The Washington weekly post., 1900-12-18
RockpOrt Mob Goes to Boone
vile and Hangs RoilO.
TROOPS TOO LATE TO SAVE HIN
Goy. Mount Orders Militia 20 the Scene
proaeh, bat Did Not Arrive In Time TO
Guard the Jail from Attaek-sherin Re-
the Jail Was Battered Down.

Bonneville, Ind, Dec. 1T.-John Rolla, the
third of the coloTed men implicated in the
murder of Hollie SimOns. was hanged 10
tree in the courthouse yard by mob OF
about 100 men from Rockport this evening.
Two Of his companions were lynched at
Rockport last night for the same crime.
Not a shot was fired and everything was
conducted as quietly as il the execution
had been one under the sanction OF the
law.
Rolla was brought to this place this aft
ernoon about o'clock. in charge of Sheriff
Anderson, of Rockport. Upon his arrival
he was placed in cell on the second noor
of the Jail. and his presence was known
only to a few citizens.
A few minutes after o'clock body of
100 men marched through the principal
street TO the Jail and demanded that the
prisoner be turned over to it. Deputy
Sheriff Raymond Cherry was in charge OF
the Jail. He declined to give up the keys,
and the mob at once began to batter in
the wall of the jail with telegraph pole.
Six members of the mob cTawled through
the hole and with sledge hammers broke
down the door of Rolla's cell, and soon
the thoroughly terrified negro was in the
hands Of the men. who placed a rope
around his neck All left. crawling again
through the hole by which they had en-
tered, dragging the negro after them.
Lynch's Verdict Quietly Carried Out.
A few minutes was consumed in the
march to the courthouse yard, the rope
was thrown over the limb of tree. and
hundred hands seat his body flying into
he air. The loose end of the rope was
tied to a tree, and as soon as the mob was
sure that its work had been completed it
left in as orderly manner as il had en-
tered the town.
None of the mob wore masks. aid
men apparently from every station in life
took part in the lynching. Except for the
excited groups of men standing on the
street corners, a stranger would have
known nothing of the tragedy that mad
just been enacted.
John ROlla was implicated by Rowland,
enc of the negroes lynched last night at
ROckport, but denied his guilt. He told
conflicting stories, and IL was learned
that he was away from the Verandah HO-
tel, where