Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-09-16
STRUNG Up BY AN INDIANA MOB FOR
ROBBERY.
AN OUTRAGED PoPULAcE RISES.
DETERMINES TO PIT AN END TO
LAwLEssNEss.
Three of the Victims Slain I'm Jail and
Hanged With the other Two to
the Limb of Tree-others
May he Treated IN
Like Manner.

the most exciting day in the history of this
city. The bodies of five men who had been
lynched during last night were found hang
ing TO the same tree near the Jail this
morning. This caused such n sensation Ill
the city that it readily spread throughout
the country. and no occasion ever attract
ed such crowds to the city.
For years Southern Indiana has been af-
fiicted with lawlesS gangs. The railroads
and express companies broke up the depre-
datiors of these gangs along their lines,
and latterly they have preyed upon the
citizens. The citizens have taken the law
into their own hands in this locality be-
fore, but never to such an extent as TO
day. The Reno brothers were lynched to--
gether at Seymour, Ind, twenty years ago.
and the Archer gang. three in number,
were strung up together at Shoals, Ind,
twelve years ago. There have been numer-
Gus lynchings of one at time, but the
JOB lot of five to-day breaks the record.
Versailles is 4 town of some 500 people.
II is one of the oldest in the state, and
although it is five miles from a railroad
station and has no telegraphic commttif-
cation with the outside world, as have
more pretentious towns of the county, IT
is still the county seat. For four or-/fve<
years, and even longer. the farmers~f
the county have been the victims Of a
lawless gang. who. apparently lacking in
fear, have piled their vocation to the
terror of the people, for they seemingly
have had no visible means of earning a
living
That an unusual state of feeling existed
is shown by the determination Of the mob
which led it to the ferocity OF Iirst killing
three of the men in the Jail and then drag
ging the living and dead together and
hanging them to the same tree. 1t is nota-
Bile. too, that no outrage that usually
r6uses mob,s vengeance-no murder-Nas
death was decreed because during the past
week robberies had increased alarmingiy.
On last Saturday word was received by the
Correct Ind, ten miles from here was to
be entered. The Information was given by
been under suspicion Sheriff Henry Bush
ing arranged that his informant should
company them, and, securing five deputies.
concealed himself in the cellar, while his
deputies Were stationed at convenient
distance outside. Shortly after midnight
Clifford Gordon and the sheriff's informant
were designated to break into the building.
just as he stepped inside, the sheriff
grabbed him. Both pulled pistols at the
was with the robbers. and he too, Joined
In the fusillade. while the deputies came 10
the assistance of the sheriff. Some thirty
through the hand and Gordon was shot
several times. Three pistol balls entered
IA AnSrews ; u succeeded in e escaping @ e and and came
to Osgood,, where be was arrested. The
robbers had driven out to the place in
formation subsequently gathered it was
learned that the robbery had been planned
at the home of William Jenkins. The two
latter were arrested as accessories: All
were taken to the jail at Versailles Henry
Schuler, "a years old, was put in the Jail
for robbing the barber shop at osgood last
xarac plI nrlp
Ansoms 30 and Jenkins q.
While the citizens have not been able to
fix the various roberries upon these men,
they were thought to be Nart of gang
that has committed a host OF them. When
it became known that they were in Jail it
sympathizers that Justice" be summarily
dealt the prisoners. ...-.--
1t was o'clock this morning when horse
dismounted on a hillside near Versailles.
Little time was lost, for the details had
been prearranged. Quietly about 400 men
marched into the town.
The Jail was in charge of William Keen
an. Sheriff Bushings brother-in-law. the
latter being. at home on account of his
injury. In front of the Jail proper is the
residence, and in that were Acting Jailer
Keenan, and Robert Barrett, William Block
and Wensett. deputies. ..
Shortly before 2 O'Clock there was
knock at the door. and when Keenan, and
with pistols by three masked men, and
asked to turn over the keys. This they
did, and then the mob filed into the iaii
Three of the prisoners; Levi. Jenkins and
Schuler were on the lower floor. while
Gordon and Ansoms were in the upper tier.
Levi. Jenkins and Schuler showed. fight,
breast, while the skulls of the two latter
were crushed with a stool. Ropes were in
readiness, and, adjusting moose around
the neck of each, their feet and hands
were pinioned, and then the march began.
They were not carried. but with several
men at the end of each rope. the five pris-
dragged n distance cot
to an elm tree, where their bodies were
suspended. II is said Levi. jenkins and
place. Death resulted from hanging in the
case of Gordon and Ansoms. Justice of
the Peace Charles Loswell held an inquest
over the five bodies this morning.
None of the citizens seem TO deplore the
action of the mob, but. on the contrary.
the hanging of three or four other mem
bers of the gang is being talked of.
Troops have been asked for. but the .citi-
zens say they are not wanted.
Tonight, Marshal John f. Tyler, with
twenty-five deputies. is alert against any
possible surprise, and every road running
into town is picketed with wideawake men.
This precaution is not taken in anticipa-
The danger apprehended is from another
quarter-the friends of the lynched men.
No private citizen of Versailles. probably,
has reason to fear personal violence: the
danger dreaded is arson. The buildings
said to be marked for destruction are the
jail and court house. The public officers
is why this little city is disturbed tonight
and under the closest guard. If trouble
occurs, 1t is expected from Osgood which
the people of Versailles say is the head
quarters of the band whose depredations
have been so widespread and which is the
home of those who Were last night so
ruthlessly rushed into eternity. The feel
ing between the two places is of the bit
terest and opinions expressed here tonight
are that there are plenty of people in Os-
good who deserve the same fate as the
five dangling from trees this morning
OF the many hundreds seen to-day at
this place, residents and visitors, not one
was heard to express n word of condenna-
tion OF last nights work. The people of
Versailles declare that the lynchers were
l. all non-residents. and that not a man liv-
ing in or near town had any hand in the
slaughter. There is general undercur-
% rent of approval of the deed and II is said
anyone who took part.
The coroners inquest began to-day. 1t
was conducted on lines of strict formality
and the verdict will be that the five men
came TO their death at the hands of a mob.
the members of which are unknown
from the Jail and lodged at the hotel under
guard. After McMillen had been released.
Kelly was the sole occupant of the cell
part of the Jail He is only il years old
and the horrors of last night so proved nm,
on his mind that he was overcome by ner-
keenan,, begged piteously to be taken out
for the night. The matter was referfed
to Circuit Judge New. who gave the de-
sired order.
GOVERNOR MOUNT TALKS.
snrs Every Effort VIII Re Put Eor,,,