New-York tribune., 1871-12-08
INNOCENT MEN LYNCHED.
srARrLlNG REVELATIONS IN THE PARK
MURDER CASE.

Ohor.
ruK NEGROES LYNCHED IN TIE INTEREST OF
TIE REAL MURDERERs-THE STkONuhSn
EVIDENCE OF INNOCENCE-NEIGHBORHO
FEUDS.
INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 4.-The recollection OF
the horrible assassination of almost entire family
Clark County the night Of the 1lth OF Novcmper M
lowed 1t by the lawless execution OF tnroc @
supposed murderers by an organized band OF n"'A..
sssassins still fresh in the public mind On tne sn'
In Question an esmable citizen named fark' n' VIZ
and son 10 yearsod were murdered in their BEDS "
Psrks two daughters Eveine and Helen age IeepeoV
ivcly II and H. were horribly pangled 'ha' .'o ~
covery at the time seemed al absolute impoSsio's Inv
unexampled atrocy Of the murder, charaoeriIco Us
was by useless and aimless ferocity when embraced
victims that could In no have nterereu WIN 'e
objects Of the assassins plunder been the only mo
tive, increased the intensity OF puphc ihoiena'o"
6rst impression, based on false repreSch'"ioh' VI WV
facs was that the three negroes subsequently nuns W
the mob had done the deed. and that the oo
pleteness Of the tragedy owing to wld oarDarc
,h,.t %, hood awakened in savage natures By the muir
der of Mr. Park and his wife, which had been itself rem
derd necessary to prevent discovery But as the white
heat of public indignation began to COOL ccrtan iacts
leaked out which calculated not only TO impicae
other men, but throw doubt on the guilt OF the un'
negroes sacrificed to the blind OF the mob
In order TO get the truth OF the matter shrewd
pewspauer man. who combines in his organization many
OF the elements which 60 make excellent decc
tive dispatched by The Journal OF this city 10 Nlst
Clark County with all sorts of people, and learn all
he could Of particulars attending the murder and the
subsequent lynchng The amateur detective, III dis-
guise which cross between the hog drOver ana the
country schoolmaster, and with carefully cultivated
Kentucky patos visited Clark County and spent Tour or
five days among the natives He has Just returned ana
from All interview with him have gathered some inter
Getting and astounding facts, which go far toward con-
frn the doubts OF the guilt OF the negroes and reveal
shatnofnl and disgracefu OF In certain
portions OF Southern Indiana.
powerful organization known "a the vii ance Com
mttee exists in this part OF the state, with its head
quarters at Seymour. Many good men belong to TINS
organization well some of opposite Character Inc
dongs OF th organized band OF yncher matters OF
history AMI have given the town Of Seymour an unenv
able uotoriet from end Of the country to the other
hanging OF the Reno gang stl fresh In the puphc
mind Altogether, men have been Illegally choked TO
death by bunging amateurs But the fatal hang
Jugs form but small part OF their doings scores OF
men been hung mp by the neck until they were In
sensible, and scores have been whipped until their
hides cut into ribbons. tarred and feathered or
driven ont Of the country by warning notices. For
time midnight whppings were 80 common IN seymour
that scarce week passed without one and as these
minor events not deemed of sufficient notice 10 be
worth paragraph the local papers, the outside world
rarely heard of them Any wandering patent medicine
vender petty gambler lOafer or even shabby CONNER
ca traveller who happened to miss connection and pass
night at seymour, liable. II he happened to be u
known and facial didn't happen to indicate
deeply yro0tcd honesty, to be waited ulon By subcom
mittee, escorted TO q convenient Jack, and there
treated to such fogSng he would not forget TO the
day Of his death.
Clak County is largely Democratic 1t made up Of
negotiating people. most Of whom live in constant
apprehension that each of their daughters will be com
PEELED. at future time, to marry great, black,
bury, sweatnnegro and that the unloly alliance will
be enforced by constitutional amendment. Aside from
political bgotry the county is within the influence Of
the Seymour Vigilance Committee Neighborhood quar-
re characterized by the relentless hate Of Corscan
rendena. prevail, and have sboen handed down from
generation TO generation. Protective leagues" have
been formed by certain SETS and have been met by
position leagues There have been fierce personal con-
Hict arson, killing and manning Of stock, and threats
Of assassination. Mr. Park the murdered man, though
an estimable citizen and quiet. unoending man, had
the misfortune to become embroiled with ono OF the 81
factions, headed by desperate and unscrupuous man.
and compelled, in sefdefense to attach hmsen 10
another combination. The illeeling however, had ap-
pareny died out and at the time OF the murderit mad
been almost forgotten.
On tho morning of the 18th of November the news OF
the murder spread rapidly throughout the neighbor
hood and in a short time fully 1900 persons had gath
cred at the Park house. where they crowded horror
stricken about the 6Orpses OF the ghastly Dead and
listened to the sterorous breathing Of the two girls
who. all mangcd and CORY, lay apparently In the ago
nes OF death. Mr.. Park known as a good, honest
man. and the multitude wild with horror and ter
ror FINALLY a gentleman named Guernsey who seemed
cooler than any else present suggested an informal
inquest with the view of finding some clue to the assa
sius The suggestion was promptly accepted, and MI
Guernsey by general consent selected to lead the
inquiry The first question put was
"Hsd this man enemiesi" The first response was a
spontaneous negative He good, kind honest. char
table and everybody liked him. But finally of his
neighbors a gentleman named Kirk and fellOwelder
in the church. announced that MI Park did have
enemies-crue unrelenting and unscrupulous ones He
said that Mr.. Park had given certain persons trouble
and they had sent him threatening letters that he lived
On constant apprehension OF personal violence or destruc
tiOn OF his property. Mr. Kirk had seen many OF these
threatening letters Of them signed by the name
Of, had hined plainly and Enthusiastically at assassi-
ton. Just at this point the examination OF Mr. Kirk
was brought sudden close. Then the inquiry was
made, "whO from home last night - The crowd
took up the idea with howl and Immediately the most
searching investigation was commenced. Scores Of
people OF the class known shtess were subjected
to brutal Examination, spieed with oahs and
threats; but for time could be fonnd who
not fortified with aitbi which proof against
blind, unreasoning rage.
On the night of the 18th Mr.. Kirk aroused by the
barking Of his dogs and went TO cause
Of the disturbance He found two lurking about his
premsesone tall, wkward, and slouching in gait with
long, spe-ke arms and the other small in stature Mr.
Kirk hailed the men, and inquired what they wanted
when they advanced upon him, the tall man brandshing
bludgeon. They chased him to his very door, and Mr.
Kirk thinks that IL he had been few yards further
from his hOuseshe would have been killed He will not
say that he recognized the men, but he will swear that
they rhik men.
The inquiry to 9" who was from homei" finally de-
velOped the fact that certain minded and vicious
negro named johnson could give satisfactory
of himself. He taken before person who has had
considerable experience In ectng the truth FROM reluc
tsnt witnesses by Of little wholesome winding
"a aiuhie tuf