The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-10


The greatest complaint is in the privilege
being SO rarely afforded. And as to the wink
ing of the laws minions what is being done to
ferret out the iynchers at Vincennes. or at
Shoals, or at any other place where at any
time Judge Lynch has held his courtl Will
nybody presume to say that anything is being
done? Indiana is worse in this respect than
other States though this, of course. is no ex-
cuse The wantonness of mob law is in the fact
that in the instances just credited to Indiana
the victims were sure of justice by the legal
process. The mob interfered through blind i'm
pulse. The worst feature about it all is the
suggestion, at least, that usually law-abiding
citizens were engaged in the outlawry It is
not strange, therefore, that there are those who
dare to insinuate that this high handed wrong,
which does much to disband society and moth
ing to organize it, has good effect in checking
crime
'It was so in my county some years ago." said
a chance acquaintance day or two ago, when
this question was up.
He hailed from Jackson county, and the date
referred to was 1867
"a reign of terror existed" he continued, ''in
Seymour and other parts of the county. A poor
man named Woodmansee, living near Medora,
stopped over night in Seymour en- route to Gin
cinnat, putting up at leading hotel He was
going to buy stock of goods, and supposed
to have had money on his person. He was miss
ing next morning, nor was anything heard from
him for two years afterward, when his body was
found in White river, being identified by
deformity in limb. No man, apparently, was
safe in Seymour after dark Besides, numerous
large thefts had been committed, and property
as well as life was in jeopardy. To add to the
list of crimes, and to increase the public alarm,
occurred, in the spring of that year. the murder
of old Mrs. Cutler, lone woman. living at Clear
Springs. For this crime Brooks and Talley were
arrested on evidence that seemed to point out
their guilt. They were lodged in Jail at Browns
town, without any special precaution to
safety no mob-spirit manifesting itself; but
public indignation became stirred up to a
wonderful degree, and the two men were taken
from the Jail and hanged to a locust tree in the
jailyard by masked men the first night
The public indignation thus aroused erystallized
into o velante organization whose avowed
purpose was to rid the community of its deter
mined foes. This organization seemed to be
numerous, and determined after the
exigency of the times. It had a
mission, fulfilling which it dis banded, but not
It's work appears to have been soon
complished, for in one year twelve men were
made to feel its power just or unjust, in the ex
piation of their crimes at its hands.
Next heavy express robbery was commit
ted. for which six men were arrested on evil
dence more or less conclusive. OF this number
three-Henry Ierrold, John Moore and Freling-
huysen Clifton-were taken from the officers of
the law by masked men and hanged to a beech
tree, about two miles west of Seymour The
others were placed in jail at Cincinnati. where,
they were arrested do not now recall their
names. They were placed finally in custody of
the sheriff of Jackson county, Capt John Scott,
now resident of Hutchinson, Kan, and re-
turned for trial. Their arrival was expected at
Seymour, but they were taken off the train at
Hardngsburg and in closed carriage, were
started for Brownstowrs Seymour was passed
in safety. A short distance further on, they
came to the tree on which the three already men
toned had been hanged This. too, was safely
passed, and the sheriff was on the point of con-
graduating his prisoners over this fact, when
suddenly the earth seemed to rise up around
them, such was the number of the vgilantes
The horses stopped in alright, rearing and
plunging. The carriage was opened, and the
unfortunate men, with ropes around their necks,
were led back to the tree where their associates
and predecessors had but few DAYS before. ex-
plated their alleged crime where they, too, were
hanged, and to the same limb.
lantes' vengeance. These noted outlaws origi-
mated at Rockford, three miles north of Sey
mour. They were express robbers of the most
daring type. They effected their escape but
were finally overtaken in Canada They were
guaranteed protection by the Governor of In
diana if they would come back and stand trial.
They were placed in Jail at New Albany, the
belief being that there they would be safe. One
night a special train was chartered or captured
either will do) at Seymour and the track cleared
fn a hfin dpa6 do.
termned men went laundering at rapid rate to
New Albany There the Jail was stormed and
broken into, and VIM. Reno and brother-in-
law we're taken tnerefrom and hanged. Simeon
Reno was also of the group of prisoners but he
fought like demon, being armed with a stout
club He was finally overpowered and beaten to
death in the cell, but not until he left his mark
upon several who could exhibit it to this day.
This was the end Of the most noted train robbers
in the State
Thus i'll one year in single county twelve
men were made to feel the vigilantes' power all
under one sheriff. and all the States prisoners,
supposed to be innocent till proven guilty-not
in Judge Lynchs court, however. There they
had no hearing The reign of terror must be
broken, and the vigilantes proposed to do it.
Crime had been committed. These men were
arrested therefor The courts had failed to deal
out Justice Hence the vigilantes would. They
did their work so we'll that its good effects were
at once apparent. There has been but little
lawlessness in jackson county since, while prop
erty and life have ever since been sacredly re-
garded. though, of course, the vigilance organ
ization long since disbanded."
But did the vigilantes disband after these
lynchings2'
'They did, at least no occasion existed for the
further exercise of their power"
sThe vigilantes were guilty of enough das-
tardly work of their own, part of which must
be that for which they were morally responsible
Among this was at least one more execution.
which seems to have been most unprovoked and
wicked This was not the execution of the
negro, who. one morning, shortly after the ex-
press robbery, was found hanging to tree in
deep wood not far from Seymour The negro
was supposed to have been the accomplice of the
Reno boys, whom he doubtless assisted in cart
ing off the plunder from the express robbery
He met his fate through fear he would betray
the secrets in his keeping, at the hands, of
course, of the Renos. The case referred to was