Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-11-25

I'll
a dispatch from BToOkviile, Ind, published in
Yesterdays Gazette. announced that an attempt
was made, ON Saturday night last to lynch Me- ]
Donald Check, now confined in the Jail at that
place for the murder of his father in-law, Thos
Harrison, about year ago. From parties re-
siding IN Brookyille, who were eognizant of the
facts AT the time they occurred, we have OBJ
impress of truth:
About 1870 O'Clock last Sunday morning. a
mob composed of some seventy-fve or eighty
residents of Aurora and Manchester, entered
BroO6ville and proceeded to the jail, for the
purpose OF hanging Mcdonald Cheek. They
had come in wagons, in two bodies, from differ
ent directions, and, by preconcerted arrange
ment, met in the outskirts of the village, leaving
their wagons about a mile out of town, in the
timber ON the west fork of the Whitewater. The
persons composing the party were clad in great
coats, reaching to the knee. and long capes.
They were all masked and seemed to be under
the command of a chief, whose orders were car
ried out so far as the unforeseen difficulties in
the way OF their sef-imPosed mission permitted.
On their way to the Jail they were encountered
by several citizens, who were peremptorily or
dered into their houses, under penalty of death.
To one who met them a short distance from the
prison, and demurred to their stern order, they
said, $50 back into your house, If you don't
want to get shot!' and to another who ques-
toned them in regard to their errand, 'sWe
don't want to hurt anybody here, but we are
going to hang Cheek"
Arriving at the jail, sledgehammers and crow
bars were produced, and the work of breaking
down the outer doors commenced These were
three In number, constructed of iron, and with
stood the united efforts OF the mob for some
twenty minutes before an entrance was forced.
As the last door fell, the party formed in mill
tary order, and before entering INDUCED in a
little foTmaity which, under the circumstances,
seems slightly superfuOus. The leader, standing
at the entrance, repeated the words "One, two,
three, in goes he;;" and stepped inside, followed
by his companions, each one as he entered re-
peating the eabslIstic words which, in view of
the unexpected termination of the attempt,
when II became necessary to reverse the move
ment and hurriedly execute ''Out goes he, :" i'm
part ludicrous tinge to what was intended to
be tragic TetributiOn.
long hall runs through the jail on each side
OF which are located the cells Cheek occupied
the third one from the outer door on the right
hand side. The cell doors were open, as is the
custom, in order TO give the prisoners an OppOr-
tunftY for exercise in the hall
With the first blow upon the solid outer DOORS
Cheek reused from his slumber, and knew intui-
lively that the hour for which he had long looked
had come. Alone, in the darkness of his cell
knowing that there was but little probability of
the arrival Of aid. he made preparation for de-
fence, determined at least to sell his life a.
dearly as he could. wrenchng post from the
low bedstead, from which he had lust risen he
took his station near the door and awaited the
coming struggle. In spite of the awful crime
that brought him TO a murderer cell. one can
not repress a sentiment of admiration for the
GOODNESS and courage with which he prepared to
meet what seemed his inevitable DOOM
The leader OF the mob knocked on the door of
;he first cell, in which was confined a prisoner
swer to the inquiry. Who's THEREOF Coulter
replied, giving his name. Said the spokesman,
" We don't want you, Coulter; We are friends of
yours. Where's Cheek"
Coulter, TO draw them of the scent, if DOS
sible, replied, " Cheeks up stairs, expect"
This answer did not seem to satisfy them.
After word or two among themselves they
Proceeded direct to Cheeks cell, knocked at the
door, which was about half opened, and inquired,
- " hos here s'
Cheek replied, "Harry''-the name Of a fell
Come out and show YOURSELF"
He remained mOtiOnless-
They asked again, - Who's in here ?'' and he
replied a before, " Harry"
member OF the party cried " That's Check.
now - one OF them, rising the side of "A dark
lantern, looked within the cell. and seeing the
desperate man standing at bay, like a hunted
tiger hastily withdrew, with the cry, He has
the mob. -
"NO no: don't shoot him. Here is a rome
lets hang him" said one who appeared to exer-
else authority.
Said another, "Shoot him, if you can't get
At this moment Check made a movement.
and one Of the party luDged at him with a crow
bar, bruislDg his side, but inhicting no serious
INJURY.
Another, who did not believe in incompleted
work drew navy revolver from his breast
rocket, and, handing il 10 one OF his comrades
who was hourishing small pistol, said, "Here
take my revolver; don't shoot him with that
little one. Ii won't kill him."
The speaker then thrust his weapon inside the
door and fired. The muzzle OF the revolver
against Cheeks side, bat at the moment il was
discharged he dashed 1t aside, and the bullet
glanced across his knuckles, inhctng a slight
wound The man who had tTed then put his
head inside the cell to III the shot had killed
the prisoner, but a. he did 50 the bludgeon with
which Cheek had armed himself crashed down
upon his unprotected head and he dropped
TO the floor like feled OK. His revolver
dropped from his hand and was at once seized by
Ashley saw the senseless form of their comrade.
and heard the crashing blow, one of their num-
Der cried: my God. he has killed Snyder and
has got his revolver"
Then these seventy-fve courageous men held
an lmpromRtu convention 10 decide as to the
next step TO be taken. No doubt as thew 500
there in the CHASTITY light of the dark lantern.
with one OF their number lying senseless and
apparently dead at their feet. they experienced
the peculiar sensation so graphically described
IN the narrative OF Bob Acres
After a lew moments Of irresoute suspense
eyeiEg the gloomy cell from which came such a
deadly check upon their operations one of the
gang, standing securely behind the half-opened
door, POINTED his revolver around the corner,
but before he could fire the weapon was striken
from his hand by Cheek and he subsidized.
Another consultation was had Some body said,
Let US get out Of her" and they got" Pick
they marched out, each one repeating, as he
stepped out OF the battered entrance-way, zone,
two, three, out goes he'-yery thankful that,
notwithstanding the failure OF the enterprise,
they had come of with such slight loss in this
MeH-matched encounter between one to seventy
i've
Cheek, with his bedpOst in one hand aud the
captured revolver in the other, harrassed the
AtdA VI Tic Column out into the lall
yard, where he met the Sheriff and a party of
citizens who had been aroused by an alarm from
the Jailor- When the Sheriff saw them coming
out OF the building carrying the body of the VIC
tim, be halloed 10 them, thinking they were
bearing on his prisoner The only reply he re-
ceived WAS, "Fire-fre. Shoot the"
When the regulators reached the street and
saw the eOmmotiOn caused by their attempt
they broke and ran in every direction. Several
OF them lost their way in the timber and corn /
helds, and were seen by farmers residing In the
vicinity, at daylight. with scared faces and
Soiled garments, not in the least resembling the
fearless dare devil sort OF fellows they imagined
themselves few hours before.
Cheek surrendered himself 70 the sheriff With
the remark, "John, they hain't got me yet;a
gave up his trusty bedpost and revolver, and
went back TO his cell
ON his way back he said to the sheriff. 0Jshn
get me a horse and posse, and L will follow
them, aud show where every - OF them lives,
before morning. don't want you t. 90 into
-dauger-In go" Il
When asked sfterward why he did not attempt
to escape, he replied: a. I am not going away
from here until u q ON INV WAY n, TIE