The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-26
THE TRIAL OF SAM ARCHER.
The Testimony Listened to by aCrowd Of
Intensely Interested Hearers.
The Widow Of the Murdered Bunch the First
Witness-John Lynch Tells of the Cap
ture and Death of the Victim.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
SHOALS, Ind, March 2 5.-The town has been
in a state of excitement to-day over the trial of
Sam Archer. The courtroom has been packed
to its utmost capacity since the beginning OF the
trial. and people from afar are focking in to hear
the trial. At $50 this morning the cross-exami-
nation of witnesses began in earnest, and has
been kept up ever since. The first witness to De
examined was Margaret Bunch. widow OF the
murdered man. She began by stating that the
last time she saw her husband was on Tuesday.
the 18th of July: 1882, near shutdown, when he
started on the errand which cost him his life;
that Dave Crane called to him to 60 and remove
his hogs, which were destroying the corn of VIM.
Ryan, whereupon he set out, totally unarmed;
she heard him calling his hogs from a
high point of land some distance
away, when two shots were fred in that vicinity
and his voice ceased. One week afterwards
Mart and Sam Archer came to her residence and
asked her to show them writings that had been
drawn up between Bunch and Marley, which
she aid. She then boldly accused them of MUIR
dering her husband. She asked them to give
her the custody of his body, which was refused.
She noticed that they carried their weapons in
plain view, and told them she was afraid to
prosecute the search for her husbands remains
unless armed. They replied, sWhat would
weapons amount TOT We would dispose of you
as easily as we did your husband"
Dave Crane was next called to the stand,
when Prosecuting Attorney Mccormick placed
a motion before the court to nolle the prosecu-
xsnU oro;oek rvara - fh;s oooo He waQ
then allowed to testify. His statements concur
with those of Mrs. Bunch, with but few excep-
tions. He stated that he was an accomplice of
the Archers; that the band consisted of eight
members, viz: Samuel, Mart, Tom and John
Archer, Abe Loveall, Dan Christian, VIM. Holt
and John Lynch; that they met him on the 1lth
of July and told him that they knew Bunch was
harboring Marley. and that they would have
him. They then divided into two groups, hiding
themselves in the woods on either side of BUnchs
house, where they remained until morning, hop
ing they would capture Marley, if he was in that
vicinity; but their search was ~fruitless. This
was continued night after night for a week,
when they gave up the search.
The above is the main portion Of the evidence
as given by Crane.
The crowd in the courtroom was almost wild
with excitement when the militia escorted John
Lynch to the door, as it was known that the val
liable matter in his written confession would be
verified and all clouds removed as TO the inno-
cence Of the defendant, whose countenance
showed his guilt He sat perfectly motionless.
was sworn to. Lynch stated that when he heard
NY~.k 49, = Id L~o- ~-..-5o.~l L.
Sam Marley he determined to join the Archers
in seeking revenge, and on Monday night he and
Sam and Mart Archer searched the woods
near Bunch's house for Marley, but
to no avail. The search was con-
tinued for several consecutive nights,
when they abandoned that plan and agreed to
make Bunch tell of his whereabouts. On the
following Wednesday Bunch cam to see Lynch
to collect an order he had on him. While he
was with Lynch the remainder of the gang came
up, and Immediately asked him the whereabouts
of Marley. Bunch jokingly replied that he had
him hid. They then dispersed, and met again
that night, and went directly to Bunch's house
and guarded it, while a portion of the party re-
searched the woods, Lynch claiming to be in this
gang. They decided that when one member of
the party gave a keen whistle it should be a sig
nal to com to him This sound was heard by
Lynch's party during the night, on the opposite
side of Cave creek. They Immediately obeyed
the call, when they Joined the other
party, Lynch stating that he knew
not how they obtained their prisoner. but they
had Bunch in their possession. He spoke to
Lynch, saying, ''They have got me" and Lynch
replying, II see they have" The march of the
prisoner in the midst of the gang Of eight. with
Mart Archer as the leader, was then begun.
Mart had designated Salt-peter Cave. in Orange
county, as the place in which their captive was
to die. The party marched unmolested. to the
designated cave. where a halt was made for a
moment, when the entire party moved through
the only opening into the cave, and their captive
was seated near one end of the cavern, and
asked. for the last time, to state the whereabouts
Of Marley. He made no reply, when seventeen
shots were fred into his body. Mart Archer
smptying the last load from his revolver into
the dying mans head. Lynch also stated the
manner in which the remains were disposed of.
His evidence will be continued tomorrow.
Judging from the circumstantial evidence al
ready produced, a clear case of murder in the
first degree Is a ~foregone conclusion.
Sensational Divorce Suit.