The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-16
THE MARION MOB.
The Ridiculous End of the lawless Outbreak
On Monday Night.

MARION, July 15.-The only attempt at mob
violence known in the history of Grant county,
ended ridiculously last night The story of the
mobs rise and fall presents two rather significant
phases of the impelling forces from which the
commonly occurring outbreaks of lynch lawless-
ness develop. The offense of Lewis the negro,
although deserving punishment was not in the
nature Of an outrage and was no cause for
blood thirsty uprising of the populace. The
reason given for the attempt to lynch him was
that he deserved it ION general
principles and because he was not desirable
citizen. The representative citizens deprecate
the extreme course that was pursued, and de-
clare that there was no popular sentiment iusti-
flying the attempted lynching The attack upon
the Jail Monday night was melted by men
who desired an outbreak of mob violence more
for the excitement it afforded than for the met
ing out of justice The crowd which assaulted
the Jail seemed bent upon making as much noise
as possible. There were but four doors between
the mob and the prisoner, and dozen
determined men could have broken them open
in less than ten minutes. The mob amused itself
by firing off revolvers instead of working The re-
suit was that they killed one of their own number
and then withdrew, without having accomplished
anything although they at the moment
practically in possession of the Jail, as the guard
had been rendered helpless. There was no
organization and no determination There were
the incipient elements of mob spirit in the
gathering but it was acting upon pretext
rather than upon an earnest purpose The
had an appalling effect. The fact
41oH
in the movement was clearly demonstrated by
the ridiculous efforts made last night to incite a
second attack upon the jail The rendezvous of
the mob was a grove near the suburbs of the
town, about quarter Of mile distant from the
jail There were probably as many as fifty per-
sons, including about twenty newspaper report
ers, who gathered at this place shortly after mid
night Doubtless about thrty-fve of the forty
were attracted there through innocent curiosity.
Many very bold and daring rioters would have
been present, it was understood. had it not
been for an alarming rumor that the negroes
of the town were lying in ambuscade and in
tended to open fire on the rendezvous Of the mob.
A man of reputed fearlessness as rioter was IN
some mysterious manner chosen the leader, and
after the crowd had stood silent in the shade of
the trees for an hour or SO, wondering what it
was there for he mustered up courage enough
to give utterance to some such words of burn
ing eloquence as the following: MEN, this
desperate undertaking in which I am about to
lead you. Remember we are about to fight for the
protection of our wives and daughters and other
female relatives. The thing for you TO think of
now, gentlemen, is their future acts.
These impressive words had the true ring to
them, and their effect can better be imagined
than described. After pause to give sufficient
time for these solemn thoughts the fearless
leader called on the brave and daring, who felt
that they could stand by him to the last to fall
in line and follow him. There were five or six
who quickly stepped forward. There were
about dozen more who dragged themselves
into the line, as if they really didn't
want to go, but didn't know just how
to get out Of it. When this forrid-
able mob reached the Jail it numbered about
fifteen men. When they entered the gate Sheriff
Holman came to the door to receive them with
due attention. 81 am sheriff of this county he
said 'and it is my duty to protect the countys
property. I intend to do it. You men must
now get away from here" These remarks were
received with respectful attention. and the mob
seemed to be strongly impressed with the idea
that this appeared to be fair statement OF
facts. They did not linger to argue the matter,
but promptly turned about face and marched
out through the gate as fearlessly as they had
entered. "Hey, our leader is scooting out Tor
Kokomo," cried member Of the mob, as the
intrepid man who had LED the attack disappeared
! around the corner moment afterward.
A Journal reporter saw Lewis, the negro prls-
oner in his cell early this morning lie had
slept none since his Imprisonment, and during
the whole of Yesterday he said that he had de-
voted himself to prayer, in expectation that he
would be dead before to-day In talking about
the attempt to lynch him, he attributed the
preiudice against him in Marion to his marriage.
several years ago, to white woman. LIZ had
regarded the marriage as q curse, as he had been
having trouble ever since 1t was evident tnas
he had been terror stricken by the experience
through which he had passed, and he sald that a.
soon as released he would leave the town, never
to return.
The fright of Lewis however, was no greater
than another negro who was conhhea III Ia"
Jail for stealing chicken. Yesterday morning
he pleaded piteously with the sheriff TO release
him from Jail ''Its all black in heah, MlStan
Sheriff" he said, land if dat mob gets IN mean
they's likely to hang de wrong COON. AS
stronger argument in favor of his proposition.
he begged the sheriff to let him go, because II
the mob got Frank they would kinder get IN
the habit of hanging nigcers and would take
him out, too"
There are no fears of further trouble. me
remains of James Kelly the young man Kiilea
lie afkarn0On.