The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-02
THE INDIANA WHITE CAPS.
HowTHgIR ouTRAegsA ARE PALLlATeD
a Talk With a prominent Citizen,n Who
Thinks Them Not SO Bad as Painted
Public Sentiment Changing for the
Better in White Cap Counties

The call and questions were put to the writer
in one of the narrow valleys among the hills
about five miles south Of this place. Hearing
such abrupt questions in such strange place,
and having heard or read so many stories OF
White Caps, instinctively had my hand upon
a trusty Smith & Wesson, and turned quickly
to face my querist. who was almost by me.
The first view of the stranger strengthened my
fears. He was a long-legged, slab-sided, loose
ly-built specimen OF humanity who stood six
feet high, and probably had never known the
touch OF razor, although the whiskers which
he boosted would be more becoming an old,
gray rat than man. But the whiskers were
the most repulsive portion of his makeup, and
as am something of physiognOmist a sec
oud view dispelled my fears, and | concluded
that though my strange friend INDUCED in I'M
warranted familiarity, twas begotten OF acurios-
ity which was more thoroughly cultivated than
his whiskers, or his hair-which, by the way,
was abundant enough. | concluded that If the
man had given me a fright it was unintentional
and that his garrulity could be utilized. re-
piled in the same familiar manner: "Hullo!
How dye do?"
'.Fust strate! How's yer-self? This hyar is
nnoughty bad weather to be walkln'. Coin
Yes" said /; 'the weather is very disagree
able and have far to walk. am going to
the sulphur we'll to spend few weeks for the
benefit of my health. My name Is Bolivar Hlg-
ginson. | hope | will rot meet any White
Caps on the way, for these rough roads would
not permit one unused to them 10 make much
OF race, il chased"
1t this my friend gave loud guffaw, and as
sured me that had nothing to fear until be-
caRie better known. said /;
do you know any White Capsy
'sSaw." said he, Il don't and don't want to
know them. ] know many who were whipped
by them. They all deserved all they got.
know nothing OF the White Caps and have no
dread of them. They NEEDLE with no one who
does right, or near It.
After much talk, gathered from him the
following, and as he Is man oil advanced
years and fairly intelligent. what he said may
be accepted as a fair reflection OF popular
opinion in this section.
Probably" said he, Il have spoken hun
dreds of times with members OF the White
Caps and had their opinions; certainly
have conversed with men who do not belong
10 them, for | have cOnversed with many who,
know, would not knowingly break the law, as
the White Caps do. Hence, have heard va
rious expressions. Some say it is the best thing
ever gotten up in the state; that it saves the
state untold fees; Furnishes the evil-doer sum
maTily and is a greater terror To him than ali
the courts and iails and tar-buckets In the
nation. Others deprecate the existence OF such
an organization In the midst OF a civilized
people Albeit, there may be many lazy,
worthless wretehes; but not more here, they
say. than elsewhere. But most people agree
that no one has been whipped but who has
been benefited thereby.
As Tor whipping men to chase them away
from their property, no such case has occurred
10 my knowledge. When one Is whipped the
general exclamation is: We'll, he deserved itp
But this is often supplemented with: But
there was no necessity of whipping so hard
ard they had no right to whip him.
"From experience ! can say that no real good
citizen has been molested by the White Caps
and If any such has lost sleep on account o.
the night riders, either by being OF them or
threatened by them, I have heard nothing of
II The White Caps have done good; no deny
ING this. But they have done more harm than
aoOd BY leaving us open 70 the attack and CEN
sire Of The civilized world
Our unreserved opinion is that they are like
many OF our church members-a gOOdy-gOOdy
ct OF fellows who would ike 10 make others
90 right whether they do SO themselves or not
they have confined their missionary labOrs
together 10 the worst class, perhaps intending
o make Us all good gradually.
They first dealt with petty thieves, of whom
We are completely ridden; then the wife
heaters; now the lazy man, the drunkard and
be vote-selier are standing before the bar.
1aybe they will shortly consider the eases of
nose who buy votes. Everyone scOrns the
Ie is usually beneath contempt Is he not
Usually some poor ignorant, good-for-nothing
wretch who has had no opportunities, and has
70 desire 10 improve himself mentally or
physically? 4 degraded wretch who never
s2es newspaper, and could not read one II he
lad it, A man-and not a man; citizen who
Knows no more about the laws of this country
tan the average kangaroo knows of geometry
this man more to be blamed or pitied? Is
lie not object OF charity rather than
oerision9
ION the other hand, who are the bribe-givers?
livery one Of them is found among the most in
telligent best informed men we have; men
Who are either IN office, running for office, or
working for favor among those who have pub
&c trusts These can read and meet lntelll-
GENT men who discuss the selling of votes /;
these know what is thought of the bribe-tak-
e-s and the penalty attached to his oiiense, yet
tley encourage it, and tempt the poor devils
who are glad TO receive dollar to be spent
either for bread or whisky. Yes; the White
Caps have done good by frightening the ignor-
apt class, but ii Is on the same principle that a
farmer shoots his neighbours hogs for entering
his cOrnheld, when he himself left the gate
open.
'gThese night-riders have not long had their
present name. 1t was adopted perhaps less
than two years ago. Previously they were
styled 'night-riders,' regulators the hick-
DRY brigade knights of the switch or any
thing the people chose to apply Finally they
adopted white caps and white handkerchiefs
for themselves. and white cloths tied down the
faces OF their horses to give the troupe a uni
form appearance-for they always ride. Lat
terry they have added a long, loose garment
made of a coffee sack which gives the troupe a
very portly appearance, just as the Mother
Hubbard increases the apparent dimensions OF
a woman. Whether or not they are really an
organized body is q mooted question. Many
claim that bands-go from Crawford to Orange
20 regulate the evil-dOers, while Orange re-
ciprocates by regulating Crawford's citizens
etc, etc. The majority believe that each
whipping is done by neighboTs of the offender;
that the regulators sprOut, bloom, ripen and
die in one night, TO rise PhoeniX-like when oc
casiOn requires
Instances to sustain this theory are (1) that
OF William Trotter of Marengo. He was of a
respected family; he had a young wife dying
OF consumption, and had a couple of small
children 10 maintain. But he neglected these
cares, which devolved upon his sick wife
while he drank whisky till he squandered all
their personal property He then went to q
justice Of the peace and had deed drawn In
tending to sell the residence-a small frame
house-the family's only shelter. This wa:
taken by the justice 10 Mrs. TrOtter for her sig
nature. She lay on her death-bed. Trotter sal
near by, half drunk. When the justice made
his mission known the poor woman looked al
her husband, then at the officer, and began to
cry saying that she had no intention to sign
such deed; had not been apprised of her hus
bands intentions to sell the property, and
asked, piteOusly, Must my poor children be left
without home or sheIter% The husband made
some unfeelng remark: the justice tore the
deed TO bits, and Trotter was whipped thai
night. Trotter became a sober, industrious cit