Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-08
ONE MAN AGAINST A MOB.
The Click of the Sherif's RcvoIvcl
and Ill, Impressive Warming.


and Ills Impressive Warming.
From the Chicago Times Herald
All that saved Grant Atterbury from death
at the hands of a mob of lynchers at Sulli-
van. Ind. recently was the GOODNESS of the
sheriff. who promised to shoot down the first
man who set foot in the Jail While there
was strong desire on the part of the mask
ed avengers to rid the earth of Atterbury,
no one of the crowd was willing to sacrifice
his own life IN storm!ng the jail. and the
sheriff was left master of the situation
The attack upon the Jail was the result of
the widest excitement, which has possessed
the town for week. 1t was originated by
the arrest of Atterbury on a charge of as
sault upon Mrs. Roxie Atterbury, his sister
in-law. The young man had been tracked
by bloodhounds. He was found Friday at
his home. and the people seemed to have
absolute confidence In the work of the dogs.
His guilt. far as they were concerned
was established.
brought to the Jail that secret notice was
sent to about fifty men. They were asked
to meet al the post office at midnight
There was nothing said as to the purpose of
the assembly but since there had been moth
ing else talked of in Sullivan for several
days. each member Of the mob knew the
desperate work at hand. The most tndig-
rant came early. and in the darkness they
clothes lines the housewives would find
Monday morning. They had brought enough
hemp to hang a regiment.
The leaders were disguised. Some wore
fantastic false faces ard others tied black
rags over their faces They held short
conference in the road. talking in whispers
that the marshal on the next corner might
not be compelled to notice what he had
promised not to see. Some one lamented the
abundance of rope and the scarcity of sledge
hammers. suggestion which sent a for
aging committee to the nearest smi.hy's
shop. A broken lock, and all the in,ple-
ments Of Il fully equipped Texas orga MIA
ton were at hand
A big man swung along at the head Of the
procession He rang the door bell of the
Jail and Sheriff Lansden looked out Of the
upper window to see the yard filed with
angry men. He demanded the reason of the
call. and the spokesman. who is known in
town. said the neishbors had come to avenge
the terrible wrong committed against
woman and the community The officer
begged them to dispense, urging that the ac-
complishment of their designs would onlv
add shame to the towns disgrace.
This speech had no effect The men sT,aut.
ed they would not await the progress Of the
slow wheels of justice. and for the first time
aa ins5 founiy a., wild mob threw itself
on the doors. and after five mintes the big
oak panels We're in splinters The iron bars
were forced The men then rushed into the
hail' ana. seeing Sheriff Lansden with a re-
VolVer at the top Of the stairs there was a
cry to storm the pass.
There was plunge in this direction. The
revolver clicked. and this brought the mob
to a standstill. 1t was announced that the
next step meant death to somebody, and in
the stampede the masks had fallen from
several faces. The sheriff began neminp
the members of the lynching party, and for
the first time their courage failed. The big
man advised postponement as Atterhury
begged from behind the bars that his nlea
of Innocence be accepted. There was much
muttering, but one by one the men skunk
away. ~