The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-24
A GREAT BOURBON VICTORY.
A Vermont Republican Lynched at Monterey,
Va, by a Drunken Democratic Mob.

A Vermont Republican Lynched at Monterey,
Va, by Drunken Democratic Mob.
Richmond Special
Further intelligence confirms the dreadful re-
ports of yesterday concerning the lynching of Z.
D. Atchison by drunken Bourbon mob at
Monterey, in Highland county, on Friday last.
The details of this outrage are narrowing in the
last degree. E. D. Atchison who is Vermont
man and an outspoken Republican, came to this
State about two years ago He was cattle
trader, and operated chiefly in Augusta, Bath
and Highland counties. He was a rough but
straightforward man in all his dealings, and very
plain-spoken and brave. Christmas day he was
drinking in company with a man named
Buckman, who is a prominent Readjuster Re
publican and with whom he had some tradings.
They differed and blow was given, when Atchi-
son drew his knife and inflicted a severe wound
on Buck1nap. Atchison arrested and com
mitted to Jail, to await the result of Buckman's
injuries. In a few days the physicians were sat
isfed that Buckman would recover and made
this known to Atchson and his counsel. Buck
man further stated that he was wholly to blame
for the disturbance, and requested the authori-
ties to release Atchisop. as he had complaint
to prefer, and if brought to trial would not APP
pear witness against him. Atchison had in
the meantime, threatened to bring suits against
certain parties who had been mainly instru-
These facts becoming generally known, ten
persons lit seems ten is the number of each
Bourbon club, wearing masks and otherwise dis
guised, called at the jail on Friday night and
demanded the keys to Atchison's cell This was
refused. The mob then proceeded to batter the
jail, and wherever breach could be made they
opened fire on Atchison with shot guns and pis-
tolls. Atchison made gallant fight for his life,
but in vain. He fell at last from four different
wounds and loss of blood. The cell door was
then forced by the desperadoes who fastened a
BEDFORD taken from the cell bed, around Atchi-
sons neck and dragged him off through the
snow about half mile from the village, and
suspended him to a tree, We're he was found at
daylight, dead and stiffly frozen.
As usual in such cases, no arrests have been
made and none will be, magistrate daring to
issue a warrant even if any one could be found
to make complaint Most of the lYnchers are
well known to different persons who witnessed
the attack on the jail, as their masks fell off
several times during the assault, and, most of
them being half drunk, talked wildly and ex-
citedly and were recognized by their voices.
The last Bourbon triumph in this State and
the means resorted to TO insure it seems to have
completely "knocked the bottom out" of all re
gard for law or order Had Bourbonism been
overthrown last fall no one in his senses be-
Heves for moment that the outrages which
daily disgrace the State would for moment be
tolerated, or that ten men under the influence
of liquor would be allowed to en-
ter town, attack the Jail, and persist in their
from prisoner whose offense, if any at all, was
merely misdemeanor, and hang him. Atchson
was hanged, not for cutting Buckman but be-
cause he was Vermont man and Republican
And this dastardly crime must be charged to
the Bourbon Democracy of Highland county. If
three men out of the fifty who stood by, idle
spectators, had simply protested. the outrage
would not have to be recorded. Had Buckman
died, and Atchison been hanged or sent to the
State prison for life, then Bourbonism would
have been happy. They had hoped to get rid of
two Republicans and were about to be disap-
pointed, hence their conduct.
The finding of the coroner's jury deserves no.
tice; 1--WE, the jury, find that E. D. Atchison
came to his death, the night of Friday last by
exposure to cold and several gun-shot wounds
inflicted by persons to the jurors unknown" No
mention is made of the hanging nor is the name
of single villain given, though every man is
well known to the jury. What commentary
on law and order! Yet there are men in the
North who daily assert theat Virginia Bourbons
are conservative and do not molest Republicans
for opinions sake VIII such men ever Learnt