The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-27
WOMEN SPECTATORS CHEERED
WHEN RAYMOND BUsHROD PAID THE
PENALTY FOR OUTRAGE.
Hanging Took Place Within a stones
Throw of Four Churches, and
No Attempt to Interfere.


dred infuriated people, Raymond Bushrod,
negro, this afternoon at o'clock was made
to pay the penalty of his assault on four
teen-year-old Maggie Roberts. He was
swung from limb in the courthouse yard.
Bushrod was from Rockport, Ind.
Several months ago he was taken in and
treated kindly by Willis Clark, a farmer in
the upper part Of the county, only to be-
tray Clark and steal his watch. For this
he was released two weeks ago from the
county Jail, after having served a sentence
of 156 days. He was in town yesterday. and
drinking. In the afternoon he set out afoot,
going west on the Texas Railroad. Three
miles below town, near Petn Station, he
encountered poor, little, defenseless Mag
gle Roberts, daughter of Ben Roberts, a
prominent farmer. He ran her down, as
saulting her in brutal manner. In addi-
ton to this he beat and bruised her with
an iron coupling pin and left her on the
railroad grade to die.
The news of the revolving outrage spread
and searching parties We're sent in every
direction. Guards were sent to every skiff
| for twenty miles, and his escape to Indiana
| was well nigh impossible. Failing in his
attempt to cross at Tell City, he made
back over the railroad, and was captured
in hiding under the waiting station at FAl-
con, a mining town four miles below the
| scene of the crime. Bushrod fell in with a
fortunate crowd of four, who brought him
quietly to Hawesville and surrendered him
to the jailer while the town was deserted
searching for him. In the meantime the Of
ficers got wind of the mob, and he was Sc
cretly guarded in the graveyard on the hill
until this morning, when he was again
| locked up. But the people had been deter
mined all day. Early they came afoot on
horseback in wagons and in trains. They
We're impatient for darkness to cover the
ground. 1t was rumored that the militia
would arrive at 4:4O o'clock from Owensboro
| for his protection. The angry crowd would
not stand this, and they placed trusty SEN
tinels on the hill overlooking to give sign
if the train bore such protection.
| They failed to come, but at this time the
officers thought it opportune to play a ruse,
tc believe that he had escaped from behind
and hot pursuit followed. The trail was
| followed only square when the broad open
attempt to spirit Bushrod over the hills
and out of town was discovered. A few
well-chosen guards, however, stayed at the
| JAIL and he was brought out the mob
formed in front and the officers were made
| to yield. The excitement at this time was
intense. Cannelton, Ind, just across the
river had outpoured on the town, and
promptly at 5 o'clock the march to the
court square, but a few steps away was
begun. Hating in front of a great shady
poplar, with limbs and twigs overhanging
the most public street in town, it was de-
! cided to have the execution at that spot.
! Some delay was caused for want of a rope,
but directly brand new half-inch plow line
was furnished and everything was in readi-
ness for the first lynching in Hancock
/ county
In the meantime Bushrod was given an
opportunity for confession and prayer. His
confession was complete. He stated that
he was guilty, and this the third Of
| fense, one successful effort having been
made upon his sixty-year-old aunt After
Offering up his last supplication, a long and
! fervent prayer on bended knee, the signal
to haul away was given, and, with pinoned
arms behind and legs beneath, he was
The applause as he went up was deafening
1t only showed the determination of the
people.
| In about four minutes he was pronounced
dead and Coroner Mitchell, viewing the
! body, cut it down and summoned a jury.
whose verdict was that Bushrod came to
his death at the hands of unknown parties
During the day. and at the critical time
the county officials did what they could for
the prisoners protection. but public opin-
ION was too well defined. Judge Adair ad-
vised with Circuit Judge Owen by tele-
| phone, but nothing practical came of it,
Identification of the accused was complete
He was taken before the girl last night
and no doubt remained. -Four others also
added their strength to the Identification
Thus does this quiet sleepy little village
| beat all lynch records.
on Sunday unmasked. on the public
square of county seat. not a drunken man
and not a pistol fired, a man is hung, and
all in stones throw of four churches
After the lynching the mob leader, an In
diana man. made little talk in which he
pointed to the gruesome corpse. saying
Here's the protection we offer our wives
and daughters"
After great deal of curiosity was graft
fed the crowd and mob quietly dispersed
! and there are not tonight three men in