The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-29
FIVEPRISONERS LYNCHED
Mob Of Indiana Farmers Take Re-
venge For Robberies.
GUNS AWED THE JAllERS,

The Men Were Held in Versailles
Ind, For Robbery-The Farmers Had
Been the Victims of the Thieves For
q Long Time-Jail Raided Easily
The Men Beaten, Shot and Hanged.
VERSAILLES, Ind. Especially by
numerous depredations, burglaries ana
daylight rob5eries, the people OF Ripley
County have taken the law into their own
hands. Five men who have long been a
terror to the citizens Of this county were
lynched here Wednesday night. This Is the
county seat and town Of eight hundred
people. 1t Is one Of the oldest towns
in the State, but it Is five miles
from railroad station, and has
no telegraph office. For four or
Ave wears the farmers Of the county have
been the victims Of lawless gang whose
depredations have continued increasingly.
Arrests have been made, but the guilty men
have covered up their lawlessness, and 1t
was seldom that conviction followed. On
Saturday last 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 gang who had been un-
der suspicion. Sheriff Henry Bushing,
with his informant and five deputies, went
to the place. Shortly after midnight the
gang reached the store. Clifford G.. Cor
don and the Sheriff's informant were desig-
mated to break into the building. Gordon
effected an entrance, and justa he stepped
inside the Sheriff grabbed him. Both pulled
pistols and began firing. Bert Andrews,
who was with the robbers, joined In the
fusillade, while the deputies came to the
assistance ofthe Sheriff.
The Sheriff was shot through the hand
and Gordon was shot several times. Three
pistol balls entered his body, and he was
also wounded in the leg. Gordon and An
drews succeeded in escaping and came to
Osgood, where they were arrested. The
robbers had driven out to the place In
buggy belonging to Lyle Levi, and 1t was
learned that the robbery had been planned
at the home OF William jenkins, Levi and
Jenkins were arrested as accessories. All
were taken to the Jail at Versailles. Henry
Shutter was put in the jail for robbing the
barber shop at Osgood last week.
While the citizens were not able to fix the
various robberies upon these men, they
were thought to belong to the gang that
has committed most OF them. When 1t be-
came known that they were In jail, 1t was
quietly suggested by the victims and SYM
pathizers that "justice" be summarily dealt
out to the prisoners. At ! O'Clock a. m.
horsemen seemed to come from all quarters
and dismounted on O hillside near Yer
sailles, and soon about four hundred men
marched into the town.
Shortly before2 O'Clock there was knock
at the door, and when the jailer opened the
door he was face to face with pistols held
by three masked men, who asked him to
turn over the keys. This he did, and
then the mob fled into the Jail.
Three of the prisoners-Levi, jenkins
and Shulter-were on the lower floor, while
Gordon and Andrew were in the upper
Tier. Levi, jenkins and Shutter showed
fight, and the former was shot through the
breast, while the skulls Of the two others
were crushed with a stool. Ropes were
In readiness, and adjusting a moose
around the neck Of each ano pin
Joining their feet and hands was
the work of few minutes. With
several men at the end OF each rope, the
five prisoners were dragged two hundred
feet to an elm tree, where their bodies
were suspended. 1t is said that Levi,
jenkins and Shutter were dead before they
reached the place. Levi was flfty-seven
years old, Andrews thirty-four, Jenkins
twenty-seven, Shutter twenty-four and
Gordon twenty-five.