The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-25
LYNCH LAW AT YINCENNES.
Oliver Garfield Eaken from Jail and
Hanged to Telegraph Pole,
For the COwardy and Brutal Murder of Mrs
MOllie Gerkin-The Work Of the Mob
Meets General Approval.

NiNCESNES, lnd, June z4-lno Ooauercldl
of this evening has the following:
Vincennes was awakened this morning by
Judge Lynch in all his terrible supremacy, and
Justice was indicated in the most terrifying
manner by the summary lynching of Oliver
Camield the diabolical scoundrel who shot and
killed his sweetheart, Mollie Gerkin, Tuesday
night at Browns clearinghouse. The portion
of the city that was awake was awed, and
astounded, and trembled by the fearful occur
renee and its consequences but no words of
regret pass anybody's lips. During the entire
day Monday runors were rife upon the
streets that Garfield would be lynched at night
that a mob had been formed-that all the
prelmnaries had been arranged-that the rope
had been purchased-that band of lynchers
would arrive on night train-and many other
rumors of more or less consequences; and not less
than hundred citizens remained down town TO
see the trouble, should it occur.
young man, whose curiosity got the best OF
his Judgment, stationed himself in the second
story window of building adjoining the jail,
and states that man masked was perceived
climbing up the gas post on Eighth street next
to the jail, turning out the light then ne pro
ceeded to Seventh street and put out another
ga-slight opposite the Jail, and then made some
peculiar motions which brought a mop OF tharGy-
i've men, who marched in military style down the
street, silent and orderly, entered the Jall-yard
and gathered around the door.
The crowd followed the dictates of two leaders
and pounded the door, calling to the sherln to
swered that he did not have the keys. There
upon the mob commenced operations upon the
door with sledge hammers and crow bars and in
q short time-less than an hour-ths door was
battered down and the mob walked INTO the jan
They grabbed Sheriff Kackley and took him up
stairs. The sheriff made no resistance but ob-
jected to the proceedings. demand was again
made for the keys, when some one called Tor
gunpowder to blow up the iron work which pro
tected the cells. Kackley answered that he
would see the prisoners and the Jail in hell be
fore he would give up the keys, when the mob,
convinced that persuasion would do no good
took huge IT" rail and burst the fastenings
of the inside door and thus succeeded in gaining
entrance to the corridor of the jail.
The door of Canfeds cell was unlocked, and
the leaders rushed into it, and one of the men
grabbed him, when Camfeld said ''Well what
dc, you wantF
mo, you don't; I'm not the man you want,
exclaimed Garfield. With this he sprang at
one of the men, and kicked him twice In most
ferocious manner.
Camfield in the jail yard, but Camfeld asked the
men who had hold of him to take him to the
place where he had killed the girl. This singu
lar request was at once granted and the yelling
and screeching mob, which by this time had in
creased to hundreds, proceeded to do it. The
distance to this place. where the killing oc-
Cured, Is half mile. and this distance was
overcome in a very short time.
SCENE OF THE EXECUTION.
The boarding house was reached, which is
near to the Ohio & Mississippi railroad. Here
the mob stopped, and taking Garfield across
the street. surrounded the nearest telegraph
pole, where they stopped ready for business
One of the mob climbed the pole and threw
rope over the cross arm. Camfeld was asked if
he had anything to say. He said, in a thor
huc Nv I
for what did, and if 1 had to do it over again
wouldn't kill her The trouble was caused by
quarrel"
They adjusted the rope around his neck, and
then the leader demanded of the crowd to re-
move their hats Then Garfield was asked if
he had anything to say. He replied; "Tell my
mother to bear it the best she can. Tell her l
tried to be repentant, and hope l will go to
heaven. Send my body to my mother, in Wash
ington." He was so weak that he could hardly
stand, and was evidently scared into utter
silence.
Several men pulled on the rope and up went
the body of the foulest assassin in this country
The mob then pinned on the dead mans breast
warning to the coroner not to take the body
down until noon of Tuesday, June "a. The
lived-utterly reckless of the consequences,
The mob first intended to hang the villain to a
lamp-post near Dalton and Montgomery. but
afterward changed their minds, and took him to
the spot where he murdered Mollie Gerkin. The
mob became very noisy, and hooted and yelled
during the entire time of their march from the
Jail to the telegraph pole scaffold.
Policeman Heidenrich was seen walking be-
hind the mob with the spectators, when the cry
was sent up Fire out Heidenrch! Fire out
Hedenrichh And Mr.. H., pursuing common
sense Judgment, left the crowd at once
1t is reported that Garfield, in confessing the
deed, said that the shooting resulted from
quarrel and that he did not mean to kill Moiie
Gerkin-that he only wanted to scare her. and
that he killed her accidentally
He was coward, and, although it may have
been generally supposed that he died game
yet he was completely cowed into abject silence
and for while could scarcely utter word.
When the crowd reached the scene of the muir
der, opposite Alexander Browns clearinghouse
No. 821 North Fourth street, some wanted to
hang him to a tree in the yard, but they finally
took him across the road, strung him up, and
turned the murderous face toward the gate
where the fatal shooting occurred.
INTERVIEW WITH THE SHERIFF.
Sheriff Kackley, who was on guard with dep
uties Seddlemeyer and Simpson, turned a deaf
BAR to all the demands of the mob, and fatty
refused to deliver the keys When interviewed
by reporter, this morning he referred to the
mob as set of cowardly ours, devoid of every
symptom of decency or bravery. He was severe
In his denunciation of the police force, and in
hmated that they had urged on the mob. The
sheriff was as coolheaded as possible under the
circumstances and took about seventy-fve
aames of the participants, whom he hopes
10 will have the pleasure of escorting to JEFF
bsrsonville in the near future. He promises
20 indict the ring-leaders of the affair
before the grand jury. The Crank by which
the partition bars to the cells are raised was man
lpu.ated by some one who was familiar with the
Jail. The outside door to the sheriffs residence
was literally battered to pieces. The mob, after
gaining admittance, carried key of powder
into the house and threatened to blow up the
premises. Various tools used on railroads were