New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-16
FIVE LYNCHED IN INDIANA.
CITIZENS OF RIPLEY COUNTY TAKE THE
LAW IN THEIR OWN HANDS.
THE VICTIMS GUILTY OF RoBBERTEs AND DEPRE-
DATroNarot-R HUNDRED MEN MARCH ON
THE JArr-PRoMPr ACTION BY
coyrpNOR MOUNT.
GOVERNOR MOUNT.

GOVERNOR MOUNT.
Versailles. Ind Sept 15-Incansed by numer-
Gus dcpl edations. burglares and daylight ROD
berries, the people Of Ripley County have taken
the law into their own hands. FIVE men WHO
have long beel terror to the citizens OF 'his
county were lynched here last night. lhs
IS the county seat and town of eight hundred
people It Is one Of the Oldest towns In the
State. but It is five miles from a railroad sta
tlon, and has 10 telegraph office. For -FOUR OF
1--WE years the farmers of the county have been
the victims OF a lawless gang whose depreda-
tions have continued increasingly. Arrests nave
been made. but the guilty men have covered up
their Iawlessness. and II was seldom that con-
viction followed. On Saturday last word was re-
ceived 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 under sus-
picion Sheriff Henry Bushing. with his in
formant and Ave deputies. went to the place.
Shortly after midnight the gang reached the
store Clifford G. Gordon and the Sheriffs In
formant were designated to break into the build
ing Gordon effected an entrance. and just as
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 OF the
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 Andrews succeeded in es-
Gaping and came to Osgood. where they were ar
rested. 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 10
the jan at Versailles. Henry Shutter was put In
the jail for robbing the barber shop at Osgood
last week.
While the citizens were not able 20 fix the
various robberles upon these men, they were
thought to belong to tho gang that has commit
ted most OF them. When II became known tha'
they were In Jail. II quietly suggested ny the
victims and sympathizers that Justice be sum
marily dealt out 10 the prisoners Al O'CLOCK
this morning horsemen seemed TO come from all
quarters and dsmounted on n hillside near Ner'
sailles and soon about four hundred men
marched into the town The jail In charge
q, William Kenan. Sheriff Bushng's brother-ln'
law In front Of the jail proper Is the residence
and in that were Acting Jailer Kenan and ROBERT
Barnett. William Block and Len Wenzel. depu-
tics Shortly before O'Clock there was knock
q, rho door and when Kenan and others opened
the door they were face 10 face win piS'ols
held bv three masked men, who asked th'ih -
turn over the keys. This they dln anu "''" '''
mob fled into the jail. ,t ,d
Three Of the prisoners-LcVi jenkins an
chul,er-yera on the lower floor while 'I"ru"h
md Andrews we're In the upper tier. Levi jon
kIns ard Shutter showed ngct. ana N" I",'r
was shot through the breast while the AkuIIs
% the two others were crushed win IL S'o"A
pones were in readiness and Adjusting hoose
around the neck Of each and pinionns theit i'v'
and hands was the work or rev thihu'eS' W.
several men Mt the end Of each rope. the tNt
nrisoncrs we're dragged two hundred feet TO an
elm tree whore their bodies were snspehp"l
ie eaid that Levi Jenkins and shutter were dead
before they reached the place. Just'e 81 u'c
Peace Charles I,oswell held an inquest over ulc
0,.e bodies this morning. Lew was Hl'E-S'N'H
years old Andrews thirty-four, jenkins t"'HtE
seven Shutter twcnty-four ana '"fd"h twenty
two. ~, - =. !,
None of the citizens OF Versailles seem 10 de-
rIora the action Of the mob. but, on the c"H-
.rorv the hanging Of three or four more mem
hnrs of the gang tonight is being talked of. NO
troons have been asked for. and the citizens say
they are not wanted.
Indianapolis Sept 15.-Govern"r Mount mas
sent the following 10 the Sheriff OF Ripley
countv. 'yVire me at once the particulars OF
lvncbing that has occurred in your county. /
further direct that you proceed Immediately
with all the power you can command TO bring 20
Justice all parties guilty OF participation ~ the
murder Of the five men alleged 10 nave pc'u
| Ivnched Sucn lawlessncss IL intolcrable ana
all the mower Of the State. II necessary, VIII be
vigorously employed FOR the arrest ana PUNISH
| ment OF all parties implicated.