The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-09-16
ROBBERS TRAPPED
While Looting a storo-NIany Shots EI.
changed DeTore They were Captured.

changed ueforo Ehey were Naplufo"'
LOUISVILLE, KY, Sept ia spe-
clal to the Evening Post from osgood,
Ind, says:
Incensed by numerous depredations,
repeated burglarles and daylight rob-
berries, the people of Ripley county, Ind.
have taken the law into their own
hands, and meted out to the perpetra-
tors a punishment greater than provid-
ed by the law. Five men. who have long
been a terror to the citizens OF this
county, met their death at the hands OF
nm enraged populace and when the clti-
zens OF Versailles, the county seat,arose
this morning, II was to find the bodies
OF five mon 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 and their feet were but a few
inches from the ground. while their
hands and feet had been securely pin
ned with strong ropes.
Versailles is n town Of some eight
hundred people. II is one Of the Oldest
In the state and although 1t Is five
miles from q railroad station and has
no telegrnphic communication with the
outside world, as have more pretentious
towns OF the county, It Is still the coun-
ty seat. For four or flve years, and ev-
en- longer, the farmers Of the county
have been the victims Of a lawless gang
who apparently lacking in fear, have
piled their vocation 20 the terror OF the
people, for they seemingly have had no
visible means OF earning living. Far
mers would come into town with a
bunch OF cattle or load OF farming pro-
ducts and next morning they would be
found along the roadside suffering from
wound and minus the proceeds OF
their salo. Old German farmers have
been visited and both men and women
have been subjected TO all the tortures
that hardened mind could stand. Ag-
cd German women have forced to stand
upon red hot stove In an effort TO COM
pei them TO disclose the hiding place OF
the treasure In the house. These depre-
datlons have continued increasingly.
Arrests have been made, but the guilty
parties had covered up their lawless-
ness and II was seldom that conviction
followed. During the past week robber-
les had increased alarmingly on last
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 confed-
crates who had been under suspicion.
Sheriff Henry BushinG arranged that
his informant should accompany them,
and securing five deputies, they went to
the place.
The Gang Trapped.
Sheriff BushIng concealed himself In
the cellar, while his deputies were sta
toned at n convenient distance outside.
Shortly after midnight the gang reach
cd wooley Bros store clifford Gordon
and the sherlT's informant were deslu-
mated to break into the building. Cor
don himself effected an entrance and
Just as he stepped inside the sheriff |
grabbed him, Both pulled pistols at
the same time and began firing Bert
Andrews was with the robbers aud no
too Joined In the fusllade while the
dcputlca came TO the assistance Of the |
sheriff
Some thirty shots were frcd.thc shor-
IN was shot through the hand and Cor. |
don was shot several times Three piss |
tol balls entered his body and he was
also shot IN the leg, Gordon and An
drows succeeded In escaping aud came
to OHEood, whore they were arrested. |
The robbers had driven out to the place |
In buggy belonging TO Lyle Levi and |
from Information subsequently rnthrr
ed II was learned that the robbery had |
been planned at the home OF william |
Jenkins, The two latter wcrc arrested |
as accessories, All were taken to tho |
jail nl Versailles. Henry schultor.
twcnty.four Years Of age, was put IN |
the Jail for robblnu the barber shop at |
Osgood last week. Lcvl was nrty.aovon |
yenrs NJ age Gordon twonty-twn ycnra. |
Andrews thirty aud Jenkins twenty. |
Hcyrn
While the citizens have not been able |
to llN the various robborlcs Upon these |
men, they were thought to be part of n |