The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-06-24
sHERIFF CRosBY's LITTLE AFFAIR.
HIS ARRANGEMENT WITH GILMER - THE
sHooTING-GILMER's CARD.

sHooTING-GILMER's CARD.
At the time Sheriff Crosby was shot by
Gilmer. his deputy, the Sentinel editorially
noted the main points of the bond which
linked the two. The story is given'in full
in letter to the Chicago Times: In Novem-
Der, 1872, Peter Crosby, a mHlatto, was
elected sheriff of Warren county, of which
Vicksburg is the capital. He gave a straw |
bond which was accepted by officials OF his
own party predictions, and took charge oil
his office. A few days after, a number of his
bondsmen were arrested on the charge OF
perjury for having sworn falsely as 70 the |
value OF their property. After time sew
eral of the indicted parties withdrew from
the bond, and q new Instrument was drawn /
up and signed by many OF the sigDers OF
the old bond and nonresidents OF the |
county. This bond was considered worse
than the original, but was nevertheless &C !
cepted, and Crosby continued in undis- |
puted possession of his office until the |
death Of one of the sureties, which,
it was claimed, under the laws OF
the state, validated the bond. |
The taxpayers league believing |
the colored sheriff utterly irresponsible, in |
sisted that he should be required by the
proper authority, the board of supervisors, |
20 give a new bond, but no attention was
paid by that body to the demands OF the
taxpayers. On the End day of December,
1874 the taxpayers met at the theater sno
appointed a committee, after protracted dis
cussion. to wait on Crosby and other bond
less officials, and request their resignation.
The committee waited upon the officials inn
mediately, and were insOlently and insult
iuo!v repulsed When the fact was rs
ported back to the meeting. it was instantly
resolved that the taxpayers should repair TO
the court house in body and there
DEMAND THE RESIGNATION
of dishonest and bondless officials, as there
was no safety for the property of the county
and no prots ction for the records, which
were being daily mutilated and destroyed %
shield the dishonest acts OF criminal OFF,
Gals. Many of the officials fed from the
court house at the approach of the tax-pay-
ers, but Crosby remained and complied with
the demands made upon him by rendering
his resignation, stating, however, that
he did so under duress. The next
day the board OF supervisors
convened and issued an order that
Crosby should present good and
sufficient bond within twenty days or his
Office would be declared vacant at the expi-
ration of that time. Crosby Immediately
caused card to be- published, ia which he
denounced the taxpayers as a mob, ban
ditti, etc., and sent emmissaries throughout
the county to invite the negroes to arms to
Overawe the whites and reinstate him IN bis
Office, using no other persuasive argument
than that he was a cOlOr6Q man ana T6puD-
lican. On the 9TH the attempt was made,
with what result you know. Negroes
marched upon the city from
three directions, wers met and re-
pulsed, with many killed, wounded, ano
captured. Crosby was taken prisoner early
in the action, and was securely guarded az a
time when public excitement ran high, and
when the incensed populace was eager for
Crosby's blood. Later, the twenty days al
lotted by the board of supervisors expired,
and Crosby, having failed to give bond, an
election was ordered to fill the vacancy in
his office. A. j. Flanagan was nominated
by the tax papers, and elected to the Office,
and at once took possession and
commenced the discharge of his official
duties. He gave a good bond, and
was proceeding quietly in the discharge OF
his duties when his office was entered by a
squad OF u. S. soldiers with fixed bayonets
and he was forcibly elected. subsequently
Crosby made an arrangement with citizen
of Kemper county, then a state senator,
named Gilmer, by which bond was made
for Crosby sheriff and collector, with the
understanding that Gilmer should collect
the taxes, control the Office, and make il
all right with Crosby afterward.
ONE OF GnLMER's FIRST ACTS
was to discharge all of Crosby's deputies snC
appoint those of his own selection. Troubl,
commenced at once in the camp OF the faith
full, and has continued ever since. Undei
the new regime affairs about the court nous,
were not improved. RObberies add mutila
ton OF records continued, Jail deliver
les became frequent, juries were packed, ant
criminals went unwhipped of justice, bu
the citizens maintained a sullen silence anC
remained passive under their severe trials
awed by the presence of the mil
tary, and patiently awaiting the goo,
day coming. These facts have been commu
nicated TO you disconnec;edly by telegraph
On Monday yesterday the official relation
of Crosby and Gilmer were disrupted anC
the compact broken. In the evening eros bS
aud Gilmer walked into a saloon near tb'
court house to appease their thirst. Crosb.
was lett standing at the counter while Gil
mer walked through into a back room. A few
minutes later the report OF pistol was heard
and Crosby fell to the floor with a bullet il
his head, is having entered just below tn
lett eye. The report went out thai Crosb,
had attempted suicide by shooting himself
but later in the evening Crosby, who re
manned conscious, made an affidavit befor
Mayor O'Leary, who attended his bedside
that he had been shot either by Gilmer o
by his direction. GilIner made his appear
auce at the mayors court this morning, bu
the prosecution not being ready for trial b
was released on his own recognizance, TO ar
pear on Saturday. Gilmer published til
following card in this mornings papers:
CARD.
To the Taxpayers of Warren County:
Ny appointment rs deputy sheriff and ts1
collector of Warren county having been r,
voked by Peter Crosby, sheriff of sal
county, this is to give notice, that in consiC
Grafton of said appointment. / made hi
bond, and L shall, at the earliest momen
cause the withdrawal OF the names OF IN
friends from said bond. Tax payers sn
those interested are requested to COVER
themselves accordingly. The tax collie,
tons for the fiscal year OF 1874 having bee
made by me, full settlement with the stat
and county will be made by the undeTsigne
at an early date. Very respectfully,
JOHN =. GILMER
Mrs. SHERIDAN's LovER.-Tbe New Yor