The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-01
INDIANA WHITE GAPS.
The Brightest Side OF Thor somber
Picture.

Picture.
From the st. Louis Republic.
The White Cap trials in different coun
ties OF Indiana have thus far resulted in
no convictions and no %acquittals. They
are moro likely, il ever brought TO trial,
TO result in di-sagreements of juries, the
withdrawal OF prosecutions by State Attor.
neys, or actual acquittal Of parties indicted.
There is no public sentiment anywhere
apparent in the State to prosecute the
cases to conviction. Indiana Is entitled to
whatever obloquy belongs to the organiza.
ton of this mysterious and now wide
spread order.
They had their rise and rapid growth In
the hill counties, like Martin and Crawford,
in the southern part Of the State. Their
evolution was peculiar. and is said 10 be
somewhat historic. The southern coun-
ties are inhabited mainly by an honest,
sturdy and thrifty class OF farmers, who
obey the laws, pay their debts, provide for
their families, and in every legal and
moral way observe the duties and obli-
cations OF good citizens. For some
years after the war these counties were
terrorized by "a desperate a set Of Grim
inals rs ever existed, known and feared
all through that section OF the State as the
Reno gang. Its d~cprcdations were as va
ried in character as they were numerous.
It's criminal calendar embraced everything
from murder down through tho stages OF
t~raln-robbery, horse stealing, arson, bur
glary and the pilfering Of hen-roosls and
corn. cribs. Mysterious night murders on
the highway were OF frequent occurrence,
and the loss Of valuable horseflesh was 30
common that an equine ~depopulation Of
the region was threatened. The law
seemed powerless 10 arrest the criminals
or to stop their operations. They were
aided and allotted by n %disrepulable class
OF people who inhabited the hill districts,
who concealed them during every hue and
cry, and who shared with them the spoils
OF their raids.
IL was in this condition Of Affairs that
the robbery OF the express train occurred
on the Ohio Il Mississippi Railroad In 1868.
ms was the final net in n serics which has
hardly ever been equalled in the criminal
history OF this country, oven during the
palmicst days Of the James bows II
aroused the people OF Southern Indiana 10
a course Of action often contemplated and
often threatened, but which had been
NHN IkNNINAAA " IlNI
and desperate remedy. The Renos
were hung by q mob at Seymour,
and this act was followed by tho driving
out OF the d%isreputablo classes who had
been their instruments aud coniederatos.
Night riders were common, but il was be-
lieved that the end justified the measure.
and n bundle OF switches left at the cabin
door with a brief but emphatic notice 10
leave the country, was sufficient, In nearly |
every case, 10 leave an empty house for
some better tenant 10 occupy.
That section was olIectually but not per.
mancntly rid OF the pcstilencc. Several
years OF law n order were followed by
the temperance on The frontier line OF
another army.of worthless characters who |
soon began 10 infcst tho country like
Aaron's locusts In Egypt. Democrats
down there say That Il was In the cam.
paign Of 1850, whom Dudley and Dorsey
were running the Indiana election with
s. bills, that many OF them were colonized
In fifteen or twenty southern counties. |
A block Of five 90 each township was SUE
tlcicnt TO serve the Republican purpose.
and II has been more than sufficient
10 demoralize the community In which il
was placed and give n very uncertain ten
ure TO the possession OF property. Drunk
enness and wiie-beating were accompanied
not only by an Increase Of pauporisin, but
by n multitude OF petty theits and frequent
horse stealing. Such circumstances were
the irSt cause Of which tile organization of
the Southern Indiana White Caps was the
fret effect.
II spread almost In n night over that en-
uro section OF tho State. II ono county
oulranks the other In priority, precedence
clearly belongs 10 Crawford. Ii was not
known then, nor Ia II known now, who
composed these parties of ghosily night
ridcrs, but II WIS a significant fact In every
case That the worthless men In every com
muniiy could prove clear cases OF abb on
every raid, and that the men who were not
nj homo wcru generally owncuo OF other live
stock besides dogs. aud whose names wcre
always on the Assessors books. These facts
restrained any vigorous prosecution Tor a
long time. II was hoped that the rcru.
laturs would do their work thoroughly
aud disband without waiting 10 bc identf.
fed and prosecuted for the violation Of
the law, Of which thoy wero clearly
guilty. Either the contract was too large
10 De soon finished or the appetite grew
viii what Il fed on. or tho White CAPS
multiplied In numbers aud their nocturnal
visits grow more frequent and morr qucs.
uonablc. IL soon became evident that
the movement had passed ont Of the
hands OF the men who otginizod Il aud
inllcn into those Of others, who used ID 10
satisfy private prciudiccs or 10 oxtor,
money.
Gov. Gray nj once took q vigorous posi-.
ton In regard 10 the counties most acr.
ously affected and issued a proclamation,
ordering all s1-oallod Regulating ousani.
nitions 10 disporsc. The orlcr was gcn-
orally oboycd, but those who violated ID
weru those indicted at the fall term OF the
Circuit Courts and whose trials are now
pending.
Ihcw "a no doubt that the Organization.
IN the hrst few months OF It's existence,
accomplished a great deal Of good IN rid.
ding communities Of worthless and
dangerous characters, whose frequent
oiicnscs arc Of a naturo 30 entirely cscapc
prosecution or meet with but n small
punishment Noarly every community
IN The southern part Of the State reports q
large exodus OF that element Of lis pop
ulaton. A great many Of the Tx who
were not visited took warning from the
While Cap notice. "Nour Turn Next"
printed Ia nd ink on n black background
and which would be attached ~ tho door
OF the culpnit during the night. ono
township Ia Martin County is said 10 have |
lost JOO OF is population, including mon,
women and children, since tho White Cap
feign began there. Huntington, In the
Northeast part Of the State, which caught