The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-02-16
JUDGE LYNCHs COURT.
Mershon, Of Bloomington, Pays the
Penalty Of Crime Com
mitted in 1871.
SHOT IN HIS CELL,

AN ALLEGED MURDERER OF A STRANGER IN
BLOOMINGTON SHOT TO SAVE EXPENSE,
AND HIS BODY SURRENDERED TO HIS WIFE
FOR INTERMENT.
Especial Correspondence Of the SentineLl
BLooMINGroN, IND, Feb. s, 1s76.-C. A.
Mershon, one of the parties charged with
the murde r of stranger, who gave his name
as John Moore, in April, 1871, was shot and
killed in his cell in the Jail here, about
2 O'Clock this morning, by vigilance
committee. So silent and swift
were their movements, that although the
moon was shining bright, with the exception
of night Waterman, John Sears and Sheriff
Mckinney, no one knew OF their presence
had gone. Then the citizens were
aroused by the fire alarm. 1t
will be remembered that the disappear
ance OF the man Moore, at the time it is
thought ne was murdered, caused great ex-
element in this community, and has en-
gagged the attention of every grand Jury
since until last March, 1875, when true bills
were returned against G. A. Mershon,
@. N. Mershon and f. M.
Williams, and afterwards against
Peter Wehner and Mat. James,
The Mershons had their trials, and were
found guilty and
SENTENCED TO THE STATES PRISON FOR LIFE.
Williams was cleared, and James and
Wehner are to have their trials hereafter.
wehner took change of venue to Lawrence
county. James is to be tried at this
term of court, which convened yesterday.
The attorneys for the Mershons took
their cases up to the Supreme Court, and
succeeded in getting their case reversed and
sent back for q new trial, and they were re-
turned from the Southern Prison, some
two months ago, to the county Jail here for
that purpose. Night Waterman, John
Sears, says, near two O'Clock, he
was suddenly surrounded, whilst on
his beat near, but not in sight. of the Jail, by
masked men, and ordered to hold up his
hands. He at first thought it was parties
attempting to play a joke upon him, but
the close proximity of a cooked revolver
and double-barreled shot gun soon dis
PEELED that error, and he Immediately did
as he was bidded, when
BE WAS QUICKLY BOUND
and pushed in front of the crowd to the jail
door. One of the party then knocked upon
the outside door, and when Sheriff McKin-
ney appeared to see what was wanting, he
was seized, gagged and bound in moment,
and thrown face downward upon the floor.
upon his person, the vigilants pro-
ceeded to search the dwelling part
OF the jail. until they entered the room
where Mckinney had been sleeping and
where his wife was still in led, not compre-
bending what was taking place, where they
found the keys to the cells lying upon a
table. With these they soon made their
way to the door of the cell in which G.. A. |
Mershon was confined, and calling him by
name, said they had come for him, |
and that this his last. The |
only one who heard what |
took place at the cell was G.. N. Mershon,
brother of the one killed. He says that |
when they called his brother and told him |
that they had come for him, his brother |
said he was ready for them, but wished to |
make statement, but that the shooting |
began and his brother had no |
time to make statement. He says, also,
that his brother told him early in the |
evening that he had a presentment some
thing was going to happen, and was nervous
and startled at every sound on the out |
side OF the Jail, and when the vigilants
were coming toward the Jail he heard them
and
WANTED HIM TO CRY MURDER,
which he refused to do, but concealed him.
self under his cot. However, it does not
seem that they wanted him, as
they could have found him as well as his
brother. But they made no search for him,
leaving quietly and hastily after shooting
four balls into the person of the victim
three in his breast and one in his head. The
and sheriff think there were
about fifty OF the yigilants, and that they