The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1868-08-06
The Lynching and Hanging of the Ad-
ans Express Robbers.
From The Cincinnati Gazette, July q

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From The Cincinnati Gazette, July q.
The final scene in the tragedy at Sey-
mour has been enacted The last of the
express robbers have fallen into the hands
of Vigilance Committee. The story of
the last ATTEMPTED robbery is still fresh in
the memories of our readers, and the ter
riblc Judgment mcted out to Ellcts, Rose
berry, and Clifton will not have been for.
gotten. They were hanged on Monday
last-only week ago to-day Two days
before Eiiets was writing letters to friends
in Seymour from the Ninth st. Station
House, in this city, telling them to be in
no fear, for he was well and would soon re-
join them asking them "to smoke their
best cigars on his account" and .to be-
lieye no news which they might hear. p
The three were taken on Monday from
this city, and borne to Seymour, arriving
there at about 10 O'clock Monday night
All was silent at the depot when the train
halted. There was no hint of the tragedy
soon to be enacted. After the transfer
of its freight, train sped on toward
Browns-town, but it had not proceeded
far before it was signalcd by a red light,
and, In obedience to the summons, the
train stopped. At once it was surround
by body of two hundred men, detach-
mcnt went at once to the express car,
where the three outlaws were sitting
There were only two pairs of handouts,
Roscberry being bound with one pair,
and Ellets and Clifton fastened together
with the other. In silence, without
words or noise, the stern, selfappointed
executioncrs seized, first Roscberry, who
bound rs he was, could make no resist
ance, threw him from the car, and gave
him in charge Of the members of the
Committee outside. With Ellets and
Clifton the work was more difficult, for
each, with his feet and his unfcttered
hand, made fearful resistance, fighting,
as one expresses it, ''like tigers" In a
few minntes the train was again on its
way. So quickly, so noiselessly had the
work been accomplished that sleeping
pass cngcrs were not even aroused from
their slumbers. Ellets and Rosebcrry
aud Clifton were hurried away. Only a
few moments later their bodies were dang
ling, in the black darkness of the night,
from limbs in the midst of the forests
No one was near to witness their last
no one to offer even the short
est prayer. But the end was not yet
The work OF the Committee was still not
accomplished. Three of the party en-
gagged in the outrage were yet at large,
and until the same wild justice had been
metcd out to them as to Ellets, Roscbcr-
ry. and Clifton, the Committee could not
cease its labors. A description Of Moore,
Speaks, and Jcrrell had been sent out in
all directions. On Friday afternoon
these three men were found in Mantoon,
Illinois, whittier they had fed Immediate
ly after the attempted robbery. All were
at work on a farm, and were arrested by
the Sheriff Of the place. They were
placed in charge Of a special officer from
Seymour, and on Saturday put on the
train bound for indianapolis. Again, as
the train reached Seymour, all was quite.
No confusion, no noise, no armed com
mitteo, no threats OF lynch law on any
side. 1t was thought best that the pris-
oners should be taken to Brownstown in
a wagon, and accordingly at about mid
night the three prisoners aud their guard
started off At about o'clock yesterday
morning the wagon was stopped in the
midst of the great dreary forest. The
three were taken from the custody Of the
officers aud without the forms Of law were
bidden to prepare for death. Questions
were asked about different outrages which
had been committed in the vicinity, but
no answers were returned. Then the
woods witnessed once more the terrible
retribution extended to guilty men by
men, who had for years been held in a
bondage of abject fear. Again the morn.
ing light revealed these CHASTITY corpses
hanging from the limbs.