Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-04-13
8 HORRIBLE gsmtchery.

R. Bowen Reynolds and Miss Eva Parks,
both residents Of JeAsTsonville. KY, were
married in thas city Thursday night. The
marriage OF the couple brings 10 memory
two tragedies tha! occurred in Clark county,
Ind, one the 5loodiest butchery ever en-
acted there, and the other one of tbs most
mysterious assassinations. One wss part-
ally solved, while the other remains mys.
terry.
The bride is the only aurvivoro the Parks
family, wio resided near Charlestown, Ind,
and who, on Saturday night in Oct, 1871,
while asleep in their beds, were all except
one hrsinod with an axe. The family con.
sisted OF Z father. mother, two daughters
snd one boy Parks and his family were
faithful attendants at little country Sun
day school near their home. When the
household die not putin en- appearance on
the morning following the tragedy suspicion
was aroused that something was wrong, and
pejghb0r or two went to the house to iu-
vestigate s back door was open, and when
the investigating party entered they found
Parks, mis- wife and one daughter and the
son cold iD death. Miss Eva was alive, but
unconscious Each one of the five had been
struck oa the head with the pole of an axe,
which was found near the scene of the kill
ing. In short time the news of the horri-
bic affair spread and the crowd around the
house bad grown GItil it numbered hun
dreds of PERSONS q it was negro named
johnson. His actions were looked upon as
suspicious, and be was placed under arrest.
A confession was made by him which i'm
plicate6 n negro preacher by the name of
Taylor and Charles Davis, another coiored
man, who was always looked upon rs o
quiet iDoffensive maa, we'll liked in the
community.
The mob then STATED off with Johnson.
While Gu the road Johnson said that he had
not told the TRUTH and insisted that he
knew nothing about ths killing. He was
hanged TO g telegraph pole until he was
nearly dead, and then cut down. He was
detained until his alleged companions could
be captured, when they weTe al taken to
Charlestown for trial. johnson again denied
having anything to dc with the crime.
Excitement in the county was high, and
few nights after 9 party Of one hundred
lynchers rode into the quiet little town for
the purpose Of hanging the three suspected
negroes The jailor refused to give up the
keys to the prison Time was precious, and
the mob made en- attack on the Jail door
with eledgehammera. In q short time the
lock gave way and the prisoners, who were
prsying for mercy, were taken out. john
son end Davis were placed in wagon, but
Tayor refused to submit, and vas carried
to tie vehicle, tied TO il with rope, and
dragged through The streets CT the town.
The site selected for the hanging was
dense forest two roiles weat Of Charlestown.
Johnson and Davis were suspended TO one
tree in raviDe, while Taylor was taken TO
another. few feet away. Taylor, on &C.
count of his religious views, was held in
greater contempt than his companions, and
he was stripped nearly naked and his fiesh
burned in many places with 6rebrends. it
was neve, known who composed the mob, as
thew were oil masked, nor was it ever found
out whether or not the negroes confessed
the crime II is known that no evidence was
afterward found that tended TO show that
they were the guilty persons, and it is the
belief of hundreds ofneople that three !nno'
cent, harmless man were executed. MISS
Eva Parks, after months of suffering, at last
recovered, and was the bride nf Thursday
night.
The groom has bloody tragedy attached
to his history also. In September, 1854. he
was a conductor on the j., NJ. and I. Rail.
road, and resided ieay Jefersonville. While
he was out on his run one Saturday night
in that month his wife was shot while ct her
home and died the next day. Mrs. Rey-
nold's statement before she died was that
some one had attempted to climb in her
room through the window for the purpose
of robb;ng the house. She arose from her
bed and was in the act of securing revol-
yer, when she was shot by the man in the
window, whom she described. Convicts
and ex-convicts have given alleged clews to
tbs perpetrators of The crime, but nothing
ever cane from them. There has never
been the slightest thread of evidence to war
rant the arrest OF any one.-Louisritte Co~
=. L. 4