Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-07-15

SHoALs, IND, July 9.-Sam archer
was convicted Of murder in the first de
gree last January being charged with
completely In the brutal murder ofSamuel
A. Bunch on the 18th Of July, 1882. After
the preparation Of the deed he avoided |
the authorities very successfully until his |
whereabouts was revealed by the coward |
of the gang John h. Lynch, who was |
then arrested and lodged in Jail here.
The abstract of crime as related by
Lynch in his confession is as follows
On the Sd of July, 1882, Sam Marley and
Matt Archer got into difficulty resulting
in the fatal shooting of Archer by Marley
This very much enraged the older Archers
as they were called, and they determined
to punish Marley at the first opportunity
and to accomplish the end they organized
themselves into gang of six members,
viz Tom v, Mart, John and Sam
Archer, John ID. Lynch and Dave Crane.
Mart was chosen captain and adviser. The
work Of ferreting ont the hiding place of
Marley began. Bunch's house was
guarded constantly as they suspected him
as the one who was aiding Marley to
escape. This espionage did not reveal
the desired information, and the Archera
resolved to kill Bunch il he refused to
reveal Marley's hiding place. They met
on the afternoon of July 18th, 1852, near
the home of their victim and sent Dave
/ Crane to decoy him into the woods
| where they would meet him. Bunch nc
companied Crane TO the spot designated,
where he was seized, bound and
subsequently taken to Saltpetre
Gave in Orange county, where he was
shot TO death by the gang. Meanwhile
search was being made for Bunch by his
friends, which of course, proved fruitless.
Lost river was thoroughly dragged and
other information concerning him sought
for until the murderers became alarmed
lest the cave might be visited and the se-
oret revealed. On the 18th of the same
month the cave was visited by Bunch's
murderers A box was provided and the
remains of Bunch were rolled into it and
carried through the small opening and de-
posted on large brush heap some dis
lance from the cave where the whole was
thoroughly saturated with oil and the
torch applied This rude cremation was
kept up for several days and nights, each
one in turn standing guard, and adding
sufficient fuel to keep il blazing After
this work was ended tree was felled
over the blackenedspot TO hide the crime.
Little information concerning the fate
, of the missing man could be learned
, until the deserted wife of John Archer,
/ who had taken refuge in the county poor
, asylum, gave sufficient evidence concern
ing the deed to cause the arrest of the
older Archers for murder They re.
t | manned in the Jail only short time until
a a mob threatened them, when they were
! hastened off to Davies county for safety,
:. The prisoners remained there but short
{ time when they expressed desire to re-
0 turns to Shoals which WAS granted. The
: excitement over the appearance of the
| mob had somewhat abated when the
q lynchers made their last and sue
q cessful attack on March 9th, 1856.
o They marched quietly and unmolestet
!. into town thence to the Jail when thu
work of baitering down the doors began
which occupied but few minutes. Afte
gaining possession of the prisoners the.
!. marched them into the court yard, ant
~ left the trio swinging to the limbs of tn
4 small maple tree. This ended the daring
n career of Mart, Thomas and John Archer
Ie father, son and brother. Only a weel
/ later the last of the gang, Sam Archie
., was arrested in Fountain county and KEEP
l in the state prison until the January tern
!, of court when he was brought to Shoal
ir under military escort of 40 who closel
r, guarded his life until the sentence whicl
nj was carried out in due form Of law to .dn
or was passed upon him by Judge ltefron.