The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-09-17
FIVE MIN LYNCHBD


DIANA JAIL AND HANGED
The People Determined to Rid Themselves
cf Gang Of BurEl.rs-A Confederate
Gives Away . Pi.u for . Robbery..~OM
GERS Secrete Themselves and Capture the
BurglArs-lhe Jail Broken O~pen-Two Of
tho Men Show Fight and are shot Down.
The Lynching
Louisville, KY. September ia spe
ei.l to The Evening Post from Osgood,
Ind, says: Incensed by murderous
depredations and repeated burgiaries,
the people Of Ripley county have taken
the law into their own hands. and
meeted out to the perpetrators a pun
ishment greater than provided for by
the law. Five men who have long been
a terror to the citizens of this county
met their fate at their hands today.
Stout ropes not ove six feet in length
served TO send each to eternity.
Versailles is a town of 500 people. 1t
is one of the oldest towns Of the state
and although it is five miles from a
| railroad station and has no telegraph
station, 1T is still the county seat. For
! four years farmers have been robbed.
Farme would come into town with a
bunch of cattle or load of farm
products and next morning they would
be found along the roadside suffering
| from a wound and minus the proceeds
/ OF their product. Aged German women
have been forced to stand upon a red
hot stove in an effort to compel them
to disclose the hiding place Of some
treasure in the house. These depreda-
L ono NV A.
rests nave been made, but the guilty
parties had covered up their lawless.
ness and it was seldom that conviction
followed.
During the past week robberies had
increased alarmingly. On last Satur-
day wore was received by the sheriff
that the store of Wooley Bros, at Cor
rect, Ind. ten miles from here, was to
be entered. The information was given
by one of the gangs confederates who
been under suspicion. Sheriff Hem
ry Bushing arranged that his infor-
mant should accompany them and Sc
curing five deputies they went to the
/ place. Sheriff Bushing concealed him.
self in the cellar, while his deputies
were stationed at a convenient distance
outside. Shortly after midnight the
gang reached Wooley Bros store. Cliff
ford Gordon and the sheriff's inform
ant were designated to break into the
building. Gordon himself effected an
entrance and just as he stepped inside
the sheriff grabbed him.. Both pulled
pistols at the same time and began
firing. Andrews was with the robbers
and he, too, Joined in the fusillade. The
deputies came to the assistance of the
sheriff. The sheriff was shot through
the arm and Gordon Was shot several
times. Two pistol balls entered his
body and he was also shot in the leg.
Gordon and Andrews succeeded in es-
gaping and came where they were ar
rested. The robbers had driven to the
| place in a buggy belonging to Leslie
Levy. From information subsequently
gathered it was learned that the rob-
berry had been planned at the home of
VIM. Schulter. The two later were as
rested as accessories. All were taken
to the Jail at Versailles Henry Schulz
ter, "a years old, was put. in the Jail
for robbing the barber shop last May.
He was 25 years old and Gordon and
Jennings rs years Of age. The citi-
zens have not been able to fix the va
rious crimes upon these men They
/ were thought to be part of a gang that
has committed most of them. When it
became known it was quickly suggest
ed by the victims and sympathizers
| that justice be dealt.
Shortly before 2 o'clock there was a
knock at the door and when Kenna
n others opened it they were present.
ed with pistols by three masked men
and asked to turn over the keys. This
they did and then the mob filed into
the Jail. Three of the prisoners, Levi,
Jennings and Schulter were on the
lower floor, while Gordon and Andrews
were in the upper. Jennings and
Schulter showed fight and the former
was shot through the breast. Ropes
were in readiness and abusing a moose
around the necks, the hands were pin
toned n the march began. Justice of
the Peace Chase held an inquest over
the five bodies this morning.
Indianapolis, Ind., September 15.-
Governor Mount has sent the following
to the sheriff of Ripley county: wire
me at once the particulars of the lynch
ing that has occurred in your county. ]
further direct that o proceed imme-
diately with all the power you can
command to bring to justice all par
ties guilty of participation on the MUIR
der of the five men alleged to have been
lynched. Such lawlessness is intolera-
BILE and all the power of the state, if
necessary. will be vigorously employed
for the arrest and punishment of all
parties Implicated"