The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-10-16
Ful' Particulars of the Terrible Out
rage in the Dark Corner
of Indiana.
Fearful Grimes Most Fearfully Avenged
-Four Human Bodies Dangling From
Limbs Of Trees.
HORRIBLE Fate of Old Dan Harris, the
Murderer Of Deputy sheriff Thomas
Drawn and CHARTERED ioa
Prison Cell.

al particulars of the terrible tragedy enacteo
there on Monday night. They also describe
more fully the horrible outrages which led
10 tie murder of Deputy Sheriff Thomas and
the summary execution OF the four negroes.
II seems that on Monday night, about III
O'Clock. eight negroes, lawless and drunk,
went 10 house of ill-fame near the out
skir1s Of the town and knocked for admit
tapcs. There we're three girls in the house and
one OF them inquiring what was wanted was
answered that messenger with a note was
waiting she opened the door, and a young
negro stood on the steps, and Just oenlnd
him gigantic fellow with cooked revolver,
who ordered the girl TO open the door, and
commanded his confederates to enter. Inc
eigbt entered and demanded money from
the girls who did not have any. The scoun-
drels rifei the house Tor plunder, suring
which one girl attempted to escape py
ba, \ door One of the scoundrels presented
srvvolyer at her head, and tod her he would
XII hey If she went-that they had business
witt her. They then huddled the girls into
oSe room, and, putting out the lights, lnau-
gur4te6 a besstly carnival holding theiI
pistols az the girls heads and competing
then 10 submit to the loathsome embraces
O. al one after another, for an hour, during
which time the girls were not allowed to
speak or utter sound on peril OF death
little after midnight all departed, leaving
the women fainting and sick.
Next morning, in spite OF the election;
there was great excitement In town, and
Off GERS, armed with warrants went in search
OF tAs ravishers. The villains lived In Belle
vile, tie negro quarters and had not neo
jim Good, JEFF Hopkins, Ed Warner and
William Chambers we're arrested on Wednes-
dsv and put in Jail, the arrest being kept as
Quiet as possible in order tn prevent lynch
ing. On Thursday the town was greatly ex-
cited. but no steps were taken while the OH
Gers we're in search of those who had es-
capped.
FRIDAY morning at o'clock Deputy Sher'
if o. s. Thomas, Deputy Marshal Ed Hayes,
Constable William Russell and Charles Baker
went 70 the house of Dan Harris, ST.,
negro 30 years old, whose son, Dan harris,
Jr, was 70 be apprehended on warrant
for being one of the ravishers. They sur
rounded the house, and Thomas knocked at
the door and demanded admission. 1t was
refused. He demanded it again, and order
ed he parties inside to strike light. Old
Harris told him 10 strike light himself.
Thomas went to the side OF the window with
Russell 70 parley with the parties, and as
they approached double barreled shotgun
was pushed out and discharged within three
feet or them. One buckshot graZsd RusselPs
check and Is buried themselves in Thomas
face. throat and breast. The jugular vein
was cut, and one shot went through his
heart. while his shoulder was blown off. He
staggered a few feet, said 'Boys, Pm shot to
death" and fell dead without a struggle.
Ed Hayes advanced TO the window and was
also fred at, and emptled shotgun into
the window at Harris, but neither was hurt
much. Harris getting few squirrel
shot in his arm The officers altogeth-'
e1 made a raid on the house then
and after struggle, succeeded in
getting old man Harris, but young Dan was
not there. He is supposed to have got out
somehow when they took old Harris to Jail.
q o'nlOnE found a crowd armed
with pistols and guns, hungering for the
lives OF the men In Jail and for Harris. Sew
err, OF them attacked Harris as he was car
risG through and nearly succeeded in
shooting him, and but for the excitement
e,.e where which diverted them, would
have done it, They put HIM in jail, and
Hayes Jim Dunn Baker and others locked
themselves in, armed TO the teeth, and de-
fed The mob, which was bowling outside
and demanding entrance. Major MenzieS
and William Nelson made quietiDg ad
dresses but no attention was paid TO them.
Under the resistance of the officers it was
finally concluded to wait till night. One
colored man who came into the mob began
to talk freely, and was set upon. He fled,
AID was shot in the back of the neck by
somebody and will be laid up some time.
Early in the morning. kilograms concerning
the crisis we're sent to Evansville, where all
the leading citizens were attending the Uni
ted States court, and 1t became rumored that
Governor Williams had been called on TO
send she Evansville rifles and Ligh. Guards
militia This rumor put the mob INTO per.
feet frenzy of excitement. Two hundred
mel, armed with guns and pistols, were or
dereG TO the depot TO await the coming oil
the train aud prevent the militia from get
ting Of A cannon was got out OF quarters
and. under the charge of the remainder OF
the crowd. was hauled to the court house and
planted in front of the house, facing the
street 70 the depot, and determination ex
pressed to keep the troops OIL II every mar
died This diverted the Infatuated CROWD
from the prisoners, although a strong armed
guard was kept about the jail all day. Th'
militia did not come, as there was no author
ltative call for them, and at O'Clock the X
citement had somewha dissipated although
armed men were crowded in the streets ant
about the jall. Not negro was to be seel
in town.
AT o'clock Friday evening the long rol
Of drum echoed through the streets, ant
soon thereafter several hundred men starte,
out OF the city and assembled in OAR
woods half mile out, where lOO long olac
masks were ready. They spent an hour pre-
pairing the work and taking oaths of secrecy
Meanwhile newspaper reporter visited tn
Jail and talked with the doomed men Il
the corridor lay old Harris, lean and bloody
with frousy whiskers. He was unaoie -, =
right arm was shot TO pieces
and a load of shot in his side ha
nearly done the work He raised on
arm and said he had done the shootin
which killed Thomas, but thought the me
who came were George Daniels and Henri
Jones. who had threatened to kill him. II
reluctantly admitted things which place
his guilt beyond the shadow oil doubt. S Se
Hookins, tall, black brute AZ years oil
was next AMI denied his guilt. WIlliai
Chambers. the third man, was tall brow
fellow with black moustache, and has ia
b. en- acquitted o. the murder OF Patrick Nj
Mullen at Grand Chain last winter, althope
ev~rybodv believed he was guilty. Ji
g. d. who has Just been pardoned for rap
a viIIainous looking six footer, magnificent
built denied IN the most solemn ma
ner any connection with the
fair. "You want me to tell the tru b, ge
tIemen." said he IN deep tones, and witho'