The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-04

came the general cry: Lynch the Hoosier.
String him up / was then espied, rush
made for the stairs, and, before l was
aware, the leaders of the mob were in the
office, had seized and carried me down 10
the street. String him up again came the
cry 1 was too much bewildered, for my
brain was in a whirl, to speak. As | was
being pushed toward a large historic tree,
famed for the number of horsethieyes that
had stretched hemp from its branches and
from which / could see a rope dangling
no doubt the means Of my sudden exit from
leaders who held me and placed Itself be-
tween the mob and myself while | lay
prone on the ground unconscious. When
revived was Informed that L was 10 be
given chance to speak for myself. Mus
tering all my energy together [ stepped out
i'm full view of the mob and asked them the
meaning of being treated so. The large
form again sprang to the front 1t belonged
TO Her Allen, the toughest customer of
the town, and in whom / recognized
friend.
CHARGED WITH MURDER.
"Doss, said he, 1T just means this. Sam
Hinkley was murdered last night. and. as
you were the last one seen with him, and
we all know that you and he did not
get along together, it looks bad for you.
The men here are all positive that you are
the that did the deed. The fellows here
mean business and believe they'll string
you up, but not without hearing what
you've got to say for yourself Then, turn
ing TO the mob. he asked, That's the thing,
isn't it boys?' Yes, let him speak. but be
d-n quick about it, came the general re-
ply. / stepped in full view of the mob and,
with every nerve in tension, spoke as fol-
lows: 1t is true, gentlemen, that sam and
/ did not agree but / first heard to-day
that he had been killed. Our trouble was
over the repairing of that bicycle of mine.
j broke it several weeks ago and Sam fixed
il for me. He fixed il in a way, though II
was an old machine. that gave it a speed
possessed by no trotter or any other kind
of locomotion around these parts. He want
ed 80 Tor nXlng 1t, but l told him that was
too high. We quarreled over the amount,
he refusing to take anything less. and last
night 1 did meet him. but offered only to
compromise the matter with him. which
he refused, and then we separated. That,
ha! You don't expect US to believe that. do
you? On with him. string him up. came
the cry as the mob began TO close in on
for his life and the tall form of Allen
again interviewed between me and the mob:
Allen studied a moment and then turned
to me and asked. 'Doss, you say that you
can beat a an around these parts on
said Allen, turning to the mob suppose
we adopt this plan. He says he can beat
him try it, The plain to the west is as
smooth as glass. You will remember that
at the ten-mile limit there is an abrupt
should he get away, certain death awaits
him anyway, and we all will be avenged.
Give him a start OF one hundred yards of
Hnkley's blOodhounds. and let them go.
If they catch him il is death. and if they
don't the precfpice will do it's work
THE plan was received with a shout. a
man was sent TO get the dogs, while an
other was sent TO get my wheel The wheel
was inspected and Oiled and was placed
at a point having the one hundred yards
start / pulled off my coat and vest and
girded myself for the race of my life. To
the west / could see the plain extending
away as smooth as the best race track ever
was Beyond 1 imagined l could see the
bottom OF the precipice, and pictured my
self a mangled corpse thereon. However,
/ was not allowed TO pose in this state
very long. Are you ready% Yes said I,
between my teeth, as 1 nerved myself for
the ordeal Then let her CO. With shout
the hounds were set free, bounding after
acterisfIa haviser Gentleman this was tina