The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-17
TO PUNISH THE MOB.
officials and Citizens Wink at Gov
ernOr Mounts Instructions.

officials and Citizens Wink at Gov
ernOr Mounts Instructions.
staff Correspondence to the Journal.
VERSAILLES, Ind, Sept 16-No one
seems disposed to criticise Governor Mount
for his action in urging the sheriff to take
immediate steps to apprehend the lynch
ers, but it is tacitly understood that none
of the county officials will discover any
thing to warrant arrests or prosecutions,
Notwithstanding the fact that Judge New
made a special charge TO the grand jury
this morning. He called their attention to
the outrage in vigorous language, directed
them to make an exhaustive investigation
and to leave nothing possible undone to
bring the guilty to justice. Judge New
said that this course would have been pur-
sued the next morning after the murder,
without any suggestion from state officials,
but for the absence of Prosecutor NJ r.
Conneley, who was in Brookville attending
to business in that part of the judicial cir
cuit. Judge New said to your representa-
tive that he had done everything within
his power so far He said that no wit
nesses had yet been heard by the grand
jury. He also admitted that he did not
know of any that could be called Before
leaving here Deputy Attorney General
Moores conferred with the judge and sher-
iff, Offering the aid of the State. He was
thanked for his courtesy, and informed
that he would be called on if his services
were needed.
The county officials say that they are
completely in the dark, and that there is
no clew to the identity of any member OF
the mob. People who are really anxious
to see something done to set Ripley county
right say that it seems impossible for
mob of 250 or 800 men to come to town,
commit such a crime and escape without
some one being identified. Kelly, the
young prisoner who escaped hanging, says
that Schueter fought with one of the
masked men and tore his mask away. AL
though Kelly saw his features plainly, he
protests that he did not identify him. Men
in the north part of the county tell about
meeting men driving home early in the
morning after the tragedy. They might
find it hard to account for their where
abouts on that night if brought before the
grand jury. Part of the lynchers are be-
leved to have boarded the train at Osgood
the next morning for points to the west.
At any rate, one of those who boarded the
train at Osgood. thrust his head out of the
window at Holton, near Osgood, and, in
exultant tones, cried out to friend he
recognized: "Well, we put it into five Of
them -"
HE MIGHT EXPLAIN.
This man may be called on to explain
what he meant, it is said. if the grand
jury really wanted to get an inkling of the
perpetrators of the deed. An attorney
who practices at the Ripley county bar
said yesterday that at least three members
of the mob were from this place. He re-
fused to give any intimation as to their
names Other instances might be given to
show that the officers could readily find
something on which to begin their investi-
cation If they were really in earnest
OF course there are many difficulties. 1t
is recalled that when the man Boyd was
taken from Jail here twenty-five years ago
and lynched, the leader of the gang was
recognized by the jailer, who afterward
boasted that he saw and recognized the
leader He got polite note informing him
that if he ever said another word on that
score he would be sent to Join Boyd. The
note had the desired effect Many here be-
lieve that If citizens who know anything
were to reveal their knowledge they would
meet with an unenviable fate and thus
fact will doubtless restrain those who are
not restrained by sympathy for the mob.
There is a growing feeling that the mob
was carefully organized and that it has
large and powerful membership, and that
nothing will deter the men involved from
protecting themselves at any cost. The
thing that will have more to do than any
other with preventing the punishment of
the men is the strong public sentiment
against it. So long as the officials are in
ert they will receive the approval of ma
a hnr nd n nf 1~fa
of the county, but if they become active in
trying to unmask the men who did the
work they will at once encounter much adj
verse sentiment A good many here realize
that this crime was blot on the county,
that it was ineXcusable and ought to be Sc
verely punished, but they are in the minori-
ty and are afraid TO talk very forcibly IN
support of their views
Some persons were wondering whether
the Governor would fellow the course pur-
sued by the chief executive of Ohio, who,
it was said here, took things into his own
hands when mob turned one of the towns
of that State over to Judge Lynch. The
opinion prevails that unless the state ottl-
cials do something the crime will never be
punished.
mite plan for learning the identity of men,
bers of the mob. He asked what he
proposed to do and replied that he had
hardly had time to think about it, but that
he did not know as there was anything
that could be done. He took time, now
ever, to appoint ten special deputies, VINO
are supposed to be engaged in a very mys-
terious search for the lynchers. The sheriff
sent a message by personal messenger TO
Governor Mount in reply to the telegram ne
received last night, in which he announced
that everything possible would be done TO
uphold the dignity of the law and the peace
of the state. The sheriff declared that none
of the men was known and that there was
no way to discover their personality
INTENDED LYNCHING NO SECRET.
Although most people are Indifferent to
the fate of the prisoners, there are a few
who assert that their horrible butchery
might and ought to have been prevented.
Natural egotsm compels some men to
boast after any exciting eyeTt that they
knew in advance that it was going TO hap
pen, but this does not account for asser-
tions now being made by men who reluct-
antly admit that they saw signs for three
days that convinced them that something
startling would occur a result Of the ar
rest of the four prisoners for the robbery
at Correct. The fifth had been in Jail a
were arrested on Sunday. Until Tuesday
evening Levi and jenkins were out under
guard trying TO raise bonds Neither sue
ceeded Levi broke down and cried when
he was put in Jail, although he has spent
many years in the penitentiary 1t is be-
lieyed that he had some intimation of the
coming storm. While he and jenkins were
out on Sunday. Monday and Tuesday OBJ
servant citizens noticed that squads of
strangers were standing about the street
corners, generally in groups of four or
five. Their actions were mysterious. In a
little time the town was alive with rumors.
1t was reported that n rescue was 10 be
attempted by friends of the prisoners.
Other reports had IL that mob was going
to hang them. Even a little boy eight
years old came home in alarm Tuesday