The New York herald., 1870-09-17
THE HARRISON MURDER n uDfAHA
A Dissipated Young Man In Dearborn County
Kills His Father-in-Inw-Auempt OF tho
Citizens to Lynch the Murdcrer-Tnc sheriff
Defeats Their Purpose.

Defeats Their Purpose.
From the Cincinnati Gazette, sept. l.l
Mcdonald Cheek Is the name OF young man OF
good family. but bad personal character, who CON-
mitted most cold bloOded murder in the vicinity OF
Aurora Indiana, on the 6th OF the present month
and is now In danger OF having summary justice
dealt out 10 him by the enraged people IN that neigh
borhood. The victim or his revenge was Mr. Thos.
Harrison. well-to-do and highly respected farmer,
residing short distance from Aurora, and the ex-
citement over the affair is almost great through
out the state as that over the celebrated Clem case
The circumstances OF the aair about AZ follows,
az stated To US by relative oil the deceased:--
Cneek commenced paying his attentions TO lIarr-
sOn's daughter about four years ago, but his suit
was not encouraged by Harrison on account OF his
worthless character This action on ine part OF tho
farmer however, did not seem TO be approved by
his daughter, after the usual coursnip parties
were united IN the holy bonds Of matrinony. She
had received sum OF money as bequest from her
deceased grandfather. Thomas Kyle and " was not
a long time after the marriage before her husband
began to follow the natural incnatons OF his char
acter and drew heavily upon his wife's patrilnony
Tor the purpose or indugilg his passion for disspa
tion. Mr.. Harrison nterfered at this juncure-
treated his sOn-in-law with the greatest Kindness,
and endeavored by every means available to reform
and make man of MIN. But his benevolent inten-
tons met with no good result, and the welded pair
separated several times on account Of Cheeks mis-
conduct. The last separation occurred about q
month ago, ut winch time Cheek made an assault
upon his wlie and cut her dress 10 pieces besides
lacerating one OF ner fingers.
feeling toward his father-in-iaw at whose door ne
appeared To lay all his troubles. On Monday, the
sth OF the present month, he started out in buggy
with man named Bailey, and drove along road
that leads past Mr.. Harrisons house. When within
short distance OF the residence his father-nl law
came driving along the road In ap opposite direc-
ton ana an altc rcaOn at once ensued between the
parties. The dispute grew in intensity, and was
named Doc Kyle Finally Cheek pulled revolver
from MS pocket and discharged tour OF It's chambers
at the unfortunate gentleman, Killing hm Instantly
n. a VHu tnaa acrn
pishment OF the deed. After committing the dia-
boiical act the couple got INTO their buggy and
OF man named jacob Abdom Cheek remarked IN
an audible voice to his companion, Didn't do
DO right IN Killing the d-n son OF b-h" and
Bailey replied, "fes, only you didn't give him
en0ugh.' They also passed the residence OF their
ta vicnm and as they did so Cheek remarked to the
tnen coninaed their ride " ,~' ~
The news OF the affair reached Aurora Lawrence
burg, and the surrounding country IN very short
time after MS occurrence, and steps were at once
taken TO secure the arrest OF the villain reward OF
$4,000 In all offered to his arrest,
and this golden bail had the effect OF placing every
BODY on the alert for the murderer Photographs Of
Cheek. taken about four years ago. were sent 10 dlf
fcrent places, containing brief statement OF the
facts In the case and the amount offered for his ap
IN sitting position land wth the butt end OF pistol
exposed to view, as 1t was carried inner coat
pocket, and the air OF Dravado that he has assumed
Ii said to be highly characteristic oil him.
For number or days the search was unsuccessful,
and Mr.. Frank X. DOrman, the Sheriff Of Dearborn
county, Indiana, In which county the murder was
committed, was constantly In receipt OF communica-
lions from city and village authorities, detectives
had spotted character Who 'ig heg co ay
toently supposed was the man sought after,
aud desiring photographs Of the criminal:
Indian, named Henry Bunlngton was
| however, destined to be the fortunate man. Hc had
followed clue for short time without success but
last Monday he came across the OBJECT of his search
| on the ouis OF Loughery creek, In ONO county.
