The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-09-30
TIE AyENGING ROPE.
JUDGE LYNCH AT BELLEFoN-
TAME.
LOGAN COUNTY SENDS A VILLAIN
AFTER ULRICH, OF URBANA.

AFTER ULRICH, OF URBANA.
JAMES SHELL WORKED OFF AT MIDNIGHT Al
THE ROPES END FOR HIS CRIMEs-TERRI-
Biz SOCIAL TRAGEDY IN TWO ACIs-THE
MURDERBR's WIFE MAKES A HORRIBLE
CONFESSION AT THE INQUEST OVER HIS
VICTIM AND AN OUTRAGED PoPULAcE TAKE
UP THE LAw-CoNPLICTING AND APPAL-
LING TESTIMONY IN THE FORM or wo-
MANS HAIR-HAs THE RIGHT ONE BEEN
TAKEN AND THE GUILTY OVERLOOKED
It appears at last that the climax in the
business of crime and its speedy retribution
has been reached in Logan county, Ohio
Yesterday morning late telegram from
BelIefontaine Announced that mob OF citi-
zsns of that region had forcibly broken
open the jail, removed James Shell, and
hung him from the nearest tree till he was
dead, dead, dead. No details whatever
were given OF this horrible affair. and little
had been told of the sicSening pre-
lude in which Shell bad been a
villainous actor. AS Logan county
has been conspicuous for the quiet
inofensive character of its citizsns, there
must have been some unparalleled outrage
to incite them to this deed of vengeance
and in order TO learn the exact extent of the
villainy, a representative OF the Sentinel
visited the scene YESTERDAY. The story will
be narrated in regular order as nearly as
possible, and the public left to draw its own
conclusions on the practical workings OF
mob law. Josiah Laugklin. a farmer living
at Belle Center, some ten miles from Belle
fontsine, and man standing we'll In
the esteem OF the community has for the
past eight years rented portion of his farm
to James w. Shell, who has occupied and
enjoyed the use of it on easy terms and been
regarded very much as beneficiary on the
old mans bounty. Shell came from Canada
ten year ago, lived two years in Madison
county in Big Darby woods near Column bCs,
aud moved from there to the Laugh
lin farm. There he married and
had four children, three of whom are now
living, the oldest nearly seven years of age.
For some time he has been considered a
good man to avoid. His manners TO his
wife were cruel and his whole conduct was
either openly violent and unprincipleo or
very suggestive Of criminal intent, He was
a chronic pest TO the community, always
hanging around like the malaria, and yet
never committing any crime that would
bring him under the law. Laughlin alone
seemed to trust him, and did so when ac-
pearances were strong enough to shake any
ordinary confidence. Until within a year
past the two had never qUarreled. AT that
time
MISUNDERSTANDING AROSE
between him and Shell. The latter had OBJ
tanned Lsughlin's name as security on a
note in bank, and when it remained unpaid
at maturity Laughlin compelled the maker
OF the note to sell his corn in the shock at
25 cents per bushel, to meet the obligation.
Shortly after, corn went up to 90 cents, and
here commenced the bitterness which was
to have a tragical ending. Shell
was heard to remark that Lsughlin would
be sorry for it. In several months a new
house, which the farmer had built at q cost
OF 1000 and was about to occupy, caught
fire in a most unsccountable way and burnt
to the ground. Suspicion pointed to She'll,
but no proof of his guilt was obtained. At
the same time a man by the name of Tor
renee mysteriously disappeared. He had
Shell, and no clue to him or to
the mystery was ever obtained. Again
suspicion was busy with this man, and he
gaveit some color by following loose habits
among his neighbors. Once he was arrested
on charge OF attempting rape on a negro
woman, but was acquitted when the case
came to trial. For several months he has
been comparatively quiet, nursing bis wrath.
LAST Wednesday morning Shell went out
for plums and hazel nuts among the wild,
dense thickets around the reservoir, a
few miles from Belle Center, taking
along his wife, the three children. and Alice
Laueh lin, the farmers daughter. Alice
was tall girl of handsome features, robust,
healthy development, scarcely sixteen years
old, and very much beloved and respected
in the district round her home. Her mother
had never fancied Shell, and always OBJ
jected seriously to her daughter having any
thing 60 do with him or the family. Much
against her better Judgment she consented
to have Alice go to the reservoir. The party
reached the thickets early in the forenO DON
and Till dinner time the sport went along IL
good order. Alter dinner Il was resumed and
continued for about an hour, when She'll
came aud informed his wife, who was not
feeling we'll and had remained in the wagon,
that
ALLIE WAS LOST IN TIE BRUSH.
The woman was very much distressed and
ordered him to look for her. BE did as it
would appear but without success. The
underbrush is so tangled in that locality and
the forest so hard to learn that
many living right in that region
and familiar with its thiol1ets have
often been lost in them. Mrs. Shell could
do nothing but follow the command of her
husband. It was for her to return at once
with the wagon and children, tell Laughlin
that Alice was lost, and that he would re-
main there till he returned to help in the
hunt. This was done, the wagon reaching
the Laughlin farm about s o'clock. At
the distracted father drove back at the ton
so late that they had but an hour to work in
before darkness came on. Laughlin then be-
lieved as the girl had not been found that
she must have reached the edge OF the forest
in some way and been taken in at some
farm house for the night. He had no suspi-
cions that any harm had Overtaken her.
Again they returned to Belle Center, reached
it about midnight, and arranged to renew
the search by starting at O'Clock so as to be
early on the ground. This programme was
followed to the letter. Shell, at his wife's
suggestion, changed his thin clothing for
heavy as the air was cold, and
before daylight Laughlin and the
man began their drive By
this time the report had spread among the
neighbors and the small community was
aroused. The girl was great favorite and
the two hunters soon had lc-ge body guard
ty-6ve. Twice they went from one end to
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