The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-16
LYNCHED FIVE
VENGEANCE IN RIPLEY COUNTY ON
GANG OF OsGOOD ROBBERS.
Three of the Victims Murdered in the
Jail and All Five Dragged Naked
Through the Streets.
OLD ELM TREE FOR A GALLOWS
BODIES LEFT FOR VERSAILLES CIT
IZENs TO CUT DOWN,
while the Mob of 25o Horsemen, who
Did Their Work at Midnight,
Quietly Dispersed.
LYLE LEVI THE FIRST VICTIM
ONCE A MEMBER OF RITTENHOUsE
GANG OF COUNTERFEITERs.
Had Surrounded Himself with Des-
Derate Young Men, Who Ter
rorixed the Community.
GOV. MOUNTS PROMPT ACTION
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
MOORES SENT TO THE SCENE.
Complete History of the Lynched
Men and the Causes Leading
Up to the Tragedy.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

VERSAILLES, Ind. Sept. 15.-Five no.
torious characters in this county were taken
from the jail and lynched by a most deter
mined mob of probably 25O men at 12:45
o'clock this morning. Three of the men
were murdered in their cells for refusing to
surrender and their bodies were dragged to
an old elm tree along with the other two
and strung vp. The mobs terrible ven-
geance was executed because the men be-
longed to gang of robbers and had kept
LYLE LEVI, ex-counterfeiter, aged fifty
seven, an ex-soldier, shot through the
breast, then dragged to the tree and
hanged.
WILLIAM JENKINS, twenty-seven years
old skull crushed in with a stool, moose
put around neck, body dragged to the tree
and suspended.
HENRY SCHUETER, twenty-four years
and suspended
CLIFFORD GORDON. burglar, twenty
two years old, bound, dragged to the tree
and hanged.
ALBERT ANDREWS, burglar, thirty
years old, bound, dragged to the tree and
hanged.
Lyle Levi the first victim, shot in his cell,
belonged to the old Levi-Rittenhouse gang
of counterfeiters who had given the author
tiles trouble ever since the war. He had
been out of the penitentiary only a few
years. He was a widower and was an asso-
ciate of the younger members of the gang
at their balls and sporting events. His rig
was used by the robbers Saturday night
when they went from Osgood to Correct
to rob the Woolley store.
Henry Schueter, whose head was crushed
with club in his cell, had been in Jail for
burglarizing barber shop about ten days
ago. He had been in many difficulties and
was a typical terror, having a mean, cruel
disposition, and man always feared.
Clifford Gordon, the youngest of the gang,
was daring dangerous youth, who gloried
in being tool of the older and more des-
perate members of the gang. He had al
ready escaped several close calls, and was
suffering from wounds received during the
Saturday night affair.
William Jenkins who was also beaten to
death in his cell for showing resistance, had
married one of the Levi girls several years
ago and had been training with the gang
for some time. Before the Levi girls were
married their home was headquarters for
sporting men, and the beauty and accom-
plishments of the family fascinated men of
that class. The Lewis were natural-born
musicians.
Albert Andrews came of good family.
His father, Isaac Andrews. had fine war
record. He was shot five times through
the face, so that his features were much
disfigured, and he lived on his pension.
Young Andrews had been suspected of
working with the gang. but never arrested
until Saturday night. when he was wounded
with Clifford Gordon in the Correct burg
larry. His waywardness was the result of
association with the gang. and his parents
have the sympathy of the community All
the victims were from Osgood and all were
confined in the Jail for burglary. No muir
ders have been openly charged against
them.
A TERRORIZED COMMUNITY.
The sensational tragedy of last night is
the worst of several which have occurred
in southern Indiana in recent years. Moth
ing has ever attracted such crowds as
poured into Versailles to-day. All the vic
Tins were supposed to belong to an organ
lied band of thieves and highwaymen who
have been robbing and terrorizing the citi-
zens of Ripley county for a number of
years and whose headquarters were located
in the town of Osgood.
For years southern Indiana has been af-
fiicted with lawless gangs. The railways
and express companies broke up the dep
relations Of these gangs along their lines.