Ind. and Immediately arrested him Cheek otierln9
no reSistaicet He was at once removed TO the
county jail, which IL situated In Lawrenceburg, and
| in which Bailey was also confined.
During the day OF the arrest Sheriff D0rman re-
ceived several mysterious mssve, warning him
that III case an attempt was made to take the pr-
soners from jai 10 be tried before The dreaded
Judge Lynch no resistance should be offered, or the
consequences wound fall upon himself and his assist
ants. He, therefore very judiciously made pre-.
force OF guards TO do duty at the jail That night,
and when darkness came on he had mustered a
| five deputies, the City Marshal and three police
men, with half dozen OF the most brave and
determined citizens OF his acquaintance. hi.
force was stationed at the two outside doors d1 h
residence Ia two story brick building, In the
" mom raanesS e @ G ~ th adya a G was
IL was well understood In the town that some Sur
ring scene might be expected at the jan that night,
| and crowds OF people began TO assemble as midnight
approached for the purpose Of witnessing the afIlr.
ABOUT twelve O'Clock the trouble commenced, and a
party OF over one hundred men, mostly mounted on
horseback and well armed, made their appearance
In the town. They at once proceeded to the Jail,
| and amld shouts OF "IiaDg him - "Bring MIN out y
&C., with the sgnincent display OF ropes the leader
OF the party demanded that the prisoner be turned
| over to them The crowd numbered among It's men,
bers some OF the most prominent citizens OF that
section OF the country and was made up Of delega-
| tiOns from within radius OF about SIX miles OF
Lawrencburg and from the town OF Petersburg Ky.
No masks were worn, and the greatest Indignation
toward the prisoner prevailed
Mr.. Dorman Determined, If possible, to paclfy the
would-be lynchcrs and To accomplish that purpose
ne made speech, advising them to desist from their
| present purpose and to allow the law to take It's
course, stating that IT. after trial had been had the
| prisoner should be acquitted, then would be the
proper time for such a demonstration. He was fol
lowed in q similar strain by ex-Sherin Arnold De
| putty Auditor Haynes and one or two other gentle.
men, and the leader OF the mob then asked his fol-
lowers whether they should follow MS advice or per
| sst In their design. The reply was not satsfac-
| tory one, and new leader In the person OF q no.
torious character named Pete Miller appeared upon
demanded the keys, and on being told that they had
been removed they produced number OF cr0wbars
orce an entrance The little posse OF oiiicers was
| equal to the emergency, however, and presented a
1rm front as the mob pressed on. The side steps
leading 10 the doors of the building were blocked
| with people whom the guards by main lOrce held
back, and It Is great wonder that no weapons were
drawn and brought into action.
| Sheriff Dorman now made another address to the
crowd urging the law-abiding portion to use their
| influence with the balance to prevent The breaking
open OF the Jail, and as the request was complied
| with by number OF persons and the guards still
held their own the courage Of the foremost OF the
| lynCnerS began 10 Wanc, anu tne three
dred persons assembled around the jail soon began
TO drop on singly and In groups. In about half an
! hour the majority OF the crowd had melted away
| and gone 10 their homes. but quite u number OF
people remained in the vicinity for a much longer
time, waiting dlke Mr.. Micawber) for something to
turn up IL appeared TO be the opinion OF the people
that, Cheeks friends wealthy and well versed
In the mysteries OF the law they would procure u
| change OF venue In the case, and, by shifting the
trial from county to county ultimately prevent JUS
tice being dealt out 10 him as he deserves, and 10
this feeling may the attempt to lynch him be attri-
| buted
The predicament Of the prisoners. as their fate
| was being discussed outside the jail may be imag
| med They were both closely confined, yet perfectly
aware Of the state OF affairs, and they were greatly
| terrified In consequence. Cheek IL rather a small
| man, with a beardess face, ana appears younger
| than he really Is. lie appears totally unlnOved by
| his SITUATION and Is evidently bad man. A mali
ciOus smile turks In his face, and he does not look
ms nterocutor straight la the face during
object to another. He entreated the Sheriff during
the evening to furnish HIM with weapons oil defence
j