The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-10-17
FURIOUS JUDGE LYNCH.

FURIOUS JUDGE LYNCH.
The Doings of a Wrathful Mob at Mount Yer
non, Ind.-Four Negroes Dragged from Jail
and Hanged-AnotherS Stabbed to Death and
Carved In Pieces.
At Mt. Vernon, Posey county, in the
southern portion of Indiana, eight ne
groes, all of them intoxicated, visited
house where three disreputable women
lived alone, and robbed and abused them
IN shameful manner. Four of the ne
groes were arrested and placed in jail.
Before these arrests were effected, how
ever, a foul murder was committed.
Constable Thomas, faithful officer and
worthy citizen, while attempting to
serve writ on Dan Harris, one of the
eight accused of the outrage upon the
women, he was shot dead by Harris
father, an old negro Of so years. This
in1an,ed the passions of the community
to fever heat, and the awful tragedy
that followed is thus related by special
correspondent Of the Chicago Times,
who was an eyewitness of the dreadful
scenes:
At o'clock D. m. the long-ron of
drum echoed through the streets in
which crowds Of people stood on cor
ners waiting the outcome. At the
Courthouse corner tall man, under
the influence Of liquor, addressed the
mob which gathered around him, and
urged that their lives were not safe as
long as bestial villains were allowed at
large. He was summarily stopped by
several citizens, and then, at the COM
mand, several hundred started out of
the city and assembled in dark wood
half mile out on the railroad, where
100 long, black masks we're ready The
spent an hour preparing for their work
and taking an oath of secrecy.
The night was clear and a bright
moon pouring it's light down made the
scene ghost-hke and impressive. The
cam on which had been used to defend
the jail in the morning had been
brought to the jail entrance, loaded and
primed and pointed at the door, A
gunner stood ready with a lighted
match to apply it if necessary, while
Ed. Hayes, Matt. Nelson, VIM. Kenna,
Charles Baker, Frank Wright, and an
other, armed with shot-guns, took their
positions about the jail and ordered the
large crowd to clear the yard for fear of
accident in whatever might ensue
The crowd, consisting Of 200 Or 300
men, fell back to the fence and across the
street. The miserable, guilty wretches
on the inside began to pray and call on
God to save them.
For ten minutes it appeared to be a
false alarm, but then was heard the
steady tramp of 200 feet; and, few
minutes later, 100 men, the best of the
yeomanry of the county, physically and
probably by reputation, marched up the
street and filed by twos into the yard
and up to the guards without word.
Every man had on long black mask,
falling from forehead to chin, like the
Inquisitors of old. All had changed
their coats. Some were turned lining
out. Not word was spoken and not a
demand made; but, as the leader ar
rived at the door where Hayes, the
Marshal, stood, at signal the little
knot of guards were seized. Another
company of maskers had deployed to
keep the crowd back, and, as the guards
were attacked, volley of pistol and
gun-shots were fired. A melee ensued,
in which the guards and gunners
were overpowered and their weapons
taken from them-not without a
strong resistance, however, for, in the
discharge of weapons, Andrew Crunk,
a new Sheriff, who was standing in the
yard, had his right eye destroyed by a
buckshot. His brother had his face and
neck filed with shot, and two other men
were slightly wounded. So far there
had not been word uttered, and, ex-
cept the firing of the guns, no sound
was heard but the low, plaintive prayers
of the doomed men, which those who
were near could hear rise in the stiffness
that settled down. Ed Hayes, who had
not had time to get it away, had the key
of the outside door taken from him, and
in moment more the door was opened
and fifty masked men were in the corri-
dor. Here lay old man Harris on his
pallet, and over him the mob crushed
with iron heels before his groans warned
them of his presence. A light was
DTOuSnJ Ill, anu IL was ulSCoVofou ny tHe
determined men that another and
stronger door stood between them and
four of their prey. In ten minutes a
cold chisel, sledge-hammer and crow
bar were brought in, and with willing
hands the work Of cutting through the
iron wall was begun. The helpless
victims of the thirsting mob
paid no attention to the dread avengers,
but went on with their prayers. AS
the first heavy blow of the sledge fell
on the iron their plaintive voices, urged
unconsciously into heightened tone,
began to cry: ooh, God! have mercy
on yo' lamb!" ooh, Jesus, save yo'
childw One moaned out: ooh, I see de
waters oh Jordan and de feet oh de
Lamb; oh, save yo' innocent child"
But, minute after minute the dull thuds
/ fell with unfeeling certainty, and, as
| I a L L..