New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-08-01
THE ADAMS EMPRESS ROBBERS.
HUMILIATING DIsCLOsUREs-wHY CITIZENS RE-
SORTED TO LYNCH LAW.

HUMILIATING DISCLOSURES-WHY CITIZENS RE
SORTED TO LYNCH LAW.
An Indianapolis letter to The Chicago Re
publican shows why 1t was that Vigilance Committee
hanged six Of the Adams Express robbers The writer
in the Republican says:
There considerable excitement here in regard TO the
recent ynchng Of the express robbers In jackson County
in this State. Although It is well known that courts OF
Justice have been farce In that county, and that
the law has been mOckery so that the honest people
have had resort to extreme measures TO preserve life
and property it is nevertheless fact that the police
authorities Of Indianapolis have done all IN their power
to prevent either the arrest or punishment OF these
thieves. To-day Gen Mansfield OF this State has taken
ton for the purpose OF guarding the prisoners
from the Vigilance Committee Much excitement
exists concerning the affair ana ~ IS anuel-
pated that considerable trouble will result 1t under
stood that Gov. Baker has no sympathy Win those VINO
arc attempting 10 screen the robbers We learn from
Jackson County that the honest citizens there arc banded
together as one man n m ra sy are thew
the county The property Of that county within the last
of the that 1t has been home for and des-
peradOes Of every class The people at last have sen
and the six men who have been hanged VIII merely FORM
o prelude Of what is to follow"
letter from Seymour, Indiana, published in The m
dianapOIis Journal, has the following:
For fifteen or twenty years it has been patent to the
OF the vage nas and ny
that length Of time 1t s thought II not certainly known
that Of the oldest nbabtans are the fathers OF the
robberes and depredatons which have long dsgraced
jackson County Houses have been broken open stores
been burgartZcd, murders have been committed,
highway robberes have been perptratcd street braws
have been engaged H. passengers on either road have
been brutally beaten and maltreaed by this gang OF
devils. times without number, and although put under
arrest at first by the aid of unprncped lawyers and the
tardy forms OF justice In county circuit they have nya
raby escaped punishment signalling their release from
custody by crimes OF deeper dye. When any OF them
have been arrested bail given continuances taken
and in the time witnesses killed, moved of spr
tied Then when the prisoner was ready for trial.
by Of the challenges the law allows 10
defendant some one or two OF the members OF the ring
have always managed to obtain seats on the Jury and
then secure the acQua OF the prisoner by hanging
dsagreeing The forms OF law have been made cruel
mOckery; trials have been sbams, and the good PEG
pie Of Seymour have quietly and cOnstitutiOnaly
watched this state Of affairs seeing their property
depreciae business retrograde, and society demOra
ize until they felt that time had arrived when they
themselves avenge justice and take upon their
shoulders the terrible responsibility OF melting out the
penalty OF outraged society Six men have met their
death at the hands OF the people, Their terrible fate has
served 10 appa the weakminded faint hearted class OF
desperadoes and to excite threats OF retaliation and re-
venRe from others The property and lives OF those sus
pected OF connection with the committee have been freely
threatened while Mrs Reno, the mother OF the Reno
brothers. has avOwed that Seymour should Do laid In
ashes IL one Of her is treated 10 similar fate IL
may be remarked, IL IL will be any satisfaction 10 Mrs
Reno that the only way TO her boys and conse-
quently 20 preserve Seymour from incrematon, Will be
for the precious boys 10 steer very clear OF that locality
Should retaliation DO attempted the committee have
published the fact that they will swing by the neck any
and every man, without any reference 10 the fact
whether they connected with the particular crime
or not list Of them Is kept with their crimes ana
history and citizen told II they attempt 10 play
back Is or 40 more will 10 the same way as the sl1