The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-08-10
FOUR MEN KILLED.
They Attempted to Capture the
Conrads, Supposed Murderers.
The Conrads Turned the Tables on the Mob
and Opened Fire, who Are Finally
Put to Flight and the brothers
Make Their Escape.

LOUISVILLE, Aug. IA terrible bat.
tie took place at an early hour Sunday
morning, between two murderers and
a party of lynchers. Four of the mem
bers of the mob were killed and several
others severely wounded. The fight
occurred on the road, in front of the
old Conrad homestead, sixteen miles
from Corydon, and not far away from
the Ohio river
few months ago Samuel and
William Conrad, the sons of L.
| Conrad, an aged and well-known
man were arrested on suspicion
| OF having murdered their father.
The body of the old man had been
found in little cooper shop,
in which Mr.. Conrad often
worked, with the skull crushed in and
several other wounds about the face
and body. 1t was said that quarrel
had taken place between the brothers
and their father the evening before the
body of the murdered man was dis.
covered, and this, together with several
other suspicious circumstances, led to
the arrest of the boys They were
taken to Corydon and tried there few
weeks ago.
The proof was wholly insufficient,
and the charges against them had to
be dismissed. After they had gone
back home it was whispered in the
neighborhood that they had threatened
to get even with every one who had
testified against them or endeavored to
bring about their conviction. Ten
days ago two barns on the farms of
neighbors of the Conrads were set on
hre and burned down. The owners
OF these barns had been very active
against the alleged murderers, and
everybody seemed convinced that the
brothers had fired the buildings. The
Conrads themselves only smiled when
they heard of the reports The neigh.
bors were very much wrought up. Most
OF them believed the boys guilty of the
murder OF their father and when it was
proposed to lynch them the men for
miles around were eager to join the
mob. Saturday evening about mid
night the lynchers assembled on the
place OF John Timberlake and proceed.
ed from there to the Conrad homestead.
The Conrads heard of their coming
and prepared warm reception They
armed themselves with shotguns and
revolvers and hid in a corn field oppS,-
site the house When the mob reached
the house several went on the porch
and knocked on the door. The Con.
rads were now in the rear of the col.
umn and well covered, Without warn.
ing they opened fire with their shot.
guns, and when they had emptied the
four barrels they raised their revolyers
and fired shot after shot in the dense
mass OF lynchers. The effect of the
hre was terrible. John Timberlake was
one of the first to fall and Alf Howe
came next
Several others dropped, and nobody
knew whether they were killed or only
wounded. scene of terror and OF
wild confusion followed the curses and
shouts OF the surprised and routed
lynchers, many of whom did not even
take time to jump to their horses,
which they left a short distance awav,
mingled with the command" of a few
OF the more determined leaders The
latter opened fire in the direction from
where the shots had come. but the
night was dark. They could not aim,
in fact they saw nobody and the fire
proved Intellectual. Conrads finally
broke out from their cover and com.
nenced an onslaught not man dared
stand and the lynchers fled like herd
of sheep A mile away from the place
the panic was checked by the leaders {
ana hurried conference held. 1t was
found that several men were missed ,
md after some parleying the mob re-
solved to turn back and find out what
lad become of the others The house
vas approached cautiously, but all
LANCER was past. The Conrads had left
he scene of their terrible work and
he road was free. On the place before
he house were found the dead bodies
# John Eisinger, Edmund Houston and =
Alfred Howe. The body of Timperlake .
vas found on the porch, where the man ;
lad fallen. =
IN the ditch by the side of the road =
vas found Vim. May in an unconscious
ondition. Both his eyes had been shot h
ut, and it is doubtful If he will ever !,
ecover. Several other men had also a
eceived wounds, but of less serious q
haracter. seach of the neighbor. n
ood was made, but no trace of the n
onrads could be found. The wounded a
nd the killed were then taken up and
rought home. -
The news of the fight created the G.
reatest excitement in the whole h
ounty, and search parties have gone a
ut to look for them. 1t is supposed
hey made their way to the Ohio river,
nd will attempt to go south. The
onrads all are unmarried, and lived h