The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-04
HORSETHIEF DETECTIVES.
Gov. Mounts Speech Read to the As
ISOLATION at Alexandria.

SOc1atlOn AT AleXan0E1ae
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
ALEXANDRIA, Ind, Oct. 3-The annual
meeting of the National Horsethief Detec-
tive Association convened here to-day with
delegates present from several States. Gov.
Mount is president of the association, but
his illness kept him from attending to-day
However. his annual address was received
and read to the assembled delegates
Among other things his address contained
the following arraignment of the lynchers
in Ripley county:
''I beg to say in this connection that the
name 'horse-thief' detectives is somewhat
misleading for our work under the law is
not limited to any class of criminals, but
against thieves and robbers of all kinds, in
cendiaries counterfeiters and all other
transgresSors. To the credit of the members
of this organization, / desire to say that
while they have given time and expended
money in ferreting out crimes and appre
hending criminals, they have steadfastly
pursued this work within the bounds of the
law. They have by word and deed set the
seal of their condemnation upon lynching
and white-oapping. In no county where
these organizations are maintained, and the
members discharge their responsible duties
have the disgraceful acts of those lawlesS
bands been perpetrated.
Some years ago. when the horse thieves
from Ripley county invaded Fountain coun-
ty and stole Henry b. Jones's team they
were pursued by every trace that the un-
firing detective Mr.. Jones could find until
the band was located in Ripley county. Mr..
Jones was not afraid to remain there alone
until he had located the guilty parties; they
were arrested and, by the aid of his brother
detectives, they were convicted. The good
people of Ripley county could have orga-
nized if necessary, and in a lawful way rid
the community of law-breakers. / depre-
cate the disgrace and odium that has
marred the good name of Indiana through
the reprehensible deeds of lynchers and
white-cappers. In order to free our State
from the crime of such lawlesSneSS, / shall
recommend to the next General Assembly
suit for damages which may be brought by
the aggrieved party or relative against the
county where such revolving scenes as
lynching and white-capping are tolerated.
In an effort to expunge from the State the
stain of lynch lawlessneSS, / expended my
civil contingent fund to ferret out the
guilty parties and flied affidavits for arrests.
The able attorney general of Indiana, Hon.
William A. ketcham, conducted most Wig
orous prosecution, but failed to convict.
This atrocious crime is so fortified by SYM
pathy in this county that conviction is i'm
possible. When such conditions obtain in
county that lynchers and white-cappers
cannot be punished, and If the Constitution
will not permit the State to try its cause in
that county then 1t is time for redress in
civil action which can be heard in another
county How far the courts are to blame
for such conditions l shall not argue /
believe the main fault is with the people
who manifest often but little concern about
the enforcement of law. So long as good
men are too busy TO serve as jurors. and the
professional juryman, who is more con-
so long will there be lax enforcement of law.
Long connection with this work has en-
abled me to know the worth of the men
carrying 1t, forward You men. by your in
property. 1t is your right to protect it from
the thief and the rohber"