Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-01-15
WOMEN LYNCHED BY A MOB.
Two Daughters of Bob Sims, the
Outlaw, Hanged in Alabama.

Outlaw, Hanged in Alabama.
THE INTERPRETED IN THEIR UNCLE'S De-
HALF-NEAL SIMS WAS A MURDEREK,
AND THE GIRLS WORE MEMS CLOTHES
AND CARRIED GUNS AT THE SHOOTING
OF THE MMLLANs-BUT ONE OF THE
SIMS FAMILY NOW ALIVE.
MOBILE, ALA, Jan. 7.-Excepting an
only daughter, the Sims family. who have
kept Choctaw county, this State, in con
slant trouble for the past few years, by
securing converts to their new and pc
cullar religion, Is now extinct.
The most intense excitement was caused
here today by the news that Laura AID
Beatrice, two of the three daughters OF
Bob Sims, who was lynched on Christmas
day, were yesterday seized by posse
who were in quest of Bob's brother Neal.
wanted for murder, and str ing up TO an
oak tree. The women tried to interfere
in Meals behalf and fought desperately.
The Simsites were on their way from
Womack Hill to Leak, Miss, the rendez-
vous to which they were driven by the
military for the second time early in De-
cember They consisted of quite a strong
party. led by Neal Sims, Bob's brother
and all, including the women, were arm
ed 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
fugitives 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 q dozen bull
lets into his body.
Bob's two daughters interfered IN lheil
uncle's behalf, but the posse was in nc
mood to show mercy, and it was the WORK
of few minutes to treat them likewise.
DIFFERENTIATION OF A FAMOUS FAMILY.
Ibis is probably the last chapter in the
history Of the famous sect. Old Bob Sims
the founder, lynched on Christmas day
was one of the most peculiar of cranks
Ragged in figure, determined in express
sion but mild in manner AMI speech, 9
teetOtaler and anti-tObaccO man and pos
sessed of a good deal of intelligence and
refinement, he was very successful in ad.
vocating a religion conceived by hin
which was that man should he guided by
his own impulses. Owning a small farm
in Choctaw county remote from towns
aud railroads, OF education much superior
to his ignorant and superstltious neigh
bors, he was just the type of man to
Undue them, even to fanaticism, with his
dangerous belief.
He told his neighbors to interpret di.
vine law for themselves, and held that
every man should do just as he pleased
and be governed by his own sense Of right
and wrong. He disported himself in the
columns of nearly all the local newspa-
pers, aud constantly pestered the Govern.
or aud President of the United States
with letters.
His three pretty, grown up daughters
did much to help expound the new relig-
ion. They had been educated at the pub
lie schools, sang at the weekly meetings,
learned printing and started weekly
paper entitled the True Way, which was
issued to many readers weekly from a
room IN Sims log cabin. When the Sims
ties organized three years ago they speed
lily gained following OF 100 members.
BOB SIMS lLLlClI SILL.
One of the specific laws of the United
States which Sims OBJECTED TO was that
prohibiting the Illicit manufacture OF
liquors. He thought this branch of bus
mess should be entered free OF legal re-
stralnt. He started a still in bis house,
manufactured illicit whisky, cut a path
from his house to the public road for the
81 nd ha
sign: "ThIs path leads to the still OF
Bob Sims. Revenue officers are invited
to call" Other Simsites followed the ex-
ample of the head of the sect and also
started illicit stills until the county be.
came infested with them and brought
down the wrath of the United States rev.
enue officers. On hearing this the Sims.
ties organized and became known as
moonshiners and made no secret of their
intention to forcibly defy the officers OF
the law should they be interfered with.
On August 20 last United States Depu-
ty Marshall Stribling started from Mobile
with posse of we'll armed men deter
mined to arrest Sims and the entire gang
of moonshiners, for they were working a
pernclous influence on the county. While
eating supper at Bladon Springs that
night the party was feed upon
through the windows by the monshiners
DR.. Pugh, an innocent bystander, was
killed, several officers wounded, and in
the fight which followed Barley Sims, a
son Of Bob, was killed, and another son,
wounded. captured and lynched by the
outraged citizens OF the place.
III ~ Of hn Qnh
many of the sect were compelled to cross
the border into Mississippi by the efforts
of a man named John Mcmillan, who
headed q citizens committee, and was
aitsrward murdered, with all his family,
for bis pains.
THE GIRLS CALLED on THE GOVERNOR.
Sims daughters who were unmolested,
severely denounced the expulsion of their
rather as a conspiracy, and called on Gov
ernor Jones at the Executive Mansion to
plead his case. They were neatly dress
ed and modest looking, and the Governor
promised to do all he could for them. The
promise 80 surprised the citizens of Choc-
taw that Sims was allowed to return.
The moonshiners then continued their
work, and when the Mcmillan family
we're exterminated Christmas week Bob's
were known to have been
in the thick of the melee, attired in
mems clothes and armed with repeating
rifles, They were in the house with their
father and Con Savage and his son when
Bob surrendered on Christmas day.
While the posse was conveying Bob aud
the Savages to Butler county they were
met by body of armed citizens of Chez
taw county. Sims guard made no resist
lnce against them, and the leader was
handed over to their fury. The Savages,
'ather and son, we're first lynched. Then
Sims was brought to the same tree. Tne
mob placed him standing in buggy, and
before adjusting the moose asked him ii
le had anything to say. He replied;
"Take my hand, feel my pulse and see
{ Pm coward"
The horse attached to the buggy was
hen driven forward, AMI Sims was lett
laughing In the air until he was strsng'
ed.