The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-20
Valuable Evidence Secured.
.ial 20 the Indianapolis journal

Seciai to the indianapolis journal
ENGLISH, Ind, Aug. l8-The White Cap in
vestigation has resulted in the gathering of q
great pile of secret evidence that will be used to
advantage in the next sitting of the Crawford
county grand jury. 1t is the general opinion,
however, that the local courts are 30 powerless
that nothing less than tho State militia
will be adequate protection in the trials
that will De the outcome of the numerous indict-
ments that will be heard from in October. IL
the White Caps find it possible they will 80 in
timidate those who turn States evidence on
them as to drive them out of the country. Pre-
cediDg the session OF the court, great care will
be taken OF tho cases; this must. Of necessity,
be done. 1t has come to be a matter
of absolute necessity with the peo-
pie to punish the regulators. Property has
deprecated, and the people cannot say their
sonls are their own. Never were q people more
thoroughly cowed and subdued. Men Of prop
erty are afraid to denounce the White Caps,
fearing q loss of some of their possessions. The
county officers, commissioners. town marshal,
newspapers and many business mer have
been served with warnings to keep quiet.
Your correspondent found them lat first non
committal and utterly opposed to saying a
word, and yet, 10 q confidential way, they Bit
terly denounce the whole proceeding. An emf
nent judge said that II was the worry of his
life; that it was the only evil that
annoyed him; that the White Caps had estab-
lished . precedent that would follow
them for half . century, and was a blight that
would be felt during the remainder Of the pres
emit generation. In the Morelard outrage, where
Moreland showed the nerve. q few days ago, to
defy the raiders, he shot at them with his
double-barreled gun. A man named William
Gregory was charged with being one Of the
wounded men. Gregory comes out this week in
the English papers with a long card, signed by
half q dozen people, to the effect that they had
examined Gregory closely, In o naked condition,
and found absolutely no eunshots of any kind.
The latest thing out is the election proclama-
ton of the White Caps. which declares that any
one caught buying or selling votes will be pun-
ished with not less than fifty nor more than go
lashes, we'll laid on.
A Detectives Story of the Organization.
Special to the INDIANAPOLIS Journal
EVANSVILLE, Ind, Aug. l8.-Thi city has
been In q great state of excitement to-day by
operations of the Indiana White Caps. According
to an elaborate article published this after
noon in the Evening Tribune. the detective,
whose identity Is concealed for prudential
reasons, joined the order, and has been operating
with them for the past two mouths. This
initiation required the death oath and a deposit
of 5000 in cash. A candidate is also required to
take an oath In addition TO all others that
he was accessory to some outrage OF the
White Caps. This he must voluntarily do be-
fore some authorized magistrate. and place In
the hands of the lodge, which he enters. This
last requirement is really the preliminary step
Of the novitiate before his application for MEM
bership is considered, as it gives the lodge q
powerful hold upon the candidate before he
knows q single one OF its secrets. It virtually
makes a man swear that he is q
criminal, and places the evidence OF his guilt
into the hands of the White Caps. The inge-
nuity Of this regulation could not be more
unique, although IL is a little singular how many
men have voluntarily placed such iron clad
oaths in the hands OF the various lodges. But
the detective complied with all these conditions,
although with considerable feigned hesitation.
Once admitted, he was again submitted TO many
curious tests and much catechizing in order to
test his thorough sincerity. One of these
being . frightful ordeal, in which he found
himself convicted Of having entered the order
with sinister motives. ard condemned to be shot
therefor. at the last moment. After being led
to . dismal swamp. gagged and blindfolded, he
was given an opportunity TO confess to save his
life. The headquarters OF the organization are
about English and Corydon, and they number
about 200, including several prominent men.
and. it is even alleged. county officials. They
discountenance killing, except in self-defense.
Their mode Of operation is as follows:
The head OF the district lodge is informed that
. Ger tain party shall be warned, whipped, or
ordered to leave the country. He calls a meet
ing and, without ever putting the matter to q
vote. delegates certain parties to do the work.
which they are compelled to do without hesita-
ton. Wherever q case occurs in which the
White Caps were foiled By the object of their in
tended punishment or through other
never advised until such time as the victim
would be off his guard and taken unawares. as
resort to extreme violence was against the prin-
ciples of the organization. unless in self-defense.
As before stated. the detective refused to go into
particulars as to outrsgss in which he took part,
as these facts are important TO the investiga-
tons now being instituted by the Attorney
general of the State.