Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-03-01
Spirit Of Moh-Lav.
1t PeTmeates Quiet Conmun.
ity in Illinois.
WHITE-CAP WARNINGS FREQUENT


Acknowledge Incendiarism-A General
and Healthy Determination to Welcome
the Regulators" to a Feast of Cold
Lead-A Warning" in MINES ia Fol.
lowed by Attempted Assassination.
CARTHAGE, Ills, March The white
Cap" craze is having its run of Hancock
county. Parties in KeolSuk and other neigh
boring cities had been warned" but scarcely
soul within the borders of peaceable Han
cock county dreamed that this mysterious
method of regulating public morality would
be adopted among neghbors, and, presuma.
bly,, lifelong friends. II has not been over a
month since the first symptoms appeared.
One or more young men of Warsaw, as stated
upon good authority, received letters bearing
the skull and cross-bones insignia, warning
them to lead different lives The cowardly
missives were treated with silent contempt.
But the first serious manifestation of mob
law was on the night of Jan. 90
During that month two valuable barns
with their contents had been de.
stroyed by fire in Wayne township not
far from Warsaw That the ORIGIN of the
fires was ncendiary seems to he wholly
probable An inten sc feeling of distrust and
Indignation was naturally aroused. but there
were no threats of violence On the night
mentioned Thomas Lcmley, formerly resi-.
dent OF Warsaw, now living at Elderville.
Nythe township, was called from his home
by party of men who said their team had
stuck in a snowdrift and they wanted his
assistance Lcmley went to the place where
they claimed their team was lodged, and
found they had deceived him. He then dis
covered that the men wore masks Lemley
asked Where Is your team" and received
the cool reply that they had lust been fooline
with him, but wanted him to go to the timber
with them. Seeing resistance was useless he
complied. Arriving at a lonely spot in the
timber the villains threw rope over con.
venient limb and then adjusting a moose
around Lemley's neck demanded on pain of
strangulation that be confess to firing the
barns III question. Hang away! ] did not
burn those barns and know nothing of the
matter. | can't die but once, but If | had
half chance Id teach you how to treat a
man in this manner" Further threats had
no better effect, and, after hurried con-
sultatinn, the -would-be lynchers Embossed
their victim and disappeared. Lemley ran
nome as last as his legs would carry him. and
securing his shotgun returned TO the locality.
tie spent part of the night in fruitless search
OF his assallants. but without success Mr..
Lemley thinks he recognized one or two of
the mob. Detectives are working the case up
carefully, and it is thought the grand iury al
the March term of court will take a hand in
the matter
This dastardly affair is denounced by all
good people, more especially because they be
lleve II was the work of residents of Wythe
township. They thus set an example TO 9th.
ers disposed To he afflicted with white Cav
ism, and the business has begun in earnest
Nell-known residents of Plymouth and
August received warning letters not two
weeks ago. The threats were dire and hide
ously printed characters We're displayed Oh
the mtSsive. Knowing that they are guilty
OF no crime or breach of morality these men
have taken every precaution TO defend them
selves and their homes against midnight as
sault
On Monday last George W. Austin and A.
Wood, of Dallas City, received letters warn.
ing each that they must "mend their WAYS
within twelve days or they wonld receive a
visitation Austin has converted his house
INTO an arsenal, and announces that he will
receive the "White-Caps" warnffe There Is
no telling how far the "White-Cap" business
Will be carried, but it is thought a tragedy
Will put stop to it The communities of
this county are not disposed TO brook any acts
of cowardly assault or intimidation There
was time when Hancock county pioneers
took the law into their own hands. because if
seemed as If there was no other way TO obtain
justice. But those DAYS have long since
passed. white Capism" and outlawrv of
similar kinds viii not he allowed
MINSEAPoLIs, MINI. March The
White-CaIs attempted to murderJ P. Smith.
editor of The Furniture News of this CITY
last night. Mr.. Smith has been the recipient
of fourteen letters, all received since Jan. 81
signed White Caps" with the usual skull
and cross bones, and all breathing threats OF
summary vengeance unless he should leave
the city Immediately. The last letter was
received Wednesday night and threatened q
dose of cold lead unless It's demands were
complied with forthwith Mr. Smith eaye
no heed To the letters. Last evening, as he
was sitting in his office the door was
opened by man mutfied up TO the
ears In heavy coat and wearing a broad
brimmed SLOUGH hat pulled we'll down over
his eyes. Without word he presented a pis
tol at Mr.. Smiths head and fired The bullet
pierced Mr. Smiths ear, but being of 22-cali,
Der was flattened againt his skull. The
wouid-be murderer fed and no trace of him
has as Yet been found The wounded man
apparently experiences little trouble from
the wound, but the doctors say that shock
may possibly have been inflicted upon the
base Of the brain which viii prove serious.
Mr.. Smith is at O loss to account for the at
tack