seized and tied him, aud
placed him in room with the other
captured guards. They had the keys of
the cell and before removing Matthews
from the cell-room they had forced him
to show them the cells in which Frank
Reno. Charles Anderson, Simeon Reno
and William Reno were confined. They
now bad full possession Of the Jail, and
knew where TO find their intended victims,
aud the work Of death was commenced
and speedily accomplished, leaving q
terrible and sickening memento of It's com.
ple,cnoss in the dangling, lifsless bodies
Of its victims.
The FIRST man hung was Simeon Reno.
The cell house Is divided into two tiers.
upper aud lower, and around the upper
tier Of cells is an iron corridor supported
by strong iron pillars. From the south
west corner of this corridor Simeon Reno
was hung. His arms and feet we're pin.
toned, and no was in his bare feet. He
had received a blow upon the head, and a
thin streak of blood stained his face. He
had on no clothing except his shirt and
pants.
The next victim was Charles Anderson.
lie was hung from the northwest corner
of the corridor, and his features gave evil |
depce Of terrible struggle with his re-
lentless executloners.
On the south end Of tho corridor Frank
Reno was hung. Upon his head, just
above tho right ear, was deep wound
apparently made with n slung shot, and
tho right side of his face was besmeared
with blood. The face aud neck we're re-
markablv white