The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-27
Captured BY the Sheriff, Who Threatened to
Blow the House to Pieces with Cannon, and
Then Taken from the Posse by Mob
All Hanged to the Same Tree, and all
Died with Curses on Their Lips.
Female Members Of the Band Turned Loose
Unusual Number Of Murders and Suicides
Fight with California Robbers.
OUTLAWS LYNCHED.


The Sims Gang Killed After Having Surren-
dered to the Sheriff of Choctaw County.
MOBILE. Ala. Dec. 26.-The notorious
fanatics and outlaws. Bob Sims ard his
brood, have paid the penalty of their
crimes at the hands of an outraged people.
Sheriff Gavan, on Christmas morning.
sent to Bladen Springs for a cannon.
When Sims heard of this preparation to
blow his stronghold to splinters be looked
at his woman folk and his heart misgave
HIM. He began parley with the
sheriff. at 2 o'clock he said he would
surrender if the posse would do him
no injury and if the posse wonld protect
him from mob violence. A meeting of the
posse was held. which lasted more than
two hours There was great excitement
and much diversity of opinion. At first
the proposal of Sims was fatty refused, but
the fact that there were women in the
house was q strong point in favor of mercy
to the inmates. The thought of shooting
with q cannon into q house harboring
women was so repugnant that it overcame
the almost swild longing for the blood of
the outlaws. so that at last the terms of
Sims were accepted. At 4:30 o'clock
tho Simses laid down their arms and
came out of the house. The posse
was astonished TO see that instead of
seven desperate outlaws there were only
two men and a boy.-Bob Sims, Thomas
Savage and young Savage. the nephew of
Sims-and four women, Bob's wife and
three daughters. The men were at once
ironed and placed in wagon. The women
were placed In q second wagon and under
guard. At 5 o'clock the procession started
for Butler, the county-seat of Choctaw
county. Sheriff Gaven commanded silence.
fearing that should any words be said his
prisoners.
The road to Butler is very rough and hill.
ly, and is bOrdered on either side by a thick
underground, making it easy for band of
determined men to surprise and overpower
any one passing along the road. and that is
what happened. While en- route to But
Ter mob of ChOctaw county men over
powered the posse and hanged the three
men-Bob Sims, Tom Savage and young
Savage. 1t was reported that another OF
the Savage boys was hanged at the same
time. This is in addition to John Savage.
who was hanged on Christmas e. ening.
A dispatch from Shubuta, hiss. says:
Thursday morning a large body of deter
mined men followed Sims and three of his
gang to Sims's house. surrounding the
house. Firing by the citizens and also by
the gang from Sims's house continued until
o'clock p. NJ. yesterday. After consulta-
tIons between the sheriff and Sims the
latter agreed TO surrender on condition
that they be protected and carried to
Butler jail. The sheriff promised the
best protection he could give under the cir
cumstances. Sims selected twenty five
men and the sheriff twenty five. and start
was made for Butler. About one mile from
Simss house body of men, one to two
hundred strong. took the outlaws from the
guard and hanged them all to one tree.
Sims expressed fears that he would never
reach the Jail alive. When he was placed
IN the buggy for the fatal ride. he
refused to be blindfolded. He held out
his hand and asked his guards to feel his
pulse TO see if he was frightened, and said
he was going to heaven. Young Savage
said: "lf you bury ME. put me by the side
of Sims. We are fighting for the same
cause" They died cursing. The women
were turned loose.
All is quiet now. The names of those
hanged are Bob Sims, Thomas Savage.
Con Savage and his two grown sons.