The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1870-11-04
Tho Orange County Tragedy..-
short Sketch Of tho Victims-.-
The Scene ct the Execution.


hanging Of two mon at the Lost Rive
bridge, 10 somewhat abatinR, though th,
prospect Of the arrest Of two more Of th,
|men who robbed Mr.. Fisher has awak
cned some anexity in the minds Of good
Icttizens, lest the terrible scene Of Tues
lday night be reenacted. Our reporter
has gathered mp the following fActs con.
nccted with this a1hir; that may enable
the reader to understand the situation
more clearly: There has been living in
Orange county, for some years, . n0t0.
riously bad character named Lewis Tun-
kgate, who has been terror the neigh.
b0rhood in which he lived. MI. Fisher,
q somewhat wealthy farmer; has had q
large amount Of cattle feeding for some
time, and lately sent them to MARKET
Tungate was aware Of this, and planned
for the robbery Of Mr.. Fisher, when he
should receive the money. He went to
Greene county, where ne secured con-
federates, and on the night previous to
the robbery, Tungate snd Pickard. with
two other men, left Newark, Greene
county, ~ we are informed by . respec-
|tsble citizen Of that county,. The peo-
pie of Newark have longe suspicioned .
certain store in that place rs being the
depot of gang Of coupterfeiters and
thieves, ss Pickard had been once ar
rested for counterfeiting, and made this
store as kind Of headquarters, with
|other doubtful characters. Their depart
ure the night before the robbery lead to
their arrest. Pickard and Tungate had
returned to Greene county, but their
had managed to escape
When taken back to Orange, and Pick
lard was recognized BY Mr.. and Mrs.
Fisher % one Of the robbers, and having
|evidence that both he and Tungate had
been prowling around In the neighbC.-
hood of Mr.. Fishers, the community
was greatly excited. It was reported
that Pickard was wealthy and would
give bail and escape, and, also, that Tun-
gate had threatened to burn out Mr..
Fisher when he should get clear
Whether these reports were true or not,
it gave occasion for spreading the de.
termination to hang the men by mob
violence.
On Tuesday Pickard was taken to Or
leans to have his preliminary trial, and
Tungate was subpHnaed for witness
and was also taken there. The trial was
deferred, and the men sent back to prison
during the night A guard Of twenty
men accompanied the prisoners, as there
were evidences that their rescue would
be attempted. The nigh was dark, and
when the party arrived at the bridge, or
was passing over 1t, the mob arose and
demanded the prisoners, closing around
the carriages, and In threatening man.
|ner, with arms for bloody work II nec-
csary. The scene Oh the bridge is de-
|scribed as terrible one by those who
were present. The first sound heard by
the guarding party was the clicking Of
arms, then came determined threats and
bitter cursing. The light Of but a single
dim lantern was seen. The effort upon
the part of one Of the guarding party to
address the crowd was speedily subdued,
and forthwith the carriages zvere enter.
ed and the inmates hustled out. each
one being carefully felt Of for the hand
cuffs, that identified the prisoner. The
brother Of Pickard WIS present and be-
sought the officer to release his brother
from handcuffs, but he said he had no
key. Pickard, the prisoner, remained
undaunted by the turmoil made no re-
sistancc, but told his captors that II they
hung him, they would hang IN innocent
man. Tungate struggled earnestly and
was preparing for his final plunge over
the abutments Of the bridge, with oaths
of defiance. So soon - the prisoners
were taken from the officers Of the law,
the officers and guard were warned to-
leave Immediately, which they did,
though it Is eaid few Of them remained.
They hastened to Paoli aud gave the
alarm, and with assistance returned, but
too late. The men were left hanging
dead on each end Of the bridge. The
brother Of Pickard remained there until
day.light, and even until 10 o'clock, but
was not permitted to take his brothcr's
body down until the Coroner came about
that hour TO hold IN inquest. He then
hadaa coffin brought and on the ~
O'Clock train took his brother's body To-
his homo in Greene county, while Tun.|
gates body was still out ct tho BRIDGE
awaiting the coming OF his friends, no
one seeming disposed to remove Il.
Thus ends the carrecr Of two laWless
men. The whole facts In the case show
that they were bad men, and were no
doubt guilty Of the robbery and other
bad crimes. But NO good citizen cam
approve OF the lswless oct by which they
were taken Oh, and the State rid Of their
presence. Albany Ledger.
uA young lady . western temper
ance meeting said ABrethern and sisfaEs,
cider 10 necessity 70 me, and must|
have Il. Ifit 10 decided that we avo not