The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-30
STATE NEWS AND GOSSIP.
Efforts to Secure the Adams County
Murderers Against Mob Violence.
The Men To Be Taken to Decatur for Exam
inatiOn-FlOuring-Mill Burned by
ncendiaries-State Gleanings.
INDIANA,
Efforts to Secure the Safety of the Alleged
Murderers of TOckesto.


Efforts to Secure the Safety of the Alleged
Murderers of ISOcIxestO.
Special to the indianapolis Journal
FoRT WAYNE, April 29.-Sherif McGirif of
Adams county, and two deputies, arrived from
Decatur tonight for the purpose OF taking
Frederick Richards and Jesse Smith, the alleged
mUrderers of Amos Bockesto back to Decatur, IN
the morning, for preliminary examination before
Justice Bailey. In view of the proceedings of
last night and the frenzied feeling still existing
against the prisoners, the sheriff gravely doubts
the advisability of such course and will not
pursue it unless assured by a delegation from
Decatur in the morning, that lynching can be
provided against. A large number of witnesses
have been subpenaed for examination from the
neighborhood which furnished last nights mob,
and the day and hour mentioned on the sub
poenas will be a general notice of the trial
to the classes most to be feared. The State
prosecutor of Adams county claims to have Sc
cured strong evidence against both men Smith,
who is mere youth, is said to have been tool
in the hands of Richards, who was dangerous
man and determined enemy of Bockesto. The
youth is said to have been seen ON Thursday
night in the company of two strange men, going
The prisoners viii not be advised until the morn
ing of the setting Of the examination for to-
morrow.
Jerry Cartright, of Geneva, leader of last
nights mob, arrived at Fort Wayne this ev-
ening
Observation-Disclosures was informed tonight to
prepare to go to Decatur in the morning He
strongly objected to imperiling his life. and en-
gagged the services of Hon. Robert Stratton
who warned Sheriff McGriff that if harm befell
his client he must be held responsible Nc
Grif informed the Journal representative that
he hoped to be able to preserve order, but ad-
mitted that he had learned that mob from
Wiltshire, O., organized under the same leader
who directed the lynching of Mcleod in 1872,
may beaexpected to cross into Adams county
with hostile intent. These men are strangers
to him, and if they come he cannot hope to con
troll them.
Richards stated tonight to McGrih that he
had received from one Brock, a bad character of
Wayne county, Ohio, a letter asking him to on
terrain three strange mon who appeared at his
house on Wednesday night, the night before the
murder They endeavored to sell him counter
felt money, and left next morning. in the after
noon one came back for some article he had for
gotten. Richards declares he has never seen
them since, and knows not their purpose in visit
ing him. The prisoner bears the reputation of
being timber-thief, and is otherwise an I'M
savory person. The writer of the letter, which
is now said to be in the hands of physician at
Berne, formerly lived in Adams county, and
knew Brockesto and his circumstances.
McGrif says now that he will surely return
with the prisoners tomorrow morning. He and
his deputies are heavily armed.