Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1892-06-16
WHITE CAPS ARRESTED.
Seven Men Identified as Assailants
Of Rev. Van Cleve.
His Straightforward Sermons Displeased
Some of Them.

NEW ALBANY, Ind, June 12.-Sheriff
Shuck, of Harrison County, and his
deputies ON Saturday night arrested
and took to Corydon and lodged in jail
the following persons, charged with
"White-capping," Rev. Benjamin 7.
Van Cleve at Moberly, Harrison County,
at O'Clock on the morning of the 18th:
Alva II. Welker and Charles Welker,
sons of well known Methodist preach
er; j. V. G.. Louden and James Louden,
brothers; Cortez Wolfe, Jacob Hannel
and Cortez MUIR. All the arrested
parties except one are members of Rev.
Van Cleve's church, and all are men
who have moved in the best circles
Of society and are regarded as good
citizens.
The legal proceedings taken by Van
Cleve against these men are under the
White Cap statue of Indiana One of
the parties accused yet remains to be
arrested. Four Others were not recog-
nized by Rev. Van Cleve. Those under
arrest will have preliminary examina.
ton on the 14th, and have engaged
able attorneys to defend them.
A visit to Rev. Van Cleve at Moberly
today revealed some new facts in con-
nection with the white Gaping. He
says that violence has frequently been
threatened him because of his plain,
honest preaching. "Ifelt it my duty, "
Mr.. Van Cleve said, ito reprove sin in
all its forms. therefore preached
against liquor drinking, card playing,
bad conduct in the church during ser
vice, and all other impurities of life.
have had 10 reprove ill behaved persons
from the pulpit. These things made me
enemies, who have been working up
bad state of feeling in the Church for
several months, and trying to drive me
out of the pastorate of Moberly Circuit.
Anonymous letters have been sent me
through the mails and otherwise threat
ening me with a hiwte Gaping and
other punishment, but l went fearlessly
forward in the discharge of what con-
scientiously believed my duty as min
lister of Christ's Gospel. They have
kept their threats, as my condition to-
day shows you. They came to my house
at O'Clock Saturday morning, battered
down the door with fence rail and
railroad tie, seized and dragged me out,
because had no weapon for defense
and there were twelve against one, and
then beat me cruelty with hickory gads.
When my wife came to my assistance
she was slapped and knocked about,
and threatened with further violence,
and, as you see, is now prostrated as
result. l know the men of whose arrest
have sworn out writs, and recognized
all of them. Four of the twelve men
were so disguised that l did not recog-
nize them. l will prosecute those ar
rested to the end of the law.n
Rev. Van Cleve's injuries are severe
and painful. His back is frightfully
lacerated, and great black and blue
welts are raised upon it from the
shoulders to the hips. The general
sympathy of the Moberly peopleis with
him, but the faction in his chnrch that
has tried to drive him from the pulpit,
of course, sympathize with the White
! Caps. -
Harrison County citizens are deter
mined to put down white Gaping, and
unless the arrested parties succeed in
establishing an alibi on trial, they
stand a good chance of joining the
Dubois County gang in the penitentiary.