The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-09-18
FIVE MEN LYNCHED.
Citizens OF Ripley County, Ind.
Shoot and Hang Prisoners
The Victims OF the Mob Were Accused
OF Burgiaries-IIow They Were
Capturcd-Gov. Mount Takes
Prompt Action.

Osgood, Ind, Sept. l6. - Incensed by
numerous depredations, repeated bur
glaries and daylight robberies. the peo-
pie of Ripley county, Ind, have taken
tit law into their own hands. and melted
out 10 the perpetrators a punishment
greater than provided by the law. Five
men, who have long been terror TO the
citizens Of this county, met their death
at the hands Of the enraged populace.
and when the citizens of Versailles. the
county seat, arose Wednesday il was TO
find the bodies of five men dangling
from as many limbs Of an elm tree in
the center OF the public square.
Versailles is a town or some 500 peo-
pie. IL is one OF the Oldest in the state,
and, although il is five miles from rail-
road station and has no Geographic
communication with the outside world,
as have more pretentious towns OF the
county, il is still the county seat. For
four or five years, and even longer, the
farmers OF the county have been the
victims of n lawless gang, who, appar-
emily lacking in fear, have piled their
vocation TO the terror OF the people,
for they seemingly have had no visible
means of earning living.
During the past week robberies had
increased alarmingly. On last Satur-
day word was received by the sheriff
that the store OF Wooley Brothers 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 in
formant should accompany them, and
securing Eve deputies they went 10 the
place and captured, after severe
struggle in which the sheriff was shot
In the hand, Clifford Gordon. Henry
Shutter, William Jenkins, Lyle Levi and
Bert Andrews, and placed them in Jail
az Versailles
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 had committed host of
them. When il became known that
they were in Jail, il was quietly sug-
gestcd by the victims and sympathzcrs
that Justice" be summurily dealt
the prisoners. IL was one o'clock
Wednesday morning when horsemen
seemed to come from all quarters and
diSmounted on hillside near Yer
sailles. Little time was lost, for the
details had been pre-arrangcd Quiet
" about 400 men marched into town.
The jail was i'm charge OF William
Kenan, Sheriff Bushng's brother-in-
law. the former being AZ home on me-
count of his injury. The front of the
jail proper is the residence. and ia that
we're Acting Jailer Kennn and Robert
Barrett William Black and Wensett,
deputies.
Shortly before three o'clock there
was a knock az the door. and when
Ktnan 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, and then
the mob fled into the Jail. Three OF
the prisoners. Levi, Jenkins and Shul-
ter. were on the lower floor. while Cor
don and Andrews were in the upper
tier. Levi and Jenkins and Shut
ter showed fight, and the for
mer was shot through the breast,
while the skulls of the two lat
ter were crushed with a stool. Ropes
were in readiness, and. adjusting
moose around the neck OF each, their
feet and hands We're 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 dis
lance of 200 feet 10 an elm tree. where
their bodies were suspended IL Is
said Levi. Shutter and Jenkins were
dead before they reached the place.
Death resulted from hanging in the
case OF Gordon and Andrews. Justice
OF the Peace Charles Loswell held an
inquest over the five bodies Wednesday
morning.
indianapolis, Ind. Sept. 16.-Gov.
Mount has sent the following TO the
sheriff Of Ripley county:
Wire me az once the particulars OF
iynching that has occurred In your coun-
~ / further direct that you proceed Inn
command 10 bring 70 justice all parties
guilty OF participating In the murder OF
the 1--WE men alleged 20 have been lynched.
Such lawlessness Is intolerable. and all
the power OF the state. II necessary Will
be vigorously employed for the arrest and
punishment Of all parties implicated
''(Signed) JAMES A. MOUNT.
Governor"