The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-21
KNIGHTS OF THE SWITCH.
THE WHITE cars STRONG Err THAN
EYER IN INDIANA.
Some OF the Methods or the order why ~
Is Hnpossible 60 Punish the white Caps
-Oniy Ore way 60 Get RID OF Them.

Gated that this organization is becoming stronger
than ever, and that, more than ever, II IL taking
upon itself the burden that should be left tn the
law. The law-abiding people are becoming
alarmed. Recent cases have been more or less
OF trivial character, but. nevertheless, In this
punishment there IL seen hand that Is antago-
nistic to the law. on the streets, In the public
places. and in tho homes In Martinsville
bloomington. and Spencer. the matter Is Sc
riouslv considered. Often in the churches
illusions are made in sermons TO It, and
prayers offered that the better class OF peo-
pie may bind themselves together for. the ex-
tlnction OF the evil, But so far nothing has as
hy the growth OF public opinion, continue In
their work 10 greater extent than ever, ,,,,,,,
Reed were each served with White Cap" no.
tices and warned 70 leave the locality. They i've
midway between Martinsyille and Bloomington.
BaStian has been accused OF taking corn from
the cribs OF neRhbors; Reed Is charged With an
unnatural crime. Both are men Of families, and
niture the next day and left the. country but
Reed IS still here. and says he will remain to
In Monroe county there have been several
eases lately of White CAP" whippings. \ few
Of them have become, public, but many Of them en-,
people throughout the district do not learn Of
ihem; The White Caps" are not gyen. to
Is disposed through pride to keep the matter
concealed he has no trouble. Because OF this
week or two that are not generally known.
About six weeks ago James Riddle, who lived
city, was ,S surprised at night time Sy band Of
twelve men. and, after being taken in his night
shirt to woods half mile distant, was merci-
lessly whipped. lie was then warned to leave
the country within ten days, and told that II he
didn't lac would be given II bigger dose than ever.
That was on saturday night. On Monday he
disappeared After lie had gone, the runor
gained currency that lac had assaulted his four
teen.year-Old stepdauRhter. court inquiry
lie "a uffinnNit
sanitation OF the rninnr The officers found
Riddle in Johnson county. At trial before IA
SSrg the "i init for ' Such ofrehees Riddle
claimed to have recognized some Of the White
going. to present TO the Grand Jury, but the
Grand Jury hadn't settled down 70 business
aud so strong was public approval OF that es.
pecial act OF the White Caps" that the matter
,arrSd Thse are several
helped to whip Riddle. hut with the air that
knowing smile when the matter Is mentioned
Two years ago David Roaney, market gar
dcner living north .of town, was. so severely
whipped that his condition was serious for sew
eral days He had been a soldier In the civil
Army OF the Republic. Suddenly his wife died
under suspicious circumstances and three days
later he was married to IA fifteen year.old girl
A few DAYS later he whipped this newly found
wife. This was the last straw, and that night
gave him whipping that he will ever rcmem-
Der. Roaney was well established In his bust
hsa fa ON his sots fSr s%t sSs
warning of the White Caps'' was enough, and
before the limit had expired he had left the
country and has never been heard of here since
For years William Enochs has lain around
MartinsviliG, drinking and carousing, but never
working His wife. a Christian woman, had
kept him up by washing and house cleaning
work, Last winter the members Of the church
ed SUNDAY he "A
front seat IN church, but through the week LIE
would drink and carouse a. Of old. The church
people were incensed that their support should
be 80 unayailing, and they would often complain.
Two weeks ago Enochs was visited BY the
the usual warning to leave town was given him.
On the following Monday morning he disap-
peared, and has not returned.
These examples and others that might be men
sys soWe aea OF se dopEs s sHd seo
practice, but there are none of them but admit
that so far punishment has never been admin
They say that the theory OF the " White Caps
is wrong, and its practice II allowed would lead
admit that it has really been benefit to the
three counties and valuable aid to the law:
II used to De TINT me dspredstlI1ns OF
central and southern portions of Indiana. Now
and then Kentucky would add an incident, but
organization Of white Gaps" has grown won
derfully. and now j. thoroughly equipped, with
of Indianapolis. To nntagonize it, it is said,
means political ruin, financial distress by with
holding patronage, and bodily harm II 1t is
deemed necessary.
One OF the oldest organizations OF this char
ac'er had It's existence In Owen county. Here
many years ago the regulators operated, but
with the rise OF the present generation the or
ganlzation was thought TO be obliterated. In
september, 1891, Frank Dice was awaiting
William cheehsy for dancing with his sMeet-
would change A
light sentence. and this aroused the old fire.
one might in september a hundred men marched
Dice in his cell. Dice's crime was the third
killing in Owen, county within a year. Each
light sentence. This was more than the people
could tolerate. and the lynchipg followed
originated " no one can H say deinitey ' Many
claim that u was originally organized TO ex-
terminate the NOTORIOUS Reno gang, which ter;
that from this sprang the present organization.
However, there u no doubling the fact that
every county In the southern part Of the state
has some members, II not regularly equipped
band. with periodical meetings, at which griev-
ances OF all kinds are heard and determined.
. " DO you know" said one OF their suspects,
" that the sOciety's membership Is composed OF
neneS S anh h1i n9eo o every anu OF
ID carried out according To well-matured plans Z"
A reference 70 the assault on the Conrad
three OF the community's most substantial
farmers bears out this statement; Recent whip
also add 10 the evidence OF the existence OF a
powerful body of men.
How one becomes a member Is no less inter-
rsting than peculiar. Each lodge has captain. |
who Is absolute dictator. Having decided upon |
the initiation of any individual. he Is informed
az an opportune time by some members OF the |
band To refuse Ia, become a member re- !
luires nerve; No choice, is left the candi- |
late, and in some secluded room. with |
hands resting on crossed guns over a |
Bible, he swears his life away should lie |
ever reveal any secrets, or refuse 70 obey AN
Ter OF the clan. This obligation is respected |
more than are the obligations of any other |
secret order They swear 10 defend each other |
i'll death, regardless Of law. and when one OF |
their number 10 engaged Ia a lawsuit against an |
outsider, or when one OF them 10 arrested for |
:, White Gaping" Il Is reasonably certain that |
The case will be settled before the trial begins
There has been but one instance OF conviction |
for " White Gaping" in Indiana, and since the |
has become 50 universal and COM 1
Dlete IL IS doubtful whether any more conYic- |
ions will ever be made Men are told, IL Il said,
hat they must be at court when jury Is 10 be /
elected and see that one OF their mum Der at least
5 chosen. This juror has his instructions and he |
'beys them. Lawyers twist teehnicalites and |
'ase objections 10 questions, all ignorant Of the
TACT that the case was decided when the jury |