The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-16

l~ynchine. interpolated now and then
1luce the war. kept alive public interest In
tuch affairs. Tho lynohing OF four OF the
Keno gang shortly after the war marksa
period IN the criminal history OF that conn
Try. There were features about tnis AFFAIR
lhat resemble features or the lynching on
eerIy Monday morning 81 Bedford.
The Renos operated near and.
beginning their career with petty pilier.
sng. they eventually became very bold and
daring. Farm houses were robbed without
respect TO SAeIr occupants and Durgiaries
were committed in great number 81 sey-
mour. The people seemed to know TINT the
Reno gang was responsible for the depreda-
Iicns. but as the family was considered a
very DANGEROUS ono when Its enmity was
aroused. no one was willing TO take the
Initiative IN bringing the members OF IT TO
book. TIE Renos did not hesitate TO shoot
On the least provocatioD. Their success
nDafly emboldened them to hold mp a train
or the Ohio ~ Mississippi road, as II IS
stated. and n general footing followed.
individually, several members of the
gang had been accused of murder. Tho
srain robbery brought down the wrath of
= corporations, and four of the gang were
arrested and taken to New Aiosny.
where they wer lodged IN jan;
peopls dared to OBEY mouths. and the
enormity OF the RenOsf offences became APP
parent One night O crowd OF railroad
men and citizens chartered q special train
- LUI AnUuI aL0 HCut AOWh WV OAAA
'sJef' road TO New Albany. The mob went
MP TO the Jail and demanded possession of
the Renos. The doughty sheriff refused to
give them up. and In the melee which en-
sued the officer was shot In the arm. The
outlaws were taken from their cells. and
~ q very short time were dangling atropes
ends over the bannisters of the second
4oor Jail corridor. The mob returned TO It's
special train. u its members ate breakfast
at their homes in Seymour. This incident
had the effect Of breaking up outlawry In
that section for q while.
Another famous lynching bee was held
~ Bloomington in 1876. Attorney w. l.,
Taylor. of this city. was in school at
the career of Crook" Mershone, who. with
one OF more acc0mDlices. committed one OF
the most diabolical murders on record. A
man was slain and his body jamned in the
FIRE. box OF a locomotive. The locomotive
made several trips out of Bloomington.
burning its CHASTITY fuel TO ashes. A
railroad engineer was charged with COM
piIcity in the crime. A third party con-
fessed that Mershone was the mnrderer-in-
chief. A mob battered dow q tho jail doors,
after Mershone was arrested. and made to
bisoell- The murderer attempted to shield
himself With O cot. but @ volley was fired
at him. and he died almost instantly. The
mob was organized In salt Creek township.
Monroe county. and Effected Its mission In
the early morning
A few years ago Jim Devin and q weak
minded fellow were strung up on the bridge
over Big Indian creek. near Corydon.
Devin persuaded his companion TO 20 with
him from L-esvenworth 20 Nevin, q small
station hear Corydon. There they at
tackled and injured the family of an old
mar named lie Mays, afterward robbiug
fhe house. The mob readily dis
posed of the two criminals after
tbeir arrest White-capping had its origin
near Corydon and rapidly spread to other
p~onnties. Barn-burnIng ana petty stealing
bad become 30 common that the people
were In great fear and terror. The White
Caps RETAINED from iynching, but they re-
sorted TO punlsbmeDt that IN several cases
Sesulted IN death TO the victims- The dis
rovery of a cave IN Harrison county filled
with stolen goods and the impossibiiity OF
convicting the thieves gave a great I'M
petus TO the movements. One man who
was attacked by White CAPS near Pilot
Knob. in Crawford county, shot and killed
pne of his assailants.