Rock Island Argus., 1897-09-16
lAWLESSS LyNCHtRS
Write a Black Page in the Current
sz History Of the State Of
General Harrison,
STRUNG UP P0R BEING SUSPECTS.
Five Men Taken from Jail in a Town
Where Court Was in Session
and Barbarously Killed.

Three Shot Before Leaving the Jail and All
Literally Dragged Along the Ground to .
Tree - Outlawry well-Planned by the
Presumably Rest Citizens THE Voice
Of One Of Them Recognised, Which May
Help Governor Mount to Punish Them,
- He Earnestly Desires.
Versailles. Ind. Sept. 1S.-Five men
in Jail here for completely in the at
tempted robbing Of store at Correct.
when the robbers were met by a sher-
IFS posse and baffied, one Of the rob-
bers and the sheriff being wounded
were hanged by a mob Tuesday night
in this place, because they were "sus-
pected" Of being part Of the gang that
has been committing all sorts Of crime
except murder in this region for months
past. The names of the dead men are:
Lyle Levi. aged So: William Jenkins.
Bert Andrews, 80. and Cliff Gordon. 21;
all residents of Osgood, three miles
away. Two persons were left in the Jail,
Charles Kelly. aged IA. for burglary.
and Arthur McMillen, for carrying con-
cealed weapons. The latter was let out
last night on bond. McMillen says
three of the prisoners were killed in
the Jail and one of the others almost
killed there. The mob came very near
taking McMiilen out. Deputy Jailer
William E. Herman, and Guard William
Black, faced the mob Tuesday night
and were quickly disarmed and locked
in a cell while the work of slaughter
was done.
One Mob May Beget Another.
Marshal John E. Tyler with twenty
five deputies, Is alert against any pos
sible surprise, and every road running
into town is picketed with wide awake
men. This precaution is not taken in
anticipation of a second visit by the
lynchers. The danger apprehended is
from another quarter, the friends of the
1ynched men. No private citizen Of
Versailles probably has reason to fear
personal violence; the danger dreaded is
arson. RumOrs abound of threats on
the part of the friends Of the men who
were mobbed to even UP matters by
means of the torch. The buildings said
to be marked for destruction are the
Jail and court house. The public Off
GERS are also subjects of these threats.
That is why this little city is under
close guard.
Town War Not an Unlikely Thing
If trouble comes it is expected from
Osgood. which the people of Versailles
say is the headquarters of the band
whose depredations have been wide
spread, and which is the home of those
who were Tuesday night so ruthlessly
rushed into eternity. The feeling be-
tween the two places is Of the bitterest.
and the opinion expressed here is that
there are plenty of others in Osgood
who deserve the same fate as the five
found dangling tolimbs yesterday morn
ing. OF the many hundreds seen yes
terday at this place, residents and
visitors, not one was heard to express
word Of condemnation Of Tuesday
nights work. The people Of Versailles
declare that the lynchers were all nom
residents, and that not a man living
in or near the town had any hand in
the slaughter.
Deed Is Generally Approved.
There is general undercurrent Of ap-
proval of the deed and it Is said that no
effort will be made to apprehend any
one who took part. The coroner's in
quest began yesterday and will be conn
pleted today. 1t was conducted on lines
Of strict formality and the verdict will
be that the five men came to their
death at the hands of a mob the men,
bers of which are ,,pkpoup