The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-20
A Carefully-Arranged Plan Carried Out in
the Most Deliberate and Syste-
matte Manner.
The Mob Allowed to Seize the Pris-
oner Without Resistance.
The Twelve-Mile Ride to the Place of Eye
cution-An Important Admission
by the Guilty Man.
ORGANIZING THE MOB.
A Lynching Party in which Every Mar
Knew What He Was to Do.

Knew What He Was to Do.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
FOWLER, Ind, Nov. 19.-The mob which
hanged Jacob Nelling last night was one of
the best organized bodies that ever otficiated
at lawless execution. If the hanging had
been conducted officially after careful prep
aration there could have been no stricter ad-
herence to well-set plans. The organiza-
ton was systematic, and the execution was
without hitch. The attempt which was
made month ago to take the prisoner from
Jail was simply the menacing surge of
drunken riotousness. The work of last night
was characterized by order and determina-
ton. In the body of msn who conducted
the execution there was only one who was
in the bowling mob of month ago.
The preparations for the hanging be-
gan several days ago. The tools
used in breaking into the Jail
were made last week, and the men who
were to compose the mob were carefully
selected from among the coolest and most
determined men in the vicinity where the
murder was committed. All were farmers.
One of the leaders, in speaking of the organ
sentative:
',Ehe party was composed of reputable
citizens of the county. There were only four
of the number who were under twenty-one
years of age, and they were taken along
simply for the purpose of taking care of the
horses"
Were there as many as 800 men in the
n1ob9,1 iDo,1irad tho To11rpo oI raOracopfot;vo
I'VE are no mob" was the answer. 1--WE
are regulators"
"Well, how many of the regulators were
there?"
There were just fifty-nine. The work
might have been done just as well with
twenty-five"
Were they all from about Oxford?'
"Yes."
After it was learned that Nelling had been
brought back to Fowler last week for trial,
Sunday night was fixed as the time for the
hanging, and the chosen members of the
"band of regulators" were quietly notified
Last night at o'clock the fifty-nine men met
at the house of farmer about two miles
southeast of Oxford. There the plans for
BSbIlIIS pVsoSSolOh VI tLO pilSOHCI WSIS
agreed upon, and the mob was systematically
organized. A captain and two lieutenants
were elected, and every man was given a
special duty to perform. Seven men were
selected for the work of battering down the
Jail doors. The tools used for this purpose
were sledge-hammers, crowbars and chsels.
After all the details of the organization
had been agreed upon and every man under
stood what he was expected to do, one of the
leaders arose and said; Gentlemen, move
that the hanging of Jacob Nelling
shall be within sight of the place
where he committed the murder" The mo-
ton was seconded and the vote upon it was
unanimous. AS everything was then in
readiness for action three or four men were
detailed to go to Fowler in advance of the
main body to reconnoiter the town and to
report if all was quiet and clear.
How many men have revolvers" called
out the leader of the mob before starting on
the journey.
There were only two out of the fifty-nine
men who had such weapons.
Leave them behind" was the command,
and the ffty-nine "regulators' formed in
line. half of the number on horseback and
the rest in vehicles. At 10 o'clock the pro-
cession of masked men moved quietly toward
Fowler.