The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-03-18

their victory in the greatest criminal trial
the city has ever Witnessed, the work of
blood was accomplished without unnecs-
sary disorder. without rioting, without
pillagin9 and without the infliction of suf-
fering upon any innocent man, save one,
and he was only slightly hurt.
1t was not an unruly, midnight mob. 1t
was simply a sullen, determined body OF
citizens who took into their own hands
what Justice had ANONYMOUSLY failed
to do.
The chief of police was slain on Oct. Is
and that very night the evidence began to
accumulate, showing that his death had
been deliberately planned by a secret
tribunal and carried out boldly and sue
cessfully by the tools OF the conspirators.
The trial lasted twenty-five days, and
though the evidence seemed conclusive,
the jury, currently charged with having
been tampered with. failed to convict
Last night body of cool headed men,
lawyers, doctors, merchants and political
leaders-all persons of influence and
social standing-quietly met and decided
peoples justice, swift and sure, visited
upon those whom the jury had neglected
to punish This morning a call for a mass
meeting at Clay square on Canal-st. ap-
peared in the papers, which editorally
deprecated violence. The significant
closing sentence OF the call was, "CoME
PREPARED FOR ACTION"
The Avengers Assemble.
Down in large room on Bienville and
Royal there was an arsenal which had
been provided by this body of citizens.
The call was answered by the populace.
At 10 o'clock crowd of several thousand
anxious people was congregated around the
statue. They hardly knew what was go
ing to happen, but seemed ready to 90 to
any length, and while there were. of
course, many OF the lower element in the
throng large proportion were the lead
ing people of the city. There were three
addresses, short and pithy and business
like, and the assemblage, not unwillingly,
was soon keyed upto high pitch, demon
strative in its denunciation of the assas.
sins. Each OF the speakers said there had
been a great mass meeting months be-
fore which had met quietly and dispersed
peacefully so that the law might take its
course. The law had failed. The time to
act had come.
w. 8. Parkerson, the leader, is a promi-
nent lawyer here, the President of the
Southern Athletic club, and the man who
led the vigorous city reform movemen,
three years ago.
Mr. Parkerson was the first speaker
He said that once before he had appeared
before the people in grand mass meeting as
sembled To discuss matters vital to the inter.
est Of the community, and again he faced
the people Of New Orleans to denounce
the most infamous act consequent upon
the most revolving crime in the criminal
annals OF any community. That was the
finding of the jury in the murder trial
yesterday. and that crime was, as every.
body knows, the foul assassination OF the
chief OF police.
81 desire neither fame nor glory" said
he. II am a plain American citizen and
as such and as good citizen 1 am here.
arm here to say that things have come tc
such crisis that talk is idle. Action must
be the thing now. Tremendous cheers.
In civilized communities tribunals are or.
Rani1ed and are delegated to punish the
gully. Crimes must meet prompt pun
ishment. but whenever and whereverjurors
are recreant, then is the time for the people
70 do what courts and juriss have fai4ed