The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-17
The Sheriff and His Prisoner Pursued by
Hundreds of Enraged People, and
Lynching Barely Averted.
Fatal Results Of a Desperate Fight in a
Drinking-Shop at Plymouth.
Criminal Deeds of Gang of ScOundrels Near
HeywOrth, Il.-PrOgress of the Car
penter Trial at Petersburg
INDIANA.
RObison's Sentenoe-A Lynching Averted by
Strenuous Efforts of Citizens.

RObison's sentenoe-A Lynching Averted by
Strenuous Efforts of Citizens.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
MARTINsvIILE, March 15.-The evidence in
the Robson trial was concluded Thursday af
ternoon, and the argument of Deputy Prosecutor
Scott and portion of the argument of Major
Ferguson for the defense was heard. Yesterday
morning the argument of Major Ferguson was
finished, and was followed by G. G. Renner for
the defense The argument was closed at 2:30
o'clock by Hon. George A. Adams for the State.
During the progress of the trial large audience
was always in attendance, which was greatly in
creased when the argument began, and during
the speech of Mr. Adams the courtroom was
crowded. The increase of the crowd during the
last speech was due partly to the reputation of
Mr.. Adams as a speaker, and partly to the inter-
est awakened in the near approach of the close
of the case Much interest was also centered in
the instructions of Judge Cunning, as it was I'M
derstood that he wasconsiderably inclined tofavor
the defendant. This inclination, known be-
fore the trial, was not manifest during its pro-
gress, but was observable in the instructions;
and by many, probably those most enthusiastic
for the State, it was denounced as unfair to the
prosecution, and too much in favor of the f1end,
the prisoner at the bar.
The case was given to the jury at 245 o'clock,
and the crowd waited about the courthouse ex-
pecting to hear a verdict returned in few min
utes, but all were disappointed in this.
The jury returned their verdict this morning at
| o'clock, as follows:
I'VE, the jury find the defendant guilty Of involun
tary manslaughter, charged in the fifth count
| of the Indictment, and assess his punishment at
twenty-one years imprisonment in the State prison
wv. NJ. GRAY, Foreman
Sentence, in accordance with the verdict, was
Immediately pronouncedby the court Thiswas at
about 9:07 o'clock. The bound train was duea
! 9:19 and but few moments remained until the
whistle would announce the approach of the
! train on which it was deemed advisable that the
prisoner should go. Public sentiment was
| strongly against the wretch, and the populace
clamored for a severer sentence. Under the
| listing excitement and intense feeling manifested
it was considered advisable that the prisoner
should be taken beyond the reach of the violence
OF a possible mob at the earliest opnortnni4sr
| Accordingly, as soon as sentence was pronounced
by the court, Sheriff Haltom and Deputy Frank
| Lloyd handcuffed the prisoner and started for
| the depot. When the iron gate to the high
fence inclosing the jail swung OPEN
! and the prisoner with the officers stepped
into the courtyard about twenty
were standing about, discussing the verdict the
knowledge of which had reached but little be-
yond the courthouse yard. But little excite
nent Mt this time was observable, and there
was an entire absence Of any mob
organization, and apparent quiet reigned.
But the little crowd in the court
house yard, that observed the prisoner step
from his confinement was the fire to which fuel
was soon added A gentleman standing within
twenty feet of the criminal, raised little cap
from head streaked with gray hairs and at the
| top of his rugged voice shouted: ''Send the -
--- - to -" 1t was contagious,
and 'hang him. '1,ang him." 'shoot him. and
like expressions broke from the little knot of
bystanders, and echoed from more than
score of people around the square. The excite
ment was immediate in results, and people
seemed to spring from the ground, crying for
the prisoners life In a moment the streets and
sidewalks crowded. Express wagons,
hacks and delivery wagons were soon over
loaded and headed for the L & V. depot, to
which the poor, doomed wretch was hurried.
Surrounding the prisoner were a number of our
best citizens, who decried the mob and struggled
to serve the purposes and aim of law and order,
and sustain the better Judgment that prevailed.
AT the depot the prisoner hurried into the
gentlemen's waiting room with the hope
of avoiding tho crowd, which at
this time numbered fully three
hundred But the position taken at the time
seemed disastrous; for moment had not
elapsed before the door was strongly guarded
with determined band, organized for the pur-
pose of preventing the prisoners escape Good,
strong men stood there determined not to allow
the prisoner to enter the The sheriff, observ
ing that he was shut in, opened the Office door
and proceeded around and out of the door opening
from the ladies' room upon the platform, and
thus avoided the greater portion of the mob
But this escape was seen, and the crowd rushed
upon the prisoner, and with yells Of ''hang him!
kill himr struggled with their might TO drag
him from the officers. Lawabiding citizens
rushed to the rescue and in a moment the pris-
oner was in the ear and the doors locked Your
reporter ran to the front end of the coach and
sprang in just as the door closed after
him and passed few last words with
the trembling wretch. He expressed him
self satisfied with the verdict, and was glad
that he had thus narrowly escaped with his life
The engineer prevented further attack by pre-
venting gentleman from pulling the coupling
pin between the ear and the engine Had this
been accomplished, Robson would at this writ
ing have been corpse The train moved away
and an excited and indignant crowd came away,
unsatisfed with the punishment inflicted upon
this prince Of iends.
The Oratorical Contest at bloomington.
Special 10 the indianapolis Journal.
BLOOMINGTON, March 15.-The tenth annual
oratorical contest was held in tho university |
chapel, last night for the purpose of selecting an