The record-union., 1897-09-16
Were Caught in the Act of Rohhing a
Store.
For Years Farmers About Ver-
sailles Had Been the Victims OF
Numerous Robberies and Final
ly Took the Law Into Their
Own Hands, Melting Out Sum-
mary Justice.

pie OF Ripley County, lnd., nave TAKEN
the law into their own hands and meted
out to the perpetrators punishment
greater than provided by law
Five men, who have long been a ter
ror to the citizens of this county, met
their death at the hands of an en-
ragged populace.
When the citizens of Versailles, the
county seat, arose this morning they
found the bodies Of five men dangling
from as many limbs of an elm tree in
the center of the public square.
Stout ropes not over six feet in length
had served to send each to his eternity.
Their feet We're but a few inches from
the ground, while their hands and feet
had been securely pinioned with a
strong rope.
Versailles is town of some SUO peO-
pie. 1t is one of the Oldest in the State,
and, although it is five miles from q
railroad station and has no telegraphic
communication with the outside world,
as have more pretentious towns of the
county, it is still the county seat.
For four or five years, and even
longer, the farmers of the county have
been the victims of a lawless gang,
who, apparently lacking in fear, have
piled their vocation to the terror Of the
people, for they seemingly have had no
visible means of earning a living.
Farmers would come into town with
q bunch of cattle or load of farming
products, and the next morning they
would be found along the roadside suf-
fering from a wound and minus the
proceeds of their sale.
Old German farmers have been visit
ed, and both men and women have
been subjected to all the tortures that
a hardened mind could devise. Aged
German women have been forced to
stand upon a red hot stove in an effort
TO compel them to disclose the hiding
place of some treasure in the house.
These depredations have continued
increasingly. Arrests have been made,
but the guilty parties had covered up
their Iawlessness, and it was seldom
that conviction followed arrest.
During the past week robberies had
increased alarmingly. Saturday word
was received by the Sheriff that the
store of WOOley Bros. at Correct, Ind,
ten miles from here, was to be entered.
The information was given by one of
the gangs confederates, who had been
under suspicion.
Sheriff Henry Bushing arranged that
his informant should accompany him.,
and, securing five deputies, they went
TO the place. Sheriff Bushing concealed
himself in the cellar, while his depu-
ties were stationed at a convenient dis
tance outside.
Shortly after midnight the gang
reached Wooley Bros store. Clifford
Gordon and the Sheriff's informant
were designated to break into the
building. Gordon himself effected an
entrance, and just as he stepped inside
the Sheriff grabbed him. Both pulled
pistols at the same time and began fir
ing.
Bert Andsome was with the robbers,
and he too, began fusillade, while
the deputies came to the assistance of
the Sheriff Some thirty shots were
fred. The Sheriff was 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 Andsome succeeded in
escaping and come to OsgoOd, where
they were arrested The robbers had
driven out to the place in a buggy be-
longing to Lyle Levi, and from infOr-
nation subsequently gathered it was
learned that the robbery had been
planned at the home of William Jenk-
ins. The two latter were arrested as
accessories All were taken to the Jail
at Versailles.
Henry Shutter a years of age, was
put in Jail for robbing the barber shop
at Osgood last week. Levi was 81
years old, Gordon %, Andsome 80 and
Jenkins y.
While the citizens have not been able
to fix the various robberies upon these
men, they were thought to be part of a
gang that has committed a host Of
them. When it became known that
they We're in Jail, it was quietly sug-
gested by the farmers that Justice be
summarily dealt to the prisoners"
1t was / o'clock this morning when
the mob seemed to come from all
quarters and dismounted on a side
bill near Versailles. Very little time
was lost, as details had been prear-
ranged. About 400 men marched into
the town.
Kenan, Sheriff Bushing's brother-in-
law, the former 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
Barrett, William Block and Wensett,
deputies.
Shortly before 2 o'clock there was a
knock at the door, and when Kenan
and the others opened the door they
were presented with pistols by three
masked men and asked to turn over
the keys. This they did. Then the mob
filed into the jail.
Three of the prisoners Gevi, Jenkins
and Shulter) were on the lower floor,
while Gordon and Andsome We're in the
upper tier. Levi, Jenkins and Shutter
showed fight. Levi was shot through
the breast, while the skulls of the two
latter were crushed with a stool Ropes
were in readiness A moose was ad-
justed around the neck Of each man,
their feet and hands were pinioned and
then the march began.
They were not carried, but with sew
eral men at the end Of each rope the
five prisoners were dragged a distance
of 200 feet to an elm tree, where their
bodies were suspended. 1t is said Levi.
Jenkins and Shutter were dead before
they reached the place. Death result
ed from hanging in the cases of Gordon
and Andsome
Justice Of the Peace Charles Loswel