The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-01-29
A Gang of Kalf-Breed Murderers
and Kidnapers in Limbo.
The Wade Family Tragedy In a Fair
Way to be Avenged.
Indiana and Ohio Officers Cooperate to
Vindicate the Law.

son, OF Darke county, ana M&rSnai SnO1er, OF
Wayne county and this city. Part of the men
were residents OF Randolph county, this State,
and live at Spartansburg. near the line. The
rest were in Darke county. 1t win be remem-
bered that two months ago similar raid was
made, when eight persons were arrested for
kidnapping young Wade in Ohio the June
before. Three of these are in the PEN
ftentiary now, of whom was recently
brought home to testify before the grand jury.
The five others bad their cases continued, and |
were at liberty under bond. At its last sitting |
the grand jury found indictments against a
number of other parties for the same case of
kidnapping and afterwards numbering the old |
man. Arrangements Being completed nearly |
all were arrested this morning.
Marshal Shofer got his posse ready |
early and sent them to William |
Shumach's gate, near. Spartanburg. He |
himself went to Greenvllle, conferred with the |
sheriff and prosecutor there, and met his men |
at Shumach's IS at o'clock this morning. When |
he arrived the deputies had arresteds Schu- |
mach, and he then, with the marshal and dep |
uties, went rapidly over the ground, taking in |
one man after another until they had six, or |
all that were in the country. Hall and his |
posse over the line, arrested their men in |
Drake county, all that could be found, and re-
turned them to Greenville.
The question of where the preliminary trial |
should take place was speedily determined |
and resulted in the six men being brought |
here. The party arrived about IL a.. m, and
had the trial set down for p.m
Just here it is well to state that this gang of
half-breed negroes, who compose the settle
ment extending across the State line, is very
well ''heeled;" a consequence, money in
abundance was provided and attorneys en-
ployed, both in Winchesteran Greenville, who
are watching every corner, every move and
ruse. They expected the raid would be made
next Monday morning, and this morning was
chosen on that account.
The Greenville posse returned at $50 a.. M,
and the attorneys for the defense getting wind
of the affair, came over to this city and were
here when the culprits arrived from Randolph
county. -Four of the prisoners waived exam
ination before Judge Kibbey, and in
Greenville. The other two, Campbell and
Lock, were discharged from custody and re.
turned home.
Among the persons arrested is William Shu-
mach, 60 years old, of colored blood, owns five
farms, and is quite wealthy. While waiting
in the city prison to be transferred to Green
vile your correspondent interviewed him and
obtained the following statement with regard
to the alleged crimes. In June last VIM. Wade,
from Ohio, came into our county (sandolph),
and stole pig. We went to Ohio, found the
who found him guilty of stealing it. After
this he was to be taken to the line and deliv-
and to the constable in this State, but in the
transfer he made his escape back into Ohio.
The constable told Us he was in Ohio. We
went to help take him; arrested him; tried
him in Spartansburg; found him guilty; had
him bound over to the court and sent to Jail.
In court, at Winchester, he was convicted
and sentenced to one year in the penitentiary.
The lawyers then interfered, and had him plead
guilty. His sentence was changed to a short
jail sentence. This, he claimed, was all there
was of the kidnapping case. As to the MUIR
der case. Shumach said he was at Union on
| Saturday with his family, came home at dark
with a chill, and had erysipelas ON his hand
and arm; was home all night, and did not
know of the murder OF the old man
| by the masked mob until IL
O'Clock Sunday morning, when Anna
| Cook told him they had killed Steve Wade
shumach is considered the principal criminal
| He spoke with readiness, but guardedly.
Louis Burden, very black and non-commit-
/ tai; up for murder and kidnapping.
/ John Randall and John Smith, young mu-
| lattoes; accused of kidnapping.
4 Mitch. Campbell, ex-sheriff Of Randolph,
was among those arrested, and was
very indignant and violent with his tongue.
| He was at one time worth sl00.090, and when
| sheriff If two or three dozen men told him his
| man was good and would come back he would
let him go when he wanted to. Mitch asked to
| be allowed to "get his breakfast and tend TO
| things" when he would come down to Rich
mond. The boys told him they had mo-
learned to do business that way in
| Wayne county. He white with
rage in the court room and the butt of the
| crowd. He with John Locke, another prom
inent citizen, was dismissed from custody,
there being no Identification.
On the Ohio side Jesse Lauh and Warren
Bass (colored) were held on both charges, and
Sam Landers (white) on the charge of kidnap-
ing. These, with the four from here, are
now in Jail at Greenville, where they will be
tried probably at the February term of the
court.
These prisoners are but part of the notorious
gang that has committed seven murders in
| about two years, that has driven several re-
spectacle citizens from home, and caused
CONSERVATION generally in that region. Nc
one dared to molest them. In fact, their own
men say grand jury can not take evidence
J which they will not know of soon as
taken. Heretofore all attempts tt
) ferret them out have proved
! fruitless, because the officers were either IN
with the gang, were. bought up. or fearet
? them. Our marshal would only take part il
the case on condition that he be allowed hi
/. own choice of counsel He has chosen Henr,
w. johnson, well-known in thi
city for his eloquence and fearlessness
and he will make the echoes ring, and sen'
= fear and dismay to the gang who have mad
the name of the county significant.
There is evidence now In the hand
' of our officers to convict score 0
Y the gang Of organized murderess They ar
! an ugly countenanced set, and were followe
by scores of sympathisers to this place within