The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-07-26
Arrest Of Charles Davidson ON . seri-
ous Charge Leads In she GATH
ing OF n Turbulent Mob.
POLICE SAVED HIS LIFE
BOLD BREAK AND HARD DRIVE ron
THE COUNTY JAIL
BIoochounds VIII ne Tried To-Day IN
the Gebhnrd case-Littie Hope Of
Success from that Source.

with the horrible details of the finding OF
the murdered and mutIlated remains Of 1T
tie Ida Gebhard. the people OF West In
dianapolls are in a humor for a iynching.
and but for the strategy OF the two police
officers Of the town. last night. Charles Da-
yidscr. collector for the Metropolitan Life
Insurance Company. would have been
hanged by an angry mob. which surrounded
the town buildings. where he was a pris-
oner. Ida Hutchinson. an eleven-year-old
girl made the charges that incited the
townspeople. Davidson was arrested at his
home. on ST. Clair street. about O'Clock.
and lodged I'm the West indianapolis jail.
aboat o'clock. Within a remarkably short
space CT time the report OF his arrest and
ho alleged assault had spread, and crowd
OF two or three thousand people surrounded
the town building. People could be seen
coming from all directions. and Davidson's
doom seemed certain. While the freInen
held the crowd at bay with stream OF
water, Marshal Parry and Justice Harig
drore with the prisoner at gallop through
the crowd. and. after a fast drive. placed
the prisoner safely in the county jail. The
mob fingered about the town buildings for
some time. and by the mutterings IL was
thoroughly aroused. since Ida Gebhard was
SO inhumanly treated.
Ida Hutchinson. the girl that makes the
serious charge against Davidson. IL past
eleven years Of age, and lives with her step
father, Freeman Bowers. on Mclean street.
Mr. Bowers is a policy-holder I'm the Metro
politan company. which is run on the
monthly payment plan. Davidson is a col-
lector. and called at the house last Monday
there being no one at home but the girl. A
neighbor girl came to the house. and claims
to have seen Davidson and Ida Hutchinson
I'm the front room. She says Davidson had
hold of the girl The neighbor girl ran
home and told her mother and the latter
told Mrs. Bowers. Ida Hutchinsons mother
Ida Hutchinson then said Davidson had at.
tempted to assault her. A warrant vas
procured in Justice Herig's court. charging
Davidson with assault and battery with In,
tent TO rape.
Before leaving the house Davidson left
word that he would call for the payment
yesterday afternoon. An officer was to be
stationed at the house and arrest him when
he appeared. but he came unexpectedly yes
terday morning. Mrs. Bowers attacked him
as soon as he appeared at the door, she
struck him several times and threw a
stone at him, compelling him to flee. Last
evening the <officers vent to Davidson's
home to arrest him when he went TO sup
per. He expressed much surprise when
told why he was wanted, but went willingly
to West Indianapolis. fearing no danger
and expressing the belief that he would be
proved innocent The fact that Ida Hutch
inson claimed to have been assaulted. and
the fact OF Davsdson's arrest, had been
kept secret by the police. and they thought
no one was aware of the circumstances. Da-
wilson had been slated but a few minutes
when the crowd commenced TO gather. and
by the talk OF the first to arrive IT was
seen that mob violence was in the minds
OF all.
The first to learn OF the arrest informed
others, and the news spread as rapidly ~
did the story OF the finding Of little Ida
Gebhards body. Men. women and chill
dren could be seen coming from all direc-
tions toward the town building in which
Davidson was a prisoner. The women urged
the men on. telling them to protect their
wives and children by making an example
of Davidson. Fully two hundred women
were In the crowd. and they talked excit-
edly OF the two affairs OF the suburb. and
told how they would delight TO give slow
and torturous punishment 10 a man guilty
=
close to the doors of the engine house and
talked in loud tones. One man said he
had a rope and would tie the knot. An
other counseled discretion. but was brushed
aside The talk around the building was
wild, but II did not give the officers half
as much concern as q quiet group OF men
on an opposite corner. who talked earnest
ly of the affair. The crowd on the cor
ner began to scatter. and presently some
began TO return. bringing others The
crowd that talked most was not feared
half so much as the crowd that proceeded
coolIy and deliberately, not saying what
was intended. Some men gave the cry
| hat a rope could be found at the side Of
the building. and a half dozen ran to Sc
cure the prize. All the while the crowd
was growing and the mob was approaching
slowly toward the building. simply waiting
| for some one to take the lead.
Those within with the prisoner were anx-
| ious. and by reason they tried TO disperse
the mob. but the latter could only see the
possibility of other outrages IL a suspected
man was allowed 10 escape. Within II was
decided that Davidson must be removed
| for II he remained there he would surely
hang. The fremen attached the Rose inno-
| Gently. as II TO sprinkle the streets. The
crown
| and there were few persons IN the space
directly in front OF the building. MARSHAL
| Parry's buggy was brought forward ana
| Davidson was taken from a cell. He ps-ed
! and staggered when he saw he mob. and
realized that the men were there seeking
MS life. His frame shook. and he lad to-
| be lifted In the buggy. Marshal Parry and
Justice Herig climbed in, one on either SIDE.
| The horse was given few vigorous cuts
with the whip. The hremsn tnrrw the
stream OF water. clearing passage Tor the
buggy and it's occupants Davidson buried
his face In his hands The Marshal and the
Justice cried for the crowd 10 stand back.
and on a ealiop the horse carried the buggy
/ norfhwara out OF danger Ia T.ason was
/ taken at a lively rate north 10 Washington
street and directly TO the county jail He
| refused TO talk about the afalr except 10
say that ne is innocent. but he was pfofuse
| in his thanks TO his rescuers. and well ho
might be- for had nc remained at the West
| Ind annapolis Jail tweaty minutes h.neer he
would no doubt have been capt ired ~ the
/ mob.
After the removal OF Davidson the crowd
| fingered about the place for SOME time.
! Hundreds OF people came late Upon the
scene and those who had been hrst % ar
rive returned TO their homes. ~ gathered