The Morning herald., 1878-10-14

CIT1NnNT AT MOUNT VEhNeN,
ANA. VI EG o.
CudfSxxr1, October 19-special dis
patches state that Mount Vernon, Indian, 10
In the widest state of excitement over .
series of most disgusting crimes and tragic
revepges that ever occurred in that region
On Monday night at eleven O'Clock . party
OF seven or eight negroes, lawless and
drunk, went to house on the outskirts Of
the town and knocked for admittance.
There were three white girls In the house
and upon their inquiry what was wanted
they received the reply that messenger
with q note was waiting. One Of the girls
opesed the door, when q gigantic fellow,
with q cooked revolver, entered and ordered
the ri rls into one room while the house was
ransAcked for plunder. After securing al
the va,uables they assaulted the women.
Next morning, in spite of the election, there
was q great excitement in ithe town. The
cfncers quietly arrested Jim Good, JEFF
Hopkins, Ed Warner and William Cham
hers, who were in the party. At night
Deputy Sheriff O. ]. Thomas went to the
house of Dan Harris, negro sixty years
old, with Q warrant for his son. he was re-
fused admittance. Thomas then went to .
sids window to parley, when q double
barrellsd shot gun was pushed out and dis
charged within three feet of him, IS buck
shot striking Thomas In the head and face
End breast, cutting his jugler vein. BE
staggered . few feet aud fell dead without a
struggle. , ar la
The officer assisting him rushed into the
house and secured the old man, but the son
was mot there. Harris was locked up with
the others
A mob gathere about the jail in the
morning and demanded the prisoners, but
they were refused, and the mob concluded
TO wait until the next night (Fridsy) before
proceeding further. A colored man who
was in the mob and talked freely in defence
Of the negroes. was shot and wounded in
the neck. He will, no doubt, recover.
Early in the day telegrsms were sent to
Evansville, where many leading citizens
were attending United State Court, and 1t
was rumored that Governor Williams had
determined to send the Evansville Rifles
and Light Guard, and the militia. This
news put the mobin frenzy of excitement.
Two hundred men, wen armed, were sta
toned at the depot to prevent the militia
from leaving the cars. A cannon was
brought ont by the rest of the mob and
planted in front of the Court House, fac ing
the street to the depot. The militia did
not come and the excitement on that score
subsided, though the armed mob kept it's
position in front of the jail all dsy. At 10
O'Clock last evening one hundred masked
men fred upon the officers around the jail
and entered the building, and by means OF
o sledge hammer and crow-bar gained &C.
cess to the prisoners, the latter In the mean
time praying and singing most earnestly.
The old man, Harris, who had been wound
ed when Sheriff Thomas was shot, was
lying upon pallet apparently Indifferent
10 his fate. One of the masked men seized
him by the throat and plunged knife into
bis heart. At II o'clock the four negroes,
with ropes around their necks, were led out
upon the square under . locust tree, when
the ropes were thrown over the limbs Of
the tree and all four of them hung. Jim
Coed, one Of the negroes, was pardoned out
Of the penitentisry three months ago, after
serving sentence for rape. William Cham
bers had been acquitted of the murder Of
Psrrick Mullen four days previously.