The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-12-08
NOR HANGING

debut, but it is only of late that his works
have become universally popular.
MOB HANGING.
THE HANGIN OF THREE NEGROES BY A MOB
THE PROvoCATIoN AND A ORRIB RETRI-
BUTTON.
The Evansville Courier of the 4th inst.
contains the following in regard to an
atrocity already alluded to by telegraph:
One of our neighboring Kentucky towns
was the scene. a few nights ago, of a lswless
display of mob violence, which makes
another blot upon the already spot
ted pages of the history of
the clark and bloody ground" Our
readers will remember that some weeks
since the large distillery OF Wright & Cart
we'll, of Uniontown, KY, about forty miles
below this city, was burned by an ncend-
larry and destroyed. The flames also com-
municated to other establishments, and
Uniontown was the scene of a fire
consuming property over $3.50, 900 in value.
About two weeks ago., three negroes named
Alexander Ramsey, George Ramsey and
George Moore, former employees of Mr..
Cartwell, were arrested, charged with having
burned the distillery, and the trial
commenced the day after their ar
rest. Nothing satisfactory was clio
tied, however, by 1t, save that
thirty gallons OF whisky were found il their
possession, but last week Moore confessed
that he and his confederates had setthe place
on fire. He gave as their reason that Mr..
Cartwell had elected from one of his houses
the mother of the Ramseys, beause she was
unable to pay the rent. The confess
sion threw the denizens of Union
town into a state of excitement
and threats of mob violence were made last
Sunday night the officers secretly took the
negroes to Morganfield, the county seat OF
Union county, which is situated about ten
miles back of Uniontown, and there con-
fined them in the cells of the county
Jail, but as no excitement was felt for q
day or two, it was thought the feeling
aroused in the county by the confession
had died out. Although the trans
portation of the prisoners had been kept
remarkably quiet, the act leaked out,
and served to renew the feeling which
had been aroused by the confession of
nected with the firm of G.. Maghee & Co.,
who returned from a tour through Western
Kentucky yesterday afternoon, we learn the
particulars of this terrible affair. On Tues
day night between 2 and 8 O'Clock q party of
about fifty men, mounted on horses and
WITH BLACK MASKS,
concealing their faces, entered Morganfeld
from the road leading from Uniontown.
They were under the guidance of a leader,
Who seemed to rule with despotic sway over
the mob, and whose commands were i'm
plicitly obeyed by each member of the
! party. They rode Immediately to
the Jail and a few quietly
entered the Jail yard. The TAILOR was
aroused, and 10 his inquiries they replied
they had a prisoner from Caseyville whom
they wished to place in his care. The keeper
of the keys then opened the door,, and a
portion of the mob rushed into the Jail, but
before he could say a word, several revolt
vers were placed at his head, with the in
junction that if he raised a voice
he would be shot. While some of the
maskers guarded the jailor, others re-
manned mounted outside, keeping watch
that they were not interfered with. The
leader and one or two Others then took from
the TAILOR his keys, and commenced
to search in the cells for 'the
Ramsey boys" and Moore. The former
were found together IN one cell asleep, while
Moore was found reposing on a pallet in an
other cell. The negroes were gruffiy aroused
from their sleep and told to come along. In
fear and trembling, uncertain as to the
meaning of this untimely disturb
ance, they got up, and began to real
the victims of a mob. The poor negroes
were conducted from their cells to the
crowd outside and mounted upon one of the
horses, and then led by the maskers to the
altar OF sacrifice. A few were lett to guard
the dismayed TAILOR, who saw from their sc-
tons that they were in earnest. The mob
went to a woods about q quarter of a mile from
MOrganfield, and under a big tree near the
roadside they stopped. While on the expe-
dition, and in the Jail yard, not a word was
spoken, but here the silence was broken.
A torch was lighted, which threw its
lurid glare upon the surroundings, reveal
ing terror in the faces of the captive ne
groes, whose groans formed a strange
contrast to the mirthful talk and loud
laughter of some of the masked men. With
out any ceremony three ropes were thrown
over the limb of the tree and the leader
then demanded of the negroes confession of
their guilt, which was freely given, and
even without time to mutter a prayer the
ropes were placed
AROUND THEIR NECKS,
and in less time than it takes to tell it they
were suspended by a portion of the mob,
and the other ends OF the ropes tied to trees.
The lights were; hastily extinguished, and
mounting their steeds, the place was de-
serted, the awful silence being ouly broken,
il is supposed, by he noise of the contor-
tions oil the victims of this terrible out
rage. After the jailor was released he gave
the alarm, but the sentiment of the citizens
was in favor of the mob, which none dared
to oppose. On Wednesday morning the
bodies of the colored men were cut down
and placed in boxes ard taken to
Uniontown. where they were buried