The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-02
INTERVIEW WITH SAM ARCHER.
He Expected Conviction, the Story Told 3
Lynch Being True from beginning to Emf


Lynch Being True from beginning to End.
Shoals Und) Special.
Samuel Archer, doomed to die July for his
many crimes, takes his lot in life as cooly and
calmly as circumstances will permit After re-
ceiving his sentence Archer was led back to
his cell in the Martin county Jail and given a
,,...' dinner which he ate ravenously, and said,
after finishing his meal
That's good. feel much better"
"What do you think of the ending Of your
trial, Archer2 was asked:
II think it's pretty hard" he replied, in
melancholy voice. but it's not any moro than
expected. The people here are down on the
whole tribe and now it is settled am to die on
tie scaffold. have made up my mind to submit
to it as we'll as | can. There is no use butting
my head against stone wall, or cursing or
swearing about it, because I'll have to stand it
gust the same, and crazy rawlings and howlings
won't help my case one bit. intend to act de-
Gently and put up with my situation in life as
well as know how"
ARCHER. you have never expressed yourself
on the subject of the evidence against you in
this trial. Was Lynch's testimony on the stand
and his confession correct in detailT
"Oh, yes" replied the outlaw. "Lynch's
story is true from beginning to the end. l
could change it little Bit but not much. al
though Lynch was one of the leaders in the kill
ing of Bunch, and he took a more prominent part
in that murder than did. In fact, he helped
Mart Archer in the work. and the rest of us boys
had to help kill Bunch or be killed remember
well the day Bunch killed." he continued,
looking out between the grating of his cell. in
distracted sort of manner.
s'We all gathered at Saltpeter Cave and Bunch
was our prisoner. A majority OF the gang didn't
think of killing him, only keeping him pris-
oner until he told US where Morley was. My
brother John and I were standing outside the
cave; Mart Archer soon came out and told us
they were going to kill Bunch and that we had
to help kill Bunch, too and that il we objected,
he would shoot as full of lead He had his rar
yolver cooked, and John and l knew him too
we'll to tri1e with him, so we went into the cave.
You know the rest"
"Was Mart Archer bad mani"
''There were no worse men IN this world If
we had refused to GO into that cave and help
him in his murder wouldn't be here now talk
ing to you He would have thought no more of
shooting US than he would in killing dog,
and. living with him, knew him. Mart
Archer seemed to enjoy dwelling on that word
kill as though it pleased him to threaten to
kill people, and believe it did,"
.What raising did you havei'
Il can't say much for my raising" replied the
outlaw, "but my life has been one Of crime,
crime, crime-until / have been hunted and
tracked by detectives until got so discouraged
ing myself up several times. / walked through
Shoals on the night of the 26th of last October,
and felt like surrendering then"
"How old are you?"
Il am tWentY-six now, ana was only twenty
two years old when Bunch was killed. That is
the reason / think this sentence is pretty hard.
Mart Archer my uncle s responsible for the
downfall of US boys. He was a perfect devil,
and constantly schemed and plotted. and COM
PEELED the rest of US to do his bidding at the
muzzle of his revolver. He had us in his power,
and we were all afraid of him. We were always
into trouble, and Mart had all the people afraid
Of him. But am going to tell the truth, and l
have written to my brother Tom in tie Paoli
Jail 10 tell the truth about all he knows have
led life worse than death the past six months,
aud now / feel that [ can rest awhile, even
though am to die in ninety days. have been
into SO many crimes that can't remember them
alLn N---
1t is said John Lynch helped to capture
Archsr~ Lynch knew Arcber's girl, and at th3
time Of visiting the cave with the officers he was
allowed to ride up to Sam Archers girls house.
Lynch did so, and called the girl out Lynch
pretended to be excited and asked her where
Sam was, as he wanted. to go to him at once.
The girl. supposing Lynch was her lovers
friend, replied: ''Oh, yes, 1 know; just got
letter from him this week. He is working up in
Fountain county" Lynch dashed of and gave
the officers the information, and in forty eight
hours they had their man.