St. Landry democrat., 1884-12-06
A REIGN OF TERROR.

way Robbery so Common That the Peo-
pie Are in a State of Continual Terror
Some of the Bands Recent Exploits.
LOUISVILLE, KY, November 90.
N. r. Peckenpaugh, a prominent lawyer
Of Leavenworth, the county seat of CraW-
ford County, in Southern Indiana, is in
this city on visit to bis rela~ive, Mr.. j.
T. Crecelius, at Twelfth and Market
streets. He tells graphic tale of the
reign of terror in his county, of which
dispatch a few days ago gave
some particulars. The county, he
relates, has hitherto been un-
usually quiet and peaceful. Such
things as robbers were unknown, and it's
inhabitants prided themselves upon living
in one OF the most laW-abiding districts
in the State. Suddenly it became known
that band of robbers were in their
midst. One outrage after another was
heard of in rapid succession. Travelling
at night became unsafe, unless in very
large and Well-armed parties.
ALWAYS MAsKED-BoLD DEEDS.
The men who committed these deeds
were always in band of five or six, and
never we're seen without their faces being
masked They grew bolder. Residences
were entered, and at the pistols point
their owners were compelled to give up
their money and valuables. The greatest
terror reigns among the inhabitants of
this once peaceful county, and it seems
that none of their efforts to break
up the hSnd are of avail. The organiza-
ton is n3W flourishing in all its strength.
Each night brings forth q succession of
robberies and thefts The outrages are
perpetrated in the boldest manner. They
meet man in the road and the word is
simply "Stand and deliver" AS the
command is enforced by number of
cooked and leveled pistols, the one who
receives the order always obeys it with
scarcely moments hesitation.
Last Tuesday night band of four or
five masked men broke into Williams
store at small place near the Air Line
Railroad, about sixty miles from Louis
vile. They bored five holes IN the safe,
and filling them with gunpoWder, blew
open the door. From the safe they took
$500 in cash and quantity of valuable
papers. They proceeded about the work
with the utmost boldness, as ii they feared
mo interruption, and considering that
they were well armed and fearless they
had little indeed to dread. On the fol-
lowing night the same band entered the
house of George Patton, wealthy
farmer, living at Patton's Tunnel, on
the Air Line. They took Mr.. Patton
out of his bed, and threatened to kill him
if he did not instantly give them all the
money he had in the house. They seemed
to mean what they said, and accordingly
Mr.. Patton delivered over to them $500 in
cash.
AFTER THE COUNTY FUNDS.
The same night they went to the resi-.
denee of Mr.. S. B. McFall, the County
Auditor. They boldly entered the house
and accosted the owner. They demanded
of him to take them to the county offices
and deliver over TO them all the cash and
valuables belonging to the county
This Mr.. McFall refused to do, and
as he was so steady in his determination
the band let this subject drop and pro-
ceeded to ransack the house. AS in all
the former instances, their faces were
completely covered with black masks and
they were armed to the teeth. They took
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some yaluables and then left.
A night or two ago j. c. Long was sur
prised by visit from the masked band.
Long keeps, in Leavenworth, a restaurant
and billiard hall together. He went back
into the billiard hall and remained there
little while, and when he returned tc
the eating department he found a party
of five masked men behind the counter
helping themselves to the best eatabIes
they could find. The proprietor was ma
turally slightly astonished at the conduct,
and demanded of the intruders
what they were about. They did
not heed him at all, but con-
tinued the pleasing task of filling their
stomachs. Long, becoming incensed, en-
deavored to put them out. A fight en-
!. sued, and he knocked one of the men
down. They then drew their knives and
attacked him. After slicing him up
pretty badly they walked off. These are
only few, instances of the numerous
cases of the kind which have occurred in
Crawford County.