The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-08-12

THE NOTORIOUS MBLCHAN1TxS
COMMIT NUMBERLKss CRIMxs.
whisky tho Cause OF All tne Trouble.
The Outlaws Take Revenge ON Citissns
Who object to Their Reckless Deeds.

"The counties OF Clarke. Choctaw, VIII
cox and Marengo are stirred to the high
est pitch at the murderous doings OF the
notorious Meachamites. and at this writ
irg between 400 and 500 heavily armed
meu ere In Meacham Beat for the svowed
purpose OF viping out every member OF
the gang and avenging the numerous
wrongs perpetrated upon the good people
Of the counties named"
From a resident OF Jackson, who 10
Well acquainted with the operations OF
the gang. an interesting story WAS
CLEANED. The Moaohamltes number be-
tween thrty-hvc and fifty men, and az
the point OF operations Is Meacham Beat.
six miles from Coffeeville and about sew
en- from Thomasville. Five years azo
when the settlement was founded these
men Piled their vocation as farmers, and
were 10 all intents and purposes good
citizens. year ago. however. trouble
began.
The county is n Prohibition one, but
one day a sign was displayed on tree
in the village that whisky could be se-
cured on certain nights during the week
by applying az a certain store. Customs
ers were plentiful When they entered
the store they were met by masked men,
who would deal out TO them whisky IN
such quantities as desired. No ques-
tions were asked by either party, and
then the buyers were warned under pen
atty Of death TO say nothing OF the husi-
ness methods followed by the dealer.
This violation OF the law went on for
some time and the selling OF whisky
led 10 the crimes being committed
Several fatal shootlngs between drunken
men occurred. The best citizens ex-
pressed themselves freely, and several
OF them were threatened with death IL
they attempted 10 take any action. Final
" Jno. A. Hare had his barn. stables and
house burned, and on his going into
the yard TO fight the flames he was shot
at and narrowly escaped fatal injury.
Joseph Anderson was another victim Hc
was shot down on Sunday evening
while walking through his field and died
instantly. Ills assassin was never ar
rested although IL was well known who
committed the deed. A few months later
a thrifty old negro, and the only one In
Meacham Beat at the time. was killed
while at work at his mill.
At this time the clan was widening
and taking I'm more new men. Terror
existed among all. and men Joined the
gang through fear and TO protect them
selves. In December last Ernest Me-
Corquodales death followed. This cow
ardly assassination. occurring as it DID
on Christmas night. I'm the presence Of
the unfortunate victims family worked
up the entire community. and his assas-
sin was finally located. The evidence was
complete, and on Monday afternoon the
murderer met his death.
He was James, the leader Of the Mea-
chamites. and an acknowledged terror
IN the community. The posse located
James near Coffeevllle Monday after
noon al 4 o'clock. lie had been out at
tending a meeting OF the cian and was
on the way back and IN the act OF en-
tering his gate. when four men, who were
stationed at near by points or vantage,
pulled down on him with four Winches-
ters. Every bullet took effect, and James
fell In his tracks. His body ives carried
into the house by his family. and next
morning the remains were Inferred I'm
the little cemetery OF the town. James
leaves n wife and several children. Kirk
James and others OF the gang are said
20 have met their death at the same
time.
Among the other acts OF lawlessness
committed by the gang were the distilllng
OF Illicit whisky and the CONTRIBUTING
OF money Since the killing OF McCorquo-
dale they have also added two more
mes 10 their lawless ac.s.
ktdut a month ago a negro named WI
lis Hose as fhot down while AT work
I'm the field near Coffeeyille for an al
leeed insult 20 n white woman. Two
weeks ego the alarm was given I'm Ma
cham Beat that a negro had attempt a
60 Cutiage white woman. A posse was
formed and all the nsgroes I'm the BEAT
we're brought before the wonia1 who
fgsled 10 Identify the guilty person. Sam
House. a brother Of Wills House. was ono
Of the men brought forward and he was
Identified. but proved An aliht by two
prpuinent men and was released. Abou'
two hours before daylight the next mora
irg House was called 20 his door ard
shot eead by two unknown zen
subseduent developments went 1" snow
that there was no attempt to outrage the
,vcnan. but the affair Was a ruse 70 get
n CHARGE 10 dispose OF House. who had
related 10 certain Tariifs that lac knew
who had killed hts brother Wills E0use.
Then followed the trouble M Thomas
vile the Neachsmltcs threatening TO
clean out the whole town on account OF
ona OF their number, Who stole a PAIR or
shoes. being caught up with. The last
outbreak on the part OF the outlaws
caused the law-abiding citizens Of all sur
rounding counties 20 come together ana
agree that the gang should be STAMPED
out.
Tooch Redsoe, one Of the Meacham
gang was captured after hard chase
Nv the posse Seeing his end near. he
confessed that Bob Burke killed Ander-
son and shot down william House, and
that James. the leader Of the gang Killed
Fruest McCorquOdalc for large sum of
money and that James Gordon killed
sam House; also that Captain James
Forscue had been marked as the next
victim. The posse riddled Bedsoe with
bullets.
one man. Sandy Norris, who was taken
to-day. was in 80 pitiable a condition
,bs, the posse turned him over 20 the
eberifg instead OF shooting him.