The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-09-16
RFoLK vIRGINIAN: THURSDAY SEPTEMBER l6. 1897
FIVE ON ONE TREE.
Indiana Citizens Visit Dire Punishment
@ on Thieves.

1hoiana CltizenS visit Dire Punishment
on Thieves.
Louisville, Ky, Sept. ia special to
the Evening Post from Osgood, Ind,
says:
1ncensed by numerous depredations,
repeated burSlarieS and daylight rob-
Deries, the people of Ripley county, Ind,
nave taken the law into their own hands,
and meted out to the perpetrators 4 pun
ishmsnt greater than provided for by the
law. Five men, who have long been a
terror to the citizens OF this county. met
their death ait their hanGs to-day. Stout
ropes not over six feet in length, had
served to send each to Ills eternity and
their feet were but u few inches from
the ground
versailles IS town Of eight hundred
people lit is one Of tile Oldest in the
State. and although it is five miles from
n railroad station and has no tele-
graphic communication with the ont
SIDE world, 1t is still the county seat.
ror iour or hve years, and even longer,
the farmers of the county have been the
victims OF lawless gang.
Durins the past week robberies had
increased alarmingly. On last Saturday
word was received by the Sheriff that
me store Of Wooley Bros, at Correct,
lnd., ten miles from here, was to be
entered
The information was given by one of
me gangs confederates who had been
under suspicion. Sheriff Henry Bush
ing arranged that his informant should
accompany them, and securing five de-
nuties' tney went to the place Sheriff
Bushins concealed himself in the cellar
While his deputies were stationed at a
convenient distance outside. Shortly
after midnight the gar,s rea ched Wooley
81 pros: store: Clifford Gordon and the
SheifHS $ informant were DESIGNATED to
break into the building Gordon him
se!l erected an entrance. and Just MS
no stepped inside the Sheriff grabbed
MIN. Both pulled pistols at the same
time and began firing. Bert Andrews
was with the robbers, and he. too, ioInod
~ ~ ne tusiiaae while the deputies came
10 nhe assistance of the Sheriff
me sheriff was shot through tho
hand and Gordon was shot several times
ihree pistol balls entered his body n nd
ne was also shot in the leg Gordon ans
andrews succeeded in escaping and
came TO Osgood. where they were ar
rested. The robbers had driven out to
the place In buggy belonging to Iiyle
nerl' ana from information subsequently,
Gathered, II was learned that the rob
perry had been planned at the home of
william Jennings. The two latter were
arrested as accessories. All were taken
to the jail at Versailles. Henry
Schulter, q years. was put In the Jail
Tor roobing the barber shop at Osgood
last week Levi was 81 years of age:
1oraon 22; Andrews 30 and Jennings 81
While the citizens have not been able
to fix the various robberics commit
ted upon these men. they. were thought
10 be part Of gang that has commit
TED most of them. When 1t became known
that they were in jail, 1t was whispered
Quietly by the victims and sympathizers
mat justice be summarily dealt the
prisoners. IT was one o'clock this
morning when horsemen seemed to come
from an quarters and dismounted, on a
nil side near Versailles. Little time
was lost, for the DEATHS had been ar
ranged. Quietly. about four hundred
men marched into town.
The jail was in charge Of William
kenan Sheriff Bushings brother-in-
law. the former being at home on ac-
count Of his injury. In front OF the Jail
proper Is the residence and in that were
acting jailer Kenan and Robert Barnett
William Block and Len Wenzcl. dep
uties.
Shortly before O'Clock there was n
knock at the door and when I[enan and
others opened It they were presented
with pistols by three masked men and
asked TO turn over the keys. This they
did and then the mob filed into the jail
Three of the prisoners, Levi, Jennings
ana Schulter were on the lower floor,
while Gordon and Andrews were in the
upper tier. Levi, Jennings and
Schulter showed fight and the former
was shot through the breast, while the
skulls Of the two latter were crushed
with n stool. Ropes We're in readiness.
and adjusting the moose around the neck
or each, their feet pinioned, and then
the march began.
They were not carried, but with sew
eral men at the end of each rope the
five prisoners were dragged q distance
OF 200 feet to tree. where their bodies
were suspended. Sit is said Levi Jen-
.ngs and Schulter were dead before
they reached the place. Death resulted
from hanging in the case Of Gordon
and Andrews. Justice of the Peace
Charles Loswell held an INQUEST over
the five bodies this morning.
CHICAGO NOT AFRAID.