The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-05-27
TURNED LOOSE.

The Grand Jury Refuse to Indict the Hepa
ty SheriGs Who Took Part in the CahoIlif
Bridge Massacre, and They are Released
BY Order of the Court-An Indicna ioI
Meeting-ApprovaI by Conservative Ciu
BELLEvILLE, ILL.,, Nav 20.-The seEsa-
ton Of the day at BeIleville yesterday
was the discharge of the Louisville &
Nashville special deputies, by order OF
Judge Snyder, to whom the grand jury
made a report refusing to find bill of in
dictment against them. Judge Watts ar
rived from Nashville on the morning
train for the purpose of hearing the ha.
beas corpus proceedings which had been
instituted in their behalf, but took
no action in the matter, as he was in
formed what action the grand jury
had taken. During the afternoon hand
bills were circulated on the streets call
ing for an Indignation meeting at the
courthouse for eight O'Clock last night,
at which addresses were to be made by
Alexander Flanagan, of East st. Louis,
and others. The action of the grand jury
is generally approved, and 4 number of
prominent citizens called on the MAJOR
TO request him to forbid the holdin" Of
the Indignation meeting. He decided
not 10 interfere, but took steps to pre-
vent any disordcrly or riotouS proceed
ings. The released deputies left for
their homes last evening.
About three hundred men assembled H.
front of the Courthouse and were called
to order by Charles Nesbit, who intro
duced Mr.. Flanagan as the orator of the
evening. He commenced his address by
stating that he had consented to speak
upon condition that the meeting was to
he an ORDERLY one, and he cOunSclcd the
laboring men never to resort 10
the Winchester rife in defending
their rights or rcdrcsSing their gricv-
ances. but to do so by means of
their ballots. He then stated the object
of the meeting to he to denounce the
action of the grand jury which had set
murdcrcrS free, and in effect had told
them to do it again. He said he did not
desire to direct the vengeance of his
audience against any man or men. and he
hoped that no lawlcSSnesS would char
actcTiZe the meeting. His address,
which lasted an hour, was di-
rcctcd mainly to Il dcnunciatiOn of
the railroad corporations, claiming tnat
they controlled st. Clair County, and al
though they might conSpire against the
labcring man, vet they could not be
reached by Indictment, while the laborcr,
who went TO his fellow labOrcr and in
dUccd him to dcSiSt from work, was
liable 10 Indictment. He claimed that
no need existed for militia in East St
Louis until the Louisville & Nashville
road brought their special detectives
there and, arming them with Win
ChcstcrS, brought on the collision with
the people at the trcStle. He wound up
his address by referring to the fact that
he was the only speaker present, and that
he had been advised not to speak, but
that he had no axe to grind and had
determined to speak his sentiments even
If he should he condemned for il.
Other speakers were called for, hut,
none responding, the meeting adjourned
at nine O'Clock.
The gathering was very orderly one,
and was composed mainly of working
men, who frequently applauded the senti-
mentS expressed by the speaker. No
resolutions were adopted. No unusual /
excitement was OCcaSioned by the re- !
lease of the deputies, for they ramblcd /
around the CITY unmoieStel until time foI (
them to de9art for their homes