The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-01-08
LYNCHED THE GIRLS
determination of the NOtOri-
Gus Sims Family.
THEY FOUGHT LIKE TIGERS.
Overpowered by the Posse, Strung Up
and Rddlad with Bullets.

The Greatest Excitement Prevailing in
Choctaw County---History of Old Bob
Sims and His Peculiar Doctrines---His
Daughters Well Educated and Assisted
in the Publication of the simsites
Newspaper.
MOBILE, Ala, Jan. 8.-Fxceptng an
only daughter, the Sims family, who have
kept Choctaw County this State, in con-
stant trouble for the past few years, by
securing converts to their new and pecu-
har religion, is now extinct
The most intense excitement was caused
here yesterday by the news that Laura
and Beatrice, two of the three daughters
of Bob Sims, who was lyuched on Christ
mas day, were yesterday seized by a
posse who were in quest of Bobs brother
Neal, wanted for murder, and strung up
to an oak tree. The women tried to in
terfere in Meals behalf and fought
desperately.
The Simsites were on their way from
Womack Hill to Leak, Miss, the rendez-
vous to " hich they were driven by the
military for the second time early in
December They consisted of quite a
strong party led by Neal Sims, Bob's
brother, and all, including the women,
were armed to the teeth.
The posse overlook them at a lonely
point Of the road, amid some trees, and
near the State boundary, for which the
tugitives were making with all speed
An endeavor was first made to arrest
Neal but he showed fight By strategy
then the posse caught him alive, strung
him up to an oak tree, and sent dozen
bullets into his body.
Bob's two daughters interferred in
their mcle's behalf, but the posse was in
no mood to show mercy, and it was the
work of few minutes to treat them like
wise.
Ever since the McATillin murder a posse
has been hunting down the Sims boys and
their followers. 1t is said that three more
men who were engaged in the outlawry
of the gang will be put to death as soon
as caught
The daughters of Sims were remarkable
young women. Their father owned a
small farm in Choctaw County, operated
mOonshine distillery, assisted by his
sons and daughters, and on Sundays
preached to his neighbors the peculiar
doctrines of his so-called religion, the
main feature being the complete repudia-
tion of all allegiance to human law and
an Interpretation of divine law to suit
himself and followers. He insisted that
every man should be governed by his
own sense Of right and wrong without
regard to law, holding that every man
had perfect right to do as he pleased.
Sims ignorant neighbors readily agreed
with this code Of morals. After the
Simsites had defied the Government and
rewards had been offered for them, the
two girls went to Montgomery and called
on Gov. Jones at the Executive Mansion
to make terms for their father. They
made favorable impression on the Gov
ernor, and he promised to investigate the
matter and see that Bob Sims received
justice.
When the attack on the house of John
McNlillin was made in Christmas week
and his family murdered by the Simsites,
the daughters of the outlaw leader were
in the party dressed in mems clothing
and each carrying a heavy rifle. They
were in the thick of the fight, and are
said to have fired many of the shots that
eXterminated the McMillin family.