Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-12-15

The Horrible Tragedy at New
Albany.
Further Particulars Of the Ex-
ecutiOn.
From the Louisville Democrat, De. IA.

asT
From the Louisville Democrat. De. Il
The most shocking and bloody tragedy
that has ever darkened the annals Of In
diana, took place in New Albany at al
early hour on Saturday morning. Tn,
city was invaded by body of men, sup
posed to be the Jackson county Vigilance
Committee, or Ku-Klux Klan, as such or.
carnations have been termed in the
South. They wore scarlet masks, and
Immediately upon their arrival proceeded
to the county Jail, which is located or
the corner of State and Spring streets in
the very heart of the city. A portion o.
the mob, which has been Variously esti-
mated at from seventy-fve to one hun
bred, forcibly entered the jail and hung
the four express robbers, Frank, Simon
and William Reno, and Charles Ander-
son. From the New Albany Ledger we
CLEAN the following history of this horri-
BILE affair:
THE ADVENT OF THE LYNCHERs.
At about three O'Clock on Saturday
morning, Mr.. Luther Written, one of the
outside guards at the jail, after making
his usual rounds, went into the Jail office
and sat down by the fire few moments.
He had been inside but few moments
when o noise was heard outside, and ap-
preaching the door to open it, was met at
the entrance by party Of men, who pre-
scented pistols to him, demanding silence
on pain Of death. Written shouted,
however, but he was roughly seized by
several of the mob and thrown into q
corner, and informed if he uttered another
sound his life would pay the forfeit.
SHOOTING OF SHERIFF FULLENLovE.
By this time the Jail Office was filled
with men, who commenced searching for
the keys to the Jail doors. Sheriff
Fullenloye, who was sleeping in a room
across the hall from the office, heard
Written shout, and opened the door only
to meet large force of men. Compre-
hending the situation at once, he rushed
down the stairs leading to the base
ment OF the Jail residence, for the pur-
pose Of giving the alarm. As he
went down the stairs he heard several
voices say, "Shoot down the stairs" but
he was too quick for them, and gained
the door leading to the grounds on the
west side of the Jail. Here he met
another force Of armed men, the Jail
being surrounded with them, and, upon
seeing pistols pointed at him, exclaimed,
Gentlemen, don't shoot me, l an the
Sheriff" Just as he said this, one of the
gang fred, the shot taking effect in the
right ann near the elbow, inflicting very
serious and painful wound. The Sheriff
shouted murder help ~ st the the top
of his voice, but was soon silenced by
blow over the forehead, from a heavy
pistol. He was then taken into the Jail
hall and placed under guard. The keys
of the Jail and the cells were demanded
Of him under a threat of death if he re-
fused to deliver them up, but Fullenlove,
cooked pistols were
pointed at his head, toll the mob that
they might kill him before he would
give up the keys, or aid them in any way
TIE SEARCH FOR THE KEYS.
All this time, which, however, was but
q few moments, men were searching every
part Of the jail residence for the keys.
About dozen entered the room where
Mrs. Fullenlove was in bed, and demand
cd of her the whereabouts of the keys.
Sheriff Fullenlove hearing the demand of
his wife, called to her to let them kill her
rather than tell. She did refuse to give
them any information, but they succeeded
in finding the object of their search in q
wash-stand drawer in tho room.
These in their possession, no time was
lost in opening the jail doors. Here the
mob had some difficulty, as they could
not unlock the cells, not being acquainted
with the keys, each lock being different
They returned to the hall and demanded
that Fullenlove should go with them and
open the cells, but this he most emphati<
cally, although again threatened with
death, refused to do. At this some one
remarked, "here is manipulating to
Thomas Matthews, one Of the inside
guards, and several pistols were pointed
at his head. Matthews dropped to the
floor, as though he was shot, but was
soon compelled to do as he was directed
open the cells of the men the mob had
determined to hang.
HANGING OF THE VICTIMS.
The first victim dragged from his cell
was Frank Reno, whose piteous cries as
the mob placed the fatal moose about his
neck, are described as most heart-rend~
ing. He was held up by soma of the
mob while the rope was made fast to the
iron pillars from the platform around the
second tier Of the cells. VIM. Reno was
the next man brought out, and he was
hung along side his brother and to the
same pillar. Simeon Reno was next
brought forth from his cell, but he fought
the mob with great desperation, knocks
ing one or two Of them down before he
was overpowered and left suspended be-
tween tho ceiling and floor. He was left
hanging at the southwest corner Of the
Jail cells, his feet nearly dragging the
floor. Charles Anderson, the last victim,
was heard to beg for the privilege Of
praying before the fatal moose was ad,
justed, but he was told by his relentless
enemies to shut up, and soon his body
was hanging from the pillar at the south
west corner Of the Jail cells.
HEARTRENDING SCENE.
The wives Of Frank Reno and Charlie.
Anderson have been temporarily residing
in this city for several weeks. Mis-
Laura Reno, the sister Of the deceased
who has shown such devotion to her i'll
fated brothers, arrived here at 10 o'clocl
this morning, dispatch having been sen
to Louisville, where she was attending
Catholic school. As may be supposed
she, as well as Mrs. Frank Reno and Mrs
Anderson, are in deep distress at tn
awful butchery. When taken to viev
the remains Of her three dead brothers
lying in a row, the distress of the siste
was spectacle never to be forgotten
| Her cries were piteous and heartrending
The youngest of the brothers Seemed t
be the special object of her affection, for
as she stopped over the lifeless form, sh
exclaimed, "Oh my brother my bah
brother b
WHAT INsTIGATED THE SCARLET MOB tt
THE LYNCHING.
It is understood that Reno and AndeI
son intended to apply before Judge Bick
nell for writ of ha6eas corpus, sayin
that they could show that they were nc
concerned in the Marshfield robbery
The so-called Vigilants probably e
wind of this, and hence the terrible trag
enay of this morning.
| GUILTY Oh NOT GUILTY.
Mrs. Anderson stated to our reporte
that Charles Anderson was In bed wit