New-York tribune., 1880-06-28
POLITICAL NEWS.
rHE MissIss1rpl pLAK IN INnIAxA

TIE STONY or A BRUTAL OUTRAGE ~ sHELBT
| CoUSTY-A NEGRO DRIVEN FROM TDE POLLS
AND THEN HUNTED THROUGH 1BKe COUNTY
WITH MISUNDERSTANDING or HIS PUEsUERs
INDICTED ny A UNITED sIATEs GRAND JURY
AND THEIR TRIAL ABOUT To COME Off,.
TYRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE tribune
| INDIANAPOLIS, June 25.--A case of political
Interest which illustrates the character Of the Demoe-
racy of this State s pending in tho United States
| District Court here. The case comes from Shelby
| County, winch 10 domineered by gang Of rufilans
headed by Lee AIssden. the County Treasurer He is
large bully, and s backed by Of the
character Some of them have felt the clutches Of the
a. before in other States This little band Of patriots
como uded 10 see that OF tho imported voters
thereby meaning negroes who have settled in the Stale,
cast a ballot in "Od Shelby" on election day. which
was Apifl5. On that day Amsden and bis gang took
complete possession OF the polls, builied Republicans
and terrified negroes. They had things all their
way until about noon, when negro presented himself
ut the polls vote His Wilson, he horn
IN Indiana twentyhree years Old and had resided
all his life IN the State. HIS challenged and
he made out the necessary adavt and went again to
the polls prepared to be by the Inspector. Be-
fore he had reached the votngplaee he seized by
Charles Robertson, member OF the AmAden gang, who
began to choke him and push him bAcKW ard while the
rest Of the muudeFOus crew pounded him. Amsden was
sWearlng that Niger should vote there, and
when J. H. Vance, a Republican, attempted defend
he promptly knocked down. The negro badly
pounded aud frightened, finally broke away and
glad enough relnQuish his light TO vote and escape
with his life
The excitement Of this adventure had almost Subsided
and the gang were beginning to about for
dversiOn when negro named Charles Beard offered 10
bis ballot Beard has lived for many years in Indi
ana, wOrkingin this city time. and has beer in
Shelby County more than two years, working on tie
farm Of q well-knOwn farmer named lie Masters. His
challenged and affidavit made usual.
But as he about to deposit his ballot. Robertson
seized him rs he had Wilson. and the gang" began
pounding him. james b. McFadden. a prominent at
torncy of the place. nteriered TO protect Beard and
Hugh Dobson. old and hOtheaded Democrat,
drew his revolver, and threatened to perforate
him II he assisted Beard. Meanwhile Beard
running from the crowd who
humping him. and finally getting his knife open, be
broke away. AInsden however, pursued and overlook
him. and throwing him to the ground began beat him
numerically but at this iuDcture Republican named
Kennedy took hand IN the game and struck Amsden
terrific blow the head with heavy stick, laying
the scalp open and stretching the ruan out for dead
The excitement was intense. The cry went forth,
"Amsden is dead and met with the echo, "I hope
God he is" But there such good luck IN
for shebyve. Kennedy pursued with the cry OF
" Hang hm"" XIII bimi" by the Democrats, but man
aged to escape. Daniel Noef, sllversmith. who is
Republican. was struck with pair OF knuckles and Sc
ties The Democratic Oicials OF Shebyve Of course,
made no arrests and after few days Of talk the mat
But that was the end of the matter Ainsden had
he must have revenge. This was how he got H. Beard
felt that under the circumstances It behOOved him
have arms handy as he went about bis work. week
paased by and he not molested. But the eighth
day his work took him into adjoining field. 10 reach
which he was Obliged 10 cross Held belonging to
Democrat named wilson AS be was crossing tins land
Wilson's son espird him and ordered him TO leave;
coupling with the order an OpprObOus epthct Beard
thought this persecution had gene far enough, aud
having his gun in ns hand be started in pursuit of
young Wilson, but made no effort to shoot him Though
lie easy range He did not catch him. young
rese9I an tnsuli. went 70 town ana HS"re
n warrant for Boards Democratic Justice
hands Of the Amsden gang for service though none OF
them were officers II was ehauoe 10 be revengcd on
stoned ngcerhunt" Meanwhile Beard. unconscious |
Of any wrong. but convinced Of his unpupuarlty in |
Shelby County determined Ia a cOng,niI |
cline, aud TO Shrbyve TO take tine bringing
gun. The gang numbering eight. hearing that The
ecsted taking rifles. and sb,t-guns, bur being
being warned. ned and the Dem ,cra. pur-ued wh
al the afternoon, a1d toward evening
hid he brush aud ended his pursu"r. until the
line dnd surrendered. HIS wound was scrious ana
when he was brought to jali ~ She 6yvillc he WAS
slstance Ho had been dogged nnd hnrred uniil e Was
frightened almost ~ death. The nee .nnts gwen bY
iNlnK on iDe ilhe OF me pu sun fltE nj IL ns
exceedingly brutal aud lacking Ouly blOudh0uncs 70
bring II ZIP tO the standard of the Mississippi sport.
For this conduct pn unsympatletic Uulict states |
Grand Jury found nn indictment against Ecaz B.
Ausdcn aud others Tor spiracv 10 lnilmidHie ana
hinder duly qualified In the exercise Of their
riRl - The indictments are found ubder sections
$500. 3,5O7 5.44O II. =. Amsden aud Of his
arrest.I recently and gave bail the
81 200 each To APPEAR: Their trial comes up In few
days, and the United States Courts some OF Inc
Southern States may find some hints which Will aid
them dealing with the original ssssiDp budozrrs.
The Democracy OF Indiana determined tD welcome the
Mort Carolina immigr with bloody hand, To hos
itabe graves aud the United States Grand Jury thinks
this 10 hardly right.
This bit OF history reveals the spint OF Indiana
Democracy. and explains way II l. hard 10 mako Iud-
r. publican. Rpfrd by southern, the Stale 81
Indiana he educated out OF Southern ideas aud
preudIces. She IS making progress. hut II Is a
process. II looks though this year may be
the turning point Such Outragps the above and the
desperate OF the Democratic Supreme Court
OveTthrowing the Constitutional amendments have III
lerly dishearened ana disgusted the respectable er
meni OF the Democratic party There never n mOre
auspieious opening OF campaign IN Indiana. and the
Republican leaders confidently predict success