The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-08-11

The White Cap Trials.
The Jury in the case Of John II Brown,
Anrged with riotous conspiracy TO whip
pflec and wife. were given Judge Dun
ku's charge about 3 o'clock saturday
icrnoon. snd retired TO consult on a
erdict. They had not agreed At supper
me, and the judge decided that II they
breed on q verdict during the night,
lev might seal il up and 20 home, and
iurn il ia open court Monday morn
Ia. About 10 o'clock they announced
\ agreement, and were permitted 10 60
pnc. In the mean time the accused
Nd also ''gone home" and ii Is supposed
learned IN some way the contents CT
be verdict. or else guessed at il, for
hen he was called Monday ~ 0rning he
Killed. 10 appear, and when the public
bund the verdict was guilty as charged
nd fixed bis punishment al So fine and
20 wears ia the states prison. ii was
cncrally considered that he would not
ppear There were three cases against
i'm. and his bond was $500 in each,
it'll John G.. Pollard and Frank /m-
her ne his surciies. The bonds were
hrfc;lcd. and inc sureiics will have
nem 20 paw lie owns 200 acres of land
Hall township, and considerable other
ropcriy, 80 II II is not cncumhered 9TH
rwise too much they may be able 10
I'VE themselves from loss. lie was seen
londav evening in Boone township,
haking his way westward probably
br Illinois. or Eastridgo's home in Knox
ouniy.
John III. lrown was the late Repubi-
an postmaster at Rosamond, and was
OF removed for over q year after the in
ictments were found against him, and
hen charges Of oiEensivencss had TO be
led before Clcveland's postmaster gen.
raj would remove him. lie was out.
owever, in time TO have a Democratic
uccessor appointed before bis term in
he penitentiary would begin.
Sheriff Traylor sent q deputy up TO
Browns neghborhood TO find bis where
bouts, and also telegraphed bis descrip-
ion to numerous places, but so far has
O trace Of him.
After ii was found that he had escaped
ndge Duncan required new bonds in
600 eacn, to be given by the other
arties charged with whipping William
Coffee, which each one was able to fill.
The trial was q holly contested one
Prosecutor Cox nobly doing his duty Il
ring the accused to justice, and making
strong argument TO the jury. lie wa,
bly, assisted by Milburn ~ Sweeney, ap
ointed by the court, and by bis depn
les, j. Il. Ticman. Leo Fisher and Franl
Bciz. The defense was skilltuIly con
ucted by Traylor & Huuter Brett, Nc
rall & Brett. and Suddarth and Wealth
rs. OF Crawford county.
After the Brown case had been settle,
ther defendants on Monday filed aili
avits for continuance and changes o
enue. which the court overruled, afle
Investigation, and upon request til
heriff was ordered 10 summons jur
rom the south part of the county, wher
nothing comparatively was known in re
Eard TO the matter. a bailiff started 10
,ass township at dinner time Monday
but not enough jurymen had appeared q
upper time N onday TO secure panel.
On Tuesday morning James NJ. Eli
bne of the defendants. secured Lafayett
Ills. his brother, and W. W Kendall 0
bis 81 600 bond for appearance, VIII
we're accepted by the court.
Laf.yctte Ellis aud David G.. Ian
became sureties for Levi *. Ellis.
Henry A. Sutton and John Suite
food good for Henry sutton, whe
wanted.
Thomas j. Nolan, Samuel Il. Gillet
Andrew J. fIollowel and Andre
leichelbccls went on the bond OF Wn
j. Highfcli.
Thomas Highfeld and Isaac Eastrds
Aid not give new bonds, but flied aflid
Eits for continuances, which the cou
bvcrruled. and Thomas Highfield WI
placed upon trial, the following. after
humber OF challenges. being acceptc
Ind sworn in as jnrymen: John Allie
John Gray, Jr.. Noble j. Kemp, Mario
Martin. John w. Kemp, &. A. Coope
Cyrus u. Norris. Henry Hohler, Jeile
bon Simmons, w. III. May, Edward
Halter and Andrew Brown.
Coffee and his wife each testified
heir being taken from their bed on q
hight OF August 81, 1891. tied TO trc'
hnd numerically whipped, and fnl
identified the defendant, Thomas ilig
Held. as captain of the gang that whip
fhcm, swearing that they knew him
causc his mask only covered part Of
face, and by his voice, also. a. he ga
orders 10 the others TO do their duty
surn, calling on them by numbers. nj
Coilcc testified that Highiieli caught Y
chinese aud raised il over her head,
that the brutcH might see her naked a
apply their switches TO her bare ba'
she also identified some OF the lar
beech switches which were picked
afterwards under the tree where "a
had been used in the whipping, and a
testified that the whipping drew
blood from both her husband and b
anil that The sores did not heal
months
The testimony of Coffee and wife y
corroboratcd IN many details by OF
witnesses, aud il appeared that the o.
reason for the whipping was their
nunciation OF white caps. and Nh oAcr
$40 " they would attempt 70 whip u
Indiana Colleges.