The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-12-25


a sort of freight conductor and engineer on
the road, made up his mind that an attempt
would be made to rob the express car
He lodged what information he was able
to obtain with the company, and asked
that time might be allowed him to deter.
MING the matter, which was agreed to, and
he remained off for while. Absentine
himself from the train for while, he loung:
ed about Seymour, where he became ac-
quainted with five men, named Vol Elliott
Frank Sparks, John Moore, Charles Rose,
berry, and Henry Jarrel. 1t was not long
before they impaired to him the important
secret that they would Morgan" the train
leaving st. Louis at p. M. At once in
forming the express officer of the knowl-
edge gained, strong guard was placed in
the oar, and Flanders having left Seymour,
took his place as the engineer Of the train,
making an unusual stop at Brownstown,
the place designated for the robbery. Az
soon as the train stopped, Flanders jumped
down and commenced his usual examina-
tion of the machine, for the ostensible
purpose to see that it was all right; after
which he got up, and was almost instant
ly confronted by three of the gang with
cooked revolvers, WHICH they placed in
close proximity to his head, one Being jam
med against the eye hard enough to make
severe confusion. He surrendered at dis
erection, but before jumping off, requested
to be allowed to start the pumps, SO that
the engine would not be burned up, which
was granted. When the locomotive and
car started off, the thieves pushed the fire.
man overheard, and then fred several pis-
tol shots up into the air as signal of vic
tory. After moving three or four miles the
engine was stopped, aud the villains star
ted to examine the booty in the car, which
they supposed to be already theirs, when,
to their amazement, they were confronted
with the armed guard heretofore secreted
behind some baggage This was the signal
for general battle, both sides firing with
great rapidity, and the battle seemed about
even, until Vol. Elliott, the most daring,
as well as the acknowledged leader of the
gang, was seen to fall, when the rest beat a
hasty retreat. In the affray Flanders was
shot in the knee, and, it will be remember
ed, died from the effects of the injuries q
few days since.
Elliott, Clinton, and Jarrel were arrested a
day or two afer the occurrence, and brought
to this city for safe keeping. They were
kept here until the night of July 30, when
they were put on the train bound for
Brownstown, the county seat of jackson
County, Indiana. On the arrival of the
train two or three miles west of Seymour,
it was stopped by large body of armed
men, the guard in charge of the prisoners
being overpowered. The subterfuge re-
sorted to by the mob was the exhibition OF
signal of Distress red light-upon
the track, upon seeing which the engineer
whistled down breaks. No sooner had
the train come to stand-still than the
bulk of the so called Vigilance Committee,
who were concealed in thicket near by,
boarded and took possession of the train,
overpowered the guards, and removed the
prisoners to terra trnad. The poor wretch
es too fully compromised what was to be
done. Five minutes were given them in
which to prepare for death, while the exc
cutioners with grim earnestness placed
the fatal moose about their necks. They at
first begged for mercy, but finding it in
vain, they concluded to make confession
and while standing with the moose around
their necks, the unfortunate men confessed
to the whole affair, and also admitted
their knowledge Of the celebrated Marsh.
field robbery, each blaming the other two,
and denying any personal connection with
the same. For the purpose ofreceiving this
confession, the time was extended to half
an hour, at the end of which the ropes
were drawn, and these wretched despera-
does, covered with crime, were launched
into eternity. The crowd then dispersed,
after the writhing bodies had stiffened in
the chilling embrace of the King of TerroFs
The Vigilance committee, after performing
their terrible work, issued the following
proclamation
ATTENTION, 3HIEvEs.
The attention of all thieves, robbers, as
sasins, and Migrants, together with Their
aiders, abettors, and sympathizers, is cal
led to the doing of the Seymour Vigilance
Committee last night
We are determined to follow this up up
til all of the classes above named, whether
imported, or to the "manor born" are
| driven forever from our midst.
Threats have been made of retaliation in
case we should resort to capital punish.
mcnt. In answer we say: ."Shouid one Of
our committee be harmed, or a dollars
worth of property of any honest man be
destroyed, by persons unknown, we will
s,cing By the neck, until they be dead, every
thieving character we can lay our hands
ON, without inquiring whether we have the
persons who committed that particular
crime or not. This applies not only t.
Seymour, but along the line of the two
roads, and wherever our organization ex
lists. Lao and order mast preOaa.
By ORDER OF THE COMMITTEE,
Seymour, Ind, July 81, 1868.
1t was known that three of the robbers
were still at large, and a vigorous pursuit
was at once commenced. After search Of
several days, James Moore, Frank Sparks
and Bill Rosebcry were arrested, identified
and hung to the same tree that caused the
death of the others. During the early part
of November William Reno and Anderson
arrived here in the care of Mr.. Weih and
were, after short delay, taken to New
Albany and put in Floyd County Jail fol-
safe keeping. 1t was supposed that the
vigilance committee had had enough Of
taking the law into their own hands, and
that these men, in connection with Frank
and Simeon Reno, would be granted a fail
trial. Such, however we are soyry to say
was not the case, and New Albany Satur-
day morning was chosen as the scene ofthe
terrible occurrence. At 80 o'clock Satur-
day morning, the Vigilance Committee
from Seymour, to the number seventy OIL
seventy-five men, arrived in New Albany
on the Jacksonville Road. They were al
we'll dressed, and wore red flannel masks.
Each man was armed with heavy club