Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-10-14
The Pistol In Indiana.
BRUTAL MURDER or SHERIFF M'coRgLE At
sHELnYYILLE.


sHELDYyiLLE.
From Special Dispatch % the World.
INDIAsAroLis, Oct. 1.-THE details Of
the murder OF Sheriff Ncttorkle threw
strong light on the evil effects OF the
tactics adopted by the Republicans:
The murderer was mere boy crazed
with free drinks and with the incendia.
ry rubbish Of orators like Genera!
Harrison, who had been declaiming
against the "solid South" and the
rebel Democracy like wild person not
an hour before the shooting occurred.
General Harrison began speaking about
| o'clock, and simultaneously com
menced series of fights and riots that
lasted for several hours, with short
intervals. Young Kennedy, lad OF
seventeen, and a number OF Others,
both Democrats and Republicans, were
in Hardebeck's saloon drinking and
arguing politics. A row occurred, but
exactly who were engaged in it on
either side it is impossible TO ascertain
accurately any rate Sheriff McCork.
lie was called in by the proprietor 10
quell the disturbance, which he soon
succeeded in doing and separated the
combatants. He took the Kennedy boys
in charge and went out Of the saloon
with them to the other side Of the
street. lie was accompanied by a
motley and excited crowd TO that point,
about thirty or forty yards from the
saloon. The Kennedys had promised.
it seems, to go home quietly # released
and Mc(.orkle had tried 10 persuade
them TO do so. The Sheriff was assist
ed in his duties by exSherif I. II.
Howard Lee, and the two were side by
side when the point above. mentioned
was reached. Arrived there the Ken.
nedys and their companions refused TO
go any further, and commenced an as.
sault upon the officials. Mr.. Lee was
struck in the head with stone, and
Edward Kennedy, turning and drawing
revolver, deliberately shot Sheriff Nc.
Corkle. The ball penetrated the upper
portion of the right breast, and II is
thought lodged in or behind the lung.
Most of the crowd dispersed after the
shooting, and Sheriff McCorkle WAS
taken 10 the residence Of Mr.. X. w.
Flavitz, near by, bleeding proiusely
from his wound. DIR. Samuel Kennedy
was Immediately summoned and pro
nounced the wound very serious, with
the chances decidedly against recovery.
II was reported on the street that he
was dying or dead, and the news Great.
ed the widest excitement. The popu
lace hocked in hundreds TO the scene OF
the occurrence, and to the bedside Of
the wounded officer. A general riot
seemed imminent for some time
threats Of vengeance were uttered
against the perpetrator OF the dastardly
deed and If he had been caught there
is little doubt that he would have been
lynched. But as soon AZ the shooting
took place Kennedy fled. Nothing is
known of his present whereabouts, but
il is rumored that Republican friend in
official position met the murderer at a
convenient point, supplied him with
money and told him to make his way out
OF the county. After the shooting OF Mr..
McCorkle, ex Sheriff Howard Lee was
set upon by gang, knocked down and
repeatedly struck over the head and
shoulders with huge stones and would,
doubtless have been murdered on the
spot had not Constable Richard Thrall
and others rescued him. He was taken
to mousse near bY lot pfOtecllOn,
where his wounds were dressed. In ad.
dition to the foregoing brutal assault and
attempt at murder several other bloody
sfirays occurred. One OF these occurred
at Keck's saloon previous TO that de.
scribed above. A crippled Democratic
soldier named Short was in this saloon
with a number Of Republicans. One of
the latter said he could whip any Dem.
ocrat who had hallooed for Hancock, or
that no Democrat should halloo for
Hancock, or some remark 10 that effect.
This was resented by Short and he was
Immediately assaulted aud knocked
down. At this point Andrew Gusming.
er, prominent Democrat, interfered
and requested the parties to desist
thereupon he too was assaulted and
dreadfully beaten. His head was bad
ly cut and he was otherwise bruised.
Jefferson Barger, who is marshal of
Shelbyville, stood by and saw McCor.
kle shot, saw the outrageous conduct
of his political friends and made no
effort TO interfere with or stop their do.
ings. He arrested nobody; did not try
to catch Kennedy; did not lift hand
10 prevent bloodshed, and it is one Of his
deputies who is charged with giving
money to Kennedy 10 make his escape.