The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-09-22
FIVE MEN LYNcHED.
They Were Taken From Jail and
Hanged by a Mob.

!
county, and the mob was composed Of
citizens from Milan, Sunman and
/ other towns.
The mob on horseback entered the
town an hour after midnight and call
ed out Jailer kenan, who, upon refus-
ing to give up the keys, was overpOw-
cred. The mob soon pushed its way
into the cell rooms and in their impa-
tience first fired on the five prisoners
and then dragged them to tree, a
square from the jail door and strung
them up.
Andrews and Gordon had already
been wounded, having been shot sew
eral times while attempting to rob a
store at Correct last Saturday night
Shuler was in Jail for attempted bur
giary, ani Levi and jenkins had just
been indicted by the grand jury for
robbery. They had failed to give bond
and were put in Jail last evening. It
i thought that Levi and Shuier were
both dead from the shots fired by the
mob when taken out Of the Jail The
bandages that were on the wounded
men were found along the street where
they had been torn Off ~ the men were
dragged along.
Lyle Levi was an old soldier and
bore on his face wounds received dur
ing the civil war while fighting foT the
Union.
When the citizens of Versailles arose
this morning il was to find the bodies
Of the men dangling from as many
limbs Of an elm tree in the centre Of
the public square. Stout ropes, not
over six feet in length, had served 70
send each To his eterlity, aud their feet
We're but few inches from the ground,
while their hands and feet had been Sc
eureiy piniouei with stout ropes.
For four or five years the farmers of
the county have been the victims Of
lawless gang. Farmers would come
into town with a bunch Of cattle or
load of farm products and each morn
ing they would be found along the
roadside suffering from a wound and
minus the proceeds Of their sale. Old
German farmers have been visited,
and both men and women have been
subjected 10 all the t0rtures that a
hardened mind could invent. Aged
German women have been forced TO
stand upon a red hot stove in an effort
10 compel them 70 disclose the hiding
place Of the treasure in the house.
These depredations have continued IN
ceasingIy. Arrests have been made,
bat guilty parties had covered up their
lawlessness and it was seldom that
conviction followed.
Last Saturday word was received by
the sheriff that the store Of WOOley
Bros, at Correct, Ind, - miles from
here, was 10 be entered. The infOrmA-
tion was given by one Of the gangs
confeierates who had been under sus-
picion. Sheriff Henry Bushing az
ranged that his informant should ac-
company them, and, securing five dep
uties, they went to the place. Sheriff
Bushing concealed himse II in the eel
lar, while his deputies We're stationed
at ii convenient distance outside.
shortly after midnight the gang reach
ell WOOley's store. Clifford Gordon
and the sheriff-s informant were de-
signated TO break into the building.
Gordon himself effected an entrance
and just as he stepped inside the sher-
iff grabbed him. Both pulled pistols
at the same time aud began firing. Bert
Andrews was with the robbers and he,
too, joined in the fusillade, while the
deputies came 20 the assistance Of the
sheriff. Some thirty shots were fired,
the sheriff being shot through the
hand and Gordon was shot several
times. Three pistol balls entered his
body and he was also shot in the leg.
Gordon and Andrews succeeded in
escaping and went to OsgOOd, where
they We're arrested. The robbers had
driven out to place i'm buggy belong
ing to Lyle Levi, and from infOrma-
ton subsequently, gathered it was
learned that the robbery had been
planned st the home of William Jen-
kins. The two latter were arrested as
accessories. All were brought 70 Jail
here. Henry Sehulter, II years old,
was put to Jail for rObbing the barber
shop al Osgood last week. Levi was
81 years of age, Gordon -, Andrews 50
and Jenkins -.
While the citizens have not been
able TO fix the various rObberies upon
these men they were thought to be
part of gang that has committed most
of them. When it became known that
they were in Jail, it was suggested that
'justice" be summarily dealt the pris-
oners. 1t was O'clock this morning
when hOrsemen seemed TO come from
all quarters and dismounted on a hill
NCAS-AAAAC-- A4AA-AC AlAAlG " -
lost for the details had been prearrang-
ed. Quietly, about 100 men marched
into town.
TIE Jail was in charge OF William
Kenan, Sheriff Bushing's brOther-in-
law, the sheriff 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
Wenzel, deputies. Shortly before ,
o'clock there was knock ut the door,
and when Kenan and the Others open
eel the door they were con-
fronted by pistols held by three mask
ed men and asked to turn over the
keys. This they did and the mob
filed into the Jail. Three of the pris-
ohers, Levi, Jenkins and Shutter, were
on the lower floor, while Gordon and
Andrews were in the upper tier. Levi,
jenkins and Shutter showed fight and
the former was shot through the breast
while the skulls of tn two latter were
crushed with stool. Ropes were in
readiness, and adjusting a moose around
the neck of each, their feet and hands
were pinioned and then the march
began.
With several men at the end Of
each rope the five prisoners were drag
aan