The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-08-12
MEACHAMITES DONE FOR
Indignant Aiabamians Rise Up and Are
Fairly Strengthening the Gang.
Tooch Bedsoe Caught in the swamps. and After
CoDfessing TO the Crimes of the Gang. Is
Shot 10 Death. Making the Fourth.

JACKSON, Ala, Aug. 1.-THE counties OF
Clarke. Choctaw. Wilcox and Msrengo are
greatly excited over the murderous
do,ngs of the notorious Meachamites.
and between four q five hundred
heavily armed men are in Meacham-
beat for tho svowed purpose of wiping out
every member of the gang and svengiDg the
numerous wrongs perpetratedo on the people
of the counties named. From q resident Of
Jackson, who is we'll acquainted with the
operations of the gang. this story was had:
The Meachamites number W cen thirty
five and fifty men. and the point OF
operation is Meaohambeat, six miles
from C~offeeville and about seventeen
from Thomasville. Five years ago,
when the settlement was founded, these
men piled their vocation as farmers. and
were to all intents and purposes good citi-
zens. A year ago, however. trouble began.
The county is q prohibition one. but one
day o sign was displayed on a tree in
the village that whisky could be
secured on certain nights during the
week by applying to ~ certain store. Gus
toners were plensiful. When they entered
the store they were mot by masked men,
who would deal ont TO them whisky in
oaoA ao1t 10 Oofh @O
were asked by either party. and then the
buyer was warned, under penalty OF
death. to. say nothing of she business
methods followed BY the dealer. This vio-
lation of the law went on for some time.
and the selling of whisky led to the crimes
being committed. The best citizens ex-
pressed themselves freely aud several were
threatened with death If they attempted
TO take any action.
Finally John Hare had his barn, stables
and house burned. and on his going into
his yard to fight the flames he was shot at.
Joseph Anderson was another victim. de
was shot down while walking through bis
field and died instantly. His assassin
was never arrested. although il was we'll
known who committed the deed. A few
months later, a thrifty old negro. and the
only one in the Meachambeat at the time.
was killed while at work at his mill.
At this time the elan was widening and
taking in more new men. Terror existed
among all and men joined the gang through
fear and TO protect themselves. In Decem-
Der last Ernest McCOrQuOdale's death fol-
curing. as 1t did, on Christmas night.
in the presence of the unfortunate
victims family. worked ND the en-
tire community. n his assassin was
plete. and on Monday afternoon last the
murderer met his death. He was q man
named James. the leader of the Meachim-
ties. and an acknOw ledg ed outlaw In the
community. The posse located James near
C0ifeeville Monday afternoon. at 4 o'clock.
He had been out attending a meeting
Of the clan and was on his way
back and in the act OF entering his
gate when four men. who were stationed at
nearby points of vantage. fired on him
with four WinohestGrs. Every ballet took
effect. and James .ell in his tracks. His
body was carried into the house to hi6
family. and the next morning the remains
were inferred in the little cemetery of the
49,. --. GA
children. Kirk James and others OF the
gang are said TO have met their death at
the same time.
Among the other acts of lawlessnees
committed by the gang were the distilling
OF illicit whisky and the cOunterfeiting of
money. Since the killing of McCorquodsie
they have also added two more crimes
to their category. About a month ago
o negro. named Willis House, was shot
down while at work in the field near Cof-
feeville for an alleged insult to q white
woman. Two weeks ago the alarm WAS
given in Meaehimbest that q negro had at.
tempted to outrage q white woman. A
posse Was formed and all the negroes In
woman. who failed to identify the
guilty person. Sam House,. q brother
OF Willis House. was one OF the men
brought for " ard and he was identified. but
proved an alibi by two prominent men and
WAS released. About two hours before day.
to his door and ehot dead by two unknown
men. Subsequent developments went to
show that there was no attempt to outrage
the woman, but the affair was @ ruse to
get a chance to dispose of House. who bad
related to certain parties that he knew
who had killed his brother. Willis House.
Then followed the trouble at Thomas
vile. the Meschsmites threatening to
clean out the whole town on 40
count of one of their number who
stole q pair of shoes being discovered.
The last outbreak on the part of the out.
laws caused the Iaw-abiding citizens of all
surrounding counties to come together and
agree that the gang should be stamped out.
Tooch Bedsoe. one of the Meschsm gang,
was captured tonight. after a hard chase,
by q posse. He confessed that Bob Burke
killed John Anderson and shot down Willis
House. nj that James. the leader of the
gang. killed Ernest MoCorquodsle for a
large sum of mohey, and that
James Gordon killed Lem House. also
that Captain Forscue has been marked as
the next victim. The posse riddled Bedsoe
with bullets. The dead of the gang are
Lew James, Ded Bedsoe and Kirk Jemes.
Other members OF the gang are located IN the
wan and the posse proposes to kill them
all by tomorrow night. One man, Sandy
Morris. who was taken to-day, was in such
q pitisble condition that the posse turned