The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-10-16

ID"
He was arrested in bed by the officers, but
they say he was shammiDg, and when In his
cell he appeared as fresh and strong as any
we'll man in the crowd.
Old Harris alone presented piuaole APP
pearance, looking weak and sick, but cool
and unmoved. he lay on pallet Witnou'
uttering a sound, while the other four,
locked in the first cell from the door. were
kneeling on the floor, with heads bowed to
the wall. praying in the loud, monotonous,
shrill tones OF the camp meeting negro. A
single candle shed a sickly light upon the
scene. and the last hours in the cell were
terrible in their gloom. Just as the last In,
terview was finished the crack Oh plseoi
was heard. Ed Hays threw open the door,
and saying ''NoS let's slip, boys, there's
murder on hand" the reporter and one or
two persons privileged to enter hastily ran
out into the beautiful court house YARD,
shaded with heavy locusts. The night was
clear, and bright moon pouring Its lignt
down made the scene ghost-ilke ana
impressive. The cannon which had been
used to defend the jail in the morn.
ing had been brought to the jail
entrance, loaded and primed, and pointed
blank at the door. A gunner stood ready
with lighted match to apply, III necessary,
while Ed Hays, Matt Nelson, William KEN
ma, Charles Baker, Frank Wright and
another, armed with shotguns, took their
large crowd to clear the yard for fear of acct
dent in whatever might ensue The CROWD,
consisting of two or three hundred men, fell
back to the fence and across the street. The
miserable, guilty wretcbes on the inside be-
gan to pray and call on God to save them.
For ten minutes it appeared to be q false
alarm: but there was heard the steady
tramp of two hundred feet, and few min
utes later hundred men, The best
of the yoemanry of the coun-
ty, physically and probably in reputa-
ton. marched up the street and filed by
twos into the yard and up the guards with
out a word. Every man had on long,
black mask, falling from forehead to chin,
like the inquisitors of old. All had changed
coats; some were turned lining out, and a
hundred ways of DISCUSSES assumed. Not
word was spoken, not a demand made; but
as the leader arrived at the door where
HAYES, the marshal, stood, at a signal the
little knot of guards were seized. Another
company of masked men had deployed to
keep the crowd back, and as the guards were
attacked, volley of pistol and gun shots
was fired. A melee ensued, in which
the guards and eunners were over
powered, and their weapons taken from
them, not without q strong resist
ance, no viewer, for in the discGrge OF weap.
ons Alexander Crunk, the new sheriff, who
was standing in the yard, had bis right eye
destroyed by buckshot His brother,
John Crunk had his face and neck filled
with shot, and two other men were slightly
wounded. So far there had not been word
uttered, and, except the firing of the guns,
no sound was heard except the low, plain
tive prayers of the doomed wretches. 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
kew OF the outside door taken from him,
.l1,- rRnA
and fifty masked men were in the corridor
Here lay the 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 brought, and it
was then discovered by the determined
men thst another and stronger door stood
between them and four of their prey. In 10
minutes a cold chisel, sledge hammer and a
crow5ar we're brought and in willing hands
the work of cutting through the iron wall
began The hopeless victims OF the thirsting
mob had 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 the plsintive voices, urged uncon-
sciously into a heightened tone, began TO
cry, oh, God, have mercy on yo lamb!'
"0h, Jesus. save yo' child!n One modned
out, oh I see de waters of Jordan and de
| feet OBJ de Lamb! Oh, save yo' Innocent
| childw But minutes after minutes the dull
| thuds fell with unfeeling certainty, and as
| bar after bar gave way the crowd began 10
| thirst more for blood. But all was quiet as
the grave, and not a sound was heard. The
crowd stood stock still, only the ghostly
| figures of the masked guards, who strolled
about with guns and pistols cooked, speak
| ing not a word to any.
| While the awed and, expectant crowd were
waiting outside a horrible deed was commit
/ ted on the interior. The surgng crowd
| rendered desperate by the slow destruction
| of the iron door, had with hushed voices,
aud almost by glances, agreed upon an aw
| full vengeance for Thomas. The old man
Harris, who lay on his pallet like one indif
! fe-ent to his end, was surrounded by mer
| from whose hearts all human feeling seemed
to have fed and the place filled with {
| demon. Without a word he was seized
a hand clutched about his throat to stifie any
scream, and knife plunged into his heart
In five minutes his body wa!
cut in pieces like a hog, head, arms,
legs-all separated, and the sickenlns
mass of human flesh flung into the privy
So quietly was the awful act perpetratec
that not soul knew of its commission unti
after the dread elimination of the night
horrid work Who did this deed nobody
knows, or If he does or suspects. be dar
not open his lips. In 40 minutes from tn
opening of the front door this crime wa
| anu i've mlnuIco ihOiC WI
cell door yielded to the chlsel and sledges
and with crash and a rush the heartles
crowd went in and seized the prisoners
TwIne had been prepared, and In five min
utes each of the four had his wrists tie
tightly behind his back and a rope throw
about his neck. The doomed men uttere'
not word OF pleading, nor faltered an IL
slant.
At five minutes before IL the little grou
at the jail door received orders, and th
masked guards again moved back the crow
which had begun to struggle into the yarC
A minute later little procession emerge
from the Jail door. First came Bill Chan
|, bers three men leading him by rope abou
his neck. while one walked with him. II
said nothing but his step was firm. Ne1
came Jim Goode, JEFF Hopkins and Ed Wa
ner, in the order named, all walking firml,
bu, on either side OF the latter walked ma
who appeared to support him unnecessaril!
I There was no abuse, and not one of tn
! doomed wretches craved mercy. The gloom
procession moved 10 the fence on Ii
south side of the square, just where the ma