The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-20

afternoon Miller returned to Corydon from his
country home, and went before the
grand jury, where he again firm
ly refused to answer the questions.
He was then taken before Judge Ramsey,
where he gave as his reason, that he was sun
able to answer them," and the court, without
hesitation. discharged him. This action was
somewhat of a surprise, but it later
learned, that the roads leading to Cory
don were lined with armed men,
whose avowed purpose was to raze the Jail TO
the ground. and to rescue Miller, provided he
was incarcerated. The number of men which
appeared on the Mauckport road leading south
from town, could not be estimated. but it is
vouched for by respectable citizens of the town,
who them, that they scattered In
knots and groups along the road for fully one
mile south. Almost an equally large number, it
IS reliably reported, were on the other roads
leading into town. These men were supposed
to be the same who had made the raid on the
nj yht of May 3d. and it was the supposed recog-
milton of Miller member of these night
riders that caused him to be summoned before
the grand jury.
THE KNIGHTS OF THE SWITCH.
These night-rders are not to be COMPOUNDED
with the socalled knights of the Switch" a
lawless organization which adds to the confusion
of affairs in this unhappy county. The Knights
of the Switch have been organized since 1871 or
1872, and, it is said, were then first banded to-
gether to punish horse thief whom the law
failed to reach. They were so successful in
this act, that they maintained their organization
and hold the law in their own hands, often per-
petrating outrages and inf1lcting horrible punish
ments, which are a blot upon Indiana. They
style themselves good honest. hard working
farmers" who only wish to get rid of the worth
less. no-account squatters idlers and loafers
They have taken men, women and children from
their beds at night dragged them from their
houses to the nearest tree, where after unmercl-
fully flashing them with hickory switches, they
warned their victims to leave the county within
certain time, or suffer repetition of the same
dose. The wretched sufferers, with backs LAGER
ated and scored by the terrible wythes
dragged themselves to their houses, more
always left the county. No effort has ever been
made to bring these Knights of the Switch to
justice or to curb their lawless vengeance. The
only notice taken of their inhuman outrages
was twelve years ago, when they were indicted
oy the grand jury. but witnesses re-
dated by threats of violence. So common
have these outrages and visitations become
that the papers have ceased to take any notice
or them beyond a bare mention. Courts. grand
Jurles, prosecuting attorneys, sheriffs and coun-
ty boards do nothing to ferret them out and
bring them to just punishment for their law
less acts. They hold undisputed the
right that they have assumed to
call forth from his home any mar
or member of his family and lash their bare
backs until the quivering flesh hangs in shreds
On Tuesday week ago man named Peters
was thus dashed. Jacob Foster received the
same treatment. W. r. Williams was taken
out on Saturday week ago, and notice was
served upon farmer to take his daughter out
OF the poor house, with which he complied with
alacrity
The whole county is in state of outlawry
No confidence is placed in any one, and, on the
whole, the situation is most deplorable.
Mr. Josiah Harvey, old resident, says:
MANY farmers have barely enough to winter
on. Men who have heretofore stood well, finan-
cially. are today mortgagng property to obtain
the necessities of life. Land here in many
sections is bad and all wheat crops have
to be raised with artificial fertilizers. This be-
ing the.fact, the statements am about to make
may not appear strange. | know farmers who
are trading their wheat for fertilizers to use on
their next crop and one In Boone township
has tried to mortgage his prospective crop to OBJ
tain money to pay off old debts for groceries,
harvest help and so forth"