The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-14
Entrance to the Calaboose Effected by
Rusc and the Helpless Prison
ers RuthIessly slaughtered.
SIX MEN IN ALL MURDERED
IN REVENGE FOR THE DEATH OF A
POPULAR SALOON KEEPER.
in Response to the Appeal of the
Italian Consul at Denver.

coroner of HuerianO county as the result of
the vengeance wreaked last night en- the
Italian miners who were charged with the
killing of Abner Hixon in a most brutal
manner at Rouse. last Sunday night. by
beating him over the head with a club. snd
two more Italians have unquestionabiy Eeen
riddled with bullets by friends of the ropu-
lar saloon keeper. A few hours will almost
certainly bring the discovery of the co,oses
Every man against whom there was the,
slightest suspicion of completely with the
killing of Hixon has met with summary and
frightfu punishment. Three OF the four
bodies are those of Hixon's alleged assail-
ants; the fourth is that of Joe Welsby, who
was driving the four Italians to jail in q
wagon when he met his death. The dead
are, the first four being in the hands OF the
coroner:
ANTONIO LORENZO, declared by. the.
ccronerss Jury to have struck the blow
which crushed Hixons skull and caused his
DEATH twenty-four years OF age, uninar-
ried, an Italian citizen.
SrANILAUS vETTARI. thirty years old.
married. wife and three children in Italy;
intention of becoming an American citizeh
oISisi FRANcIsCo PANCHETTo. twenty
seven years old. unmarried, intention or be-
coming an American citizen declared.
JOSEPH WELCBY. tweny-three years
up PIETRO GIAcABINO, thirty-four years
old, young son living here, said to have
taken out first papers. 4.
ANTONIO CAPETTo. twenty-four years
old. married Wife and three children in
Italy, first papers taken out
Though the mob commenced its work
last evening when the sun had been set but
n little WHILE it was not until this morning
that the work of revenge was completed.
after having killed three of the suspected
murderers and brought death to the young
wagon driver, who had nothing 10 do with
the killing of Hixon. When the three Ital-
ians captured from the wagon at Bear
Creek bridge where Welsby was killed,
had been made way. the small but deter
mined mob waited for the excitement to
subside and then came to the county Jail
here and few minutes before l o'clock
this morning. completed the work of re-
venge they had commenced six hours be-
SHOT IN THEIR CELL.
Panchetto, who had been wounded In
the breast at the Bear Creek trouble, was
found asleep in the calaboose with Lorenzo
The guards placed at the jail, William
Smith and Henry Farr, We're playing caros
when a rap came at the outer door or the
jail They asked who was there and were
told that it was Sheriff O'Maley. Without
a moments hesitation they unbarred the
entrance and, instead OF seeing O'Mailey,
they looked down the barrels OF
two reyolyers in the hands OF
two masked men. Experiences OF
others earlier in the night taught
them to obey the command to drop their
pistols and throw up their hands. Whiie
the first two men covered Ferr and smith
with their pistols, another pair, with their
faces hidden by handkerchiefs, and carry
ing big guns in their hands, staiked IN
one of the last arrivals picked up from
the table the keys to the cell in the jail.
I~x.tlI u fra<r xtr.lnn rnd
door where lay the now trembling Italians.
who felt sure their time had come, and in
their broken English begged piteously for
mercy The avengers had no mercy for
the doomed Italians.
In the cell with them was Frank Ok,
who is charged with a brutal rape. He
was grufly told to stand aside, and skunk
into a corner of the cell. The masked men
then turned their pistols loose on the Ital-
ians, who shrieked in agony as bullet after
bullet was sent tearing into their defense
less bodies. > One of the first shots must
have brought relief to Lorenzo, whom the
men seemed to regard with especial hatred
as the officially declared murderer. for their
leaden balls were sent into his brain. Pan
Ghetto was not SO fortunate. One bullet
passed through his head and two tore great
holes in it, but instant death was not to
be his good fortune, for he writhed ana
groaned in intense agony for as much as
twenty minutes, when the vigilantes felt
their work was surely done and turned
away
When the last bullet had been fired that
was thought necessary 70 avenge one death
with six, the men who had done the
latest killing walked out OF the Jail into
tire dark night. moment or two later.
the keepers of the two guards backed out
through the door and closed IL behind them.
Farr and Smith now picked up their own
revol9ers and fired five shots through the
heavy wooden door after the retreating
men. Summonng up courage, they peered
gut themselves in few seconds, and see-
ing six or eight men making of on foot
acfoss the railroad. tracks. they shot. at
them until their pistols were emptied, bIs
without effect. They gave the alarm, but
before sufficient men for a pursuit had
gathered the who had done the latest
| deed were safely away, and Farr and Smith
| could give no description in detail. The
| work so vigorously begun early IN the
evening was now complete and every
| was sure that the Italians captured at the
| bridge had met death.
| FIRST WORK OF THE AVENGERS.
| The first step of the avengers was not
| so horrible. but they knew what they were
| about. At o'clock Panchetto. Giacabino.
| wagon at Rouse. six miles from Walsen-
| burg, where they had been to testify at the
| Hixon inquest and were started for the
1 Jail here. The prisoners were in charge of
| Under Sheriff Earl Danford and Charles
! Hartman. assistant town marshal at this
| place. Hartman was mounted on q horse
| and rode a afew PAGES behind the wagon as
! a rear guard. Danford sat on the drivers
seat beside young Welsby. who handled the
| horses. Five miles OF driving brought the
| wagon TO the bridge over Bear creek, which
| lies at the bottom of the hills. Hartman
| heard horsemen cantering up behind him.
! and as they drew near, turned his head tc
/ see who was coming. BY this time masked
! man Was at his either side and though
| It was almost pitchy dark. he could Gee
| tfat when they told him to dismount they
| had something very persuasive poked into
hts face. He jumped from his horse and
! WAS told TO get out He did not develop
sufficient speed as, q sprintcr. but some