The times., 1897-09-16

Versailles, Ind, Sept. l5.-This com
muuity is greatly excited tonight over the
brutal iy nchlng 3f five men early this morn
ing who were confined In the county Jail
here FOR robbery. The Iynching was at
tended by unprecedented brutality. The
affair was the elimination OF series Of
robberies that have been going on in tue
county for three months. Farmers Were
robbed almost nightly. stores broken opeli
and women we've confronted by armed and
masked men and Robbed in broad day
light.
some Ten days ago, Sheriff Ba>hing was
informed by one OF The men under sus-
piciou that store at Correct, this
county was 70 lie robbed on Saturday
night, and he arranged with the suspect 10
accompany the robbers. He and several
deputies hiu themselves in and about the
sore, ana when the burglars appeared
hegrabb sdnneOftheu, and desperatefight
ensued. The sheriff was shot through the
hand ana one OF the burglars, who proved
TO ue Clifford Gordon, was shot through the
body. Berl Andrews was also recognized
and though be and Gordon escaped, they
'f 49, 40 ," A4' At.'iflA " s4a
planned stbe house Of William Jenkins, and
both OF the men Were arrested as ac-
completes. Henry ShuEer arrested for
robbHg barber shop, and L;le Levi
were also IL iaiI w hen the utuer men were
PLACED uaceT arrest.
There was great indignation aga inst
Tile prisoners and threats Of lyuching
were made.
10 provide three deputies 20 guard the
jail he was suffering with his wounded
hand aud was not On duty du1ng the
day or night, and Deputy Kenan was
placed ia charge of the deputies.
The deputies Were asleep when the
denouemeut came. About ] O'Clock sew
.ral persons saw a large crowd af men
assembling near the town limits and
when one man started TO give the alarm
he found that guards had been thrown
out in eli directions and that it was i'm
possible TO get into the town. For half
an hour or more the arrivals We're steady
and at the end OF that time more tina "a
200 men were on the scene. There was
a short cons ultation and the mob divided
and apprua ched the jan from four sides.
When within fifty feet the main body
halted, and twelve or fifteen advanced
towards the jail under the leadership Of
tau nan. These men wore masks, but
the uaIR body took no pains 70 conceal
Their faces.
when the leader reached the door Of
the she-irfs office he tapped gently
and the knock was responded TO by
Deputy Kenan.
when he opened the door a revolver
was showed under his nose and the door
was pushed open and the twelve meE
entered 1t was but the work OF mo-
menU 10 disarm the deputies, who were
ternorlzcd bs having a dozen revolveri
presented at them. One OF the mob
showed his hand in the depUty's pocket
and got the keys. The deputies were then
left under 3 guard Of four men and the
moi rushed FOR the jail
in a trice they had entered Levi
jenkins, and ShUlter We're on the main
floor IN a tier Of cells, and Gordon and
Andrews were in cells in the tier above
Three maH were ierked out. One OF
them struck a member Of the mob and
tried 10 get 20 the door. This appcar red
TO iHfHuate the mob aud they beat The
man into inscnibility with the butts oI
their pistols, one Of them using a stone
which he picked up at the door. Several
pistol shots were fired and Levi was