The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-07
AN INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES.
4 Bloody Incident of the Early DayS-A
Famous Trial in the BackwOOds.

An interesting incident in the early history of
Indiana is mentioned in the course of an article
on the theological Survey of Madison County"
written by DIR. R. T. Brown, which will appear
in the forthcoming report of Dr. Collett, the
State Geologist. Early in the Spring of 1924
the writer states, "a crime of atrocious cruelty,
and of sufficient Importance to demand the inter
ference of the general government occurred in
Madison county. The Delaware Indians had
been removed beyond the Mississippi in the
spring of 1921, and white immigration coming in
alowly, the wild game had increased rapidly.
This induced band of Seneca Indians from
their reservation in Ohio, to come into Indiana
temporarily for the purpose of hunting and trap
ping. OF these Ludlow and Mingo, two peace
able Seneca Indians had established their camp a
short distance above where the village of New
Columbus is now located. With them were three
women and four children. They had made
successful winters work and had accumulated
O stock of furs of considerable value When
this group of Indians were seated around their
camp fire, Thomas Harper, Andrew Sawyer,
James Hudson John Bridges, ST., and John
Bridges, jr., five white men, came to their
camp protesting to be hunting stray horses.
They requested Ludlow and Mingo to assist
them in the search which was assented to. They
divided into two companies, led by the two In
dams, and entered the thick woods They had
gone but short distance when Harper walking
behind Ludlow, shot him dead Hudson, hear
ing the report of Harpers rifle, fred on Mingo
and he, too, fell dead The band of assassins
then returned to the camp and shot the squaws
and the children, and robbed the camp of every
thing valuable. .....-..
"Harpe, made his escape and was never heard
of afterwards He was probably pursued and
killed by the other Indians then in that vicinity.
The other four were arrested and confined in
log house at Pendleton, heavily ironed and
strongly guarded This murder aroused the
Indians hunting in that region as well as the
Mamis north of White river who sympathized
with them and spread panic among the cabins
of the white settlers John johnson, the Indian
agent for the Senecas. residing at Piqua, o..
and William Conner acting agent for the Mi
amis, instantly came to the scene of disturbance
and quoted the Indians by assuring them that
the murderers should be promptly and properly
punished for their crime johnson I'M
mediately sentan account of the murder to Wash
ington, and the department appointed James
Noble, at that time one of lndianas senators.
to lead in the prosecution of the case. A special
session Of the court was convened Judge Wick
presiding. Hon. James Noble, Calvin Fletcher,
Philip Sweetser aud Samuel Mason appeared for
the State. The prisoners were defended by
Charles H Test, James Rariden. Martin VI. Ray
William B. Morris and Lot Bloomfield.
Though the court was convened in q rude log
cabin, yet the Court Of the Queens Bench could
not have been conducted with more gravity and
formality than was this first criminal court Of
Madison county. A backwoods jury, in their
moccasins and hunting shirts, patiently
listened to the same bloody recital day after day
as each case came up for trial, and gave close at
tenton as the array of legal talent waded
through the intricacies of the law and the quirks
and tricks of sophistry common to the criminal
lawyer;and at the conclusion of each case brought
in a verdict Of guilty, varying the monotony
only in the case of John Bridges, jr., who was
commended to the executive clemency on &C
count Of his youth and his testimony, which,
chiefly the Others were convicted. A deep
feeling Of Indignation was aroused among the
spectators by the diabolical plot of cold blooded
murder and robbery. rs it was brought out in
the testimony, yet no attempt at violence was
made, nor hint at Lynch law heard and even