The Hickman courier., 1873-07-05
DEADLY WORK.
a MASKED Mob Operating Ia
Indiana.

lies, give account of another KHklux
outrage in Indiana, extracts from which
we publish for the special edifeation of
the PadGGsh Journal and its Radical
followers, who are just now clamoring
about imaginary kuklux organizations.
In addition 10 the account below it will
be remembered, that three years since
six OF more mombers of the Reno gang
of express robbers were hanged by
mob; about two years ago three ne
groes, murderers of the Park family,
were also taken out of Jail and hung;
1870, Pickett aud Tongat, burglars,
were forced from the officers of the law
while on their way to Jail, and hanged
by the same process of Judge Lynch's
court. No person who has regard for
law can excuse these acts of violence,
but the point is, the American people
are of that temperament, 10 Indiana,
Kentucky, or any other State, that they
will in hours of excitement "break
through" aud take law iuto their own
hands.2 The journal threatens Ken
tueky with the condition Of Arkansas
and Louisiana-why not extend its
favor to Indiana, for it can point to no
paraleH in violence in Kentueky-to no
! occurrence exfrrbftfng tirc'srfnc cietfance-
T 81 ~ - .ha foll0uinU
"The vigilance committee of South
ern Indiana perpetrated another terri
Bile and bloody crime yesterday morn
ing. On the 29th of this month Delos
Hefren, of Salem, Washington county,
Indiana, thirty FIVE miles from New
Albapy, shot and killed john De Hall
stead.
Early yesterday morning a dispatch
was received in New Albany stating
that Heffren had been taken from the
jail that morning and
HUNG BY A MOB.
This news created the widest excite
ment throughout the entire city, for
Heffren is well known there, personal
ally and by reputation, and his last
murder has been the chief topic of con-
yersation for the past ten days.
At about half past one a body Of
masked men rode quietly into the town
and Immediately threw out sentinels,
aud took into custody all persons who
were out on the streets.
After the invaders had made them
selves safe from any outside interrupt
lion. they surrounded the Jail. Depu
tv sheriff Craycraft was aroused, and
demand was made upon him for the
key TO the prison. lie
REFUSED TO GIVE UP THE KEYS.
To accomplish forcible entrance
they had brought with them large
sledge hammer, with which they com
menced to hammer down the doors.
The work of
DEMoLIsHING THE DOORS
consumed over an hour. The heavy
blows OF the ponderous hammer WELD
ed by the powerful arms Of the regula-
tors. resounded through the town, and
doubtless each blow fell as if upon the
heart Of the doomed man, who waited
in his cell like the Gagged tiger for the
avengers of blood. At last the bolt
that held the last door was beaten off
and
HEFFREN STOOD BEFORE THE MOB.
He was standing by the side OF the
4 tiger upon his assailaDts. The des-
peration and bravery of the man was
too we'll known for them TO advance
upon him recklessly, for they knew he
would deal blows of death all around
him.
At this juncture the mob hit upon
the plan of lighting up his cell with
firebrsnds, giving them an opportunity
of fully seeing their man, and if neces-
sary
SHOOTING HIM DOWN
where be stood This was done: balls
were prepared and saturated with tur.
pentine and oil, and we're placed upon
sticks and held up on poles in front of
/ the cell windows. The lurid glare cast
upon the desperate man who stood at
! bay before the excited crowd, lit up a
( scene that will never be forgotten. As
soon as the light appeared the prisoner
was shot at a dozen times.
SEVERAL SHOTS TOOK EFFECT.
one in the breast, aud one in the left
arm, the arm being broken bya bullet
aud rendered useless, the piece of bed
stead falling from his hand A stone
was thrown which struck him upon the
head. The mob pressed closer upon
him, and the desperation of the doom
ed man grew greater, and it was evident
that he would fight until the last mo-
ment, and sell his life as dearly as pos.
sible. He knew that il was death be
fore him either way, and preferred to
die in the Jail while defending himself
rather than die by the rope. Another
blow from missile struck him on the
temple and stunned him. Several of
the mob here sprang forward and Crap
pied with him. He struggled with des
perate and superhuman strength, once
or twice freeing himself from the hands
of the vigilants. He was finally over
powered, and, still struggling, was
bound hand and foot. He was then
DRAGGED FROM HIS CELL
OuL iulO AuG JdiIs anu lEVm thence out
on the street. About two squares from
the Jail stands railroad bridge built
over creek. The bridge is perhaps 25
feet above the water. II has no frame
work above the track. He was taken to
this bridge, and while on the way there
asked:
What are you going to no with me?'
The mob replied:
'wE ARE GOING TO HANG YoUr"
Heffren answered quietly, as if it
was no great moment to him
81 will go along with you"
When they arrived at the bridge
rope was placed around his neck. He
then seemed to realize his fearful DO |
sition, and
BEGGED FOR TINE TO PEAY.
All of his courage here left him. and
with tears in his eyes he pleaded for
time to offer up prayer to Him
whose laws he had so often violated.
He did not then remember that he
gave his two victims, johnson aud De.