The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-23

The Situation Described by President
Fisher, of Hanover College.
New York Independent.

New YORK independent.
MY home for nearly twenty years at Han
over College has been in an adjoining coun-
ty and within about forty miles of the re-
cent killing in Indiana, by an Infatuated
mob l call it purposely killing, because as
to the way in which the work was done 1t
was not the orderly hanging of criminals
by an unauthorized judge and jury and vol
unteer sheriffs, such as once was common
in California. Some of the victims of this
outbreak were first slaughtered, like so
many ferocious animals and then hanged.
The scene of this tragedy is not part
of the State that is remote from the centers
of population or lines of travel. Through
the country in which it occurred run two
of the main lines of the great railways of
the central West-the Cleveland, Cincn-
natl, Chicago & st. Louis, or big Four"
and the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern.
Versailles itself is about an hour and
half's ride from Cincinnati and from In
dianapolis. That region for the last TWEEN
ty-five years or more has not made much
progress in wealth or in population; 1t has
been in a somewhat stagnant condition.
Still it would be unjust to speak of it as
specially backward in what is commonly
called civilization. Under the fine system of
public schools characteristic of Indiana, it
provides moderately well for general edu-
cation. OF churches, especially of the Meth
odist and Baptist denominations, there is
a fairly good supply.
The population is the result largely of
more or less complete intermingling of two
widely different elements. Long ago, for
this region, there came into much of south
ern Indiana many representatives of the in
telligence and virtue of the Eastern and
Southern States-people who without great
wealth and many of the qualities most to be
desired in citizens anywhere. But another
stream OF immigration which made its way
hither consisted of the poor whites of Ken
lucky, Virginia and North Carolina. From
these have descended some of the best men
and women of Indiana. Others, however,
still retain a good many of the characters
tics for which that class in the South are
notorious.
Prima facie until this terrible affair oc-
Cured, such thing seemed no more prob
able here than in almost any other rural
region of the great States of Ohio, Indiana
or Illinois. At the same time it was not en-
tirely sudden outbreak of passion; events
were preparing the way for just such
horror; among these the following may be
mentioned as somewhat conspicuous:
l. That locality had been for a long time
terrorized by a gang of thieves and out
laws. These wretcheS had been guilty not
only of robbery of all grades but also Of a
brutality that had kindled the passion for
vengeance to boiling point. One of their
more recent barbarites had been the roast
ing of an old couple on hot stove, in order
to compel them to reveal the whereabouts
of their money.
2. The apparently ell-grounded convic-
ton that any one who appeared in court
or elsewhere, to testify against one of this
gang did so at the peril of property or life
1t may have been cowardly not to appear
even at such risk. 1t certainly was cow
ardly to put on disguise and kill without
mercy these criminals. But that the COM
munty had been terrorized is conceded
3. On the line of one of the railways run
ning through this locality and not very
remote IRON II, years ago a similar gang
had been lynched, and that community has
since been Tree from such a ombination Of
criminals. That example is vivdly remem-
bered over much of southern Indiana
4. A lack of confidence in the efficiency
of the courts to enforce the laws against
crime AS to this there is, perhaps no
worse state of things here than elsewhere
in the country at large. But it is notorious
that some of our best laws-such as tho
Nicholson liquor lawn many places are
not even honored with an attempt at en-
forcement In other cases wrongdoers,
though put upon trial, manage too fire.
quently to escape just punishment. The
people in this instance were not willing to
risk the delays and uncertainties of a trial,
even If they had dared to appear as wit
neSseS.
Concerning this lynching, the sentiment of
the people is divided, very much as 1t would
be almost anywhere else. The Governor is
doing all in his power to secure the arrest
and punishment of the perpetrators of this
horror. A very large minority of the
thoughtful people of the State, and not
few in this general region, speak out bold
ly in denunciation of what has been done.
So far as l know, every leading newspa-
per of the State has unequivocauy taken
this attitude. But, if a vote were polled on
the basis of universal suffrage my observa-
ton leads me to think that the majority
would either be silent without reflection
say to the mob, we'll done My opinion, also
is that the same would be true in a large
part of the United States under similar cir
cunStances. 1t is, therefore highly improb-
able that a grand jury can be impaneled
that will bring in indictment of the
lynchers, or that, If an indictment Is found
conviction is possible.
All this l personally regret, and do not
hesitate TO express my views openly. 1t in
dcates a bad state of public sentiment as to
law and order, no worse, however In In
diana than in much of the country. IL is a
serious retrogression as to civilization. 1t
| is also a perilous situation. The best man
| in a community may be lynched though in
nocent of crime provided circumstances are
! with the commission Of certain offenses spe-
| cally adapted TO arouse the passions of the
multitude 1t is in the general region where
| this lynching occurred question much
mOoted whether at Least two of the victims
| of this mob were really members Of the
/ gang which had terrorized the community
or even We're more than comparatively
| petty offenders. Certainly the mob could
! not have been sure on these points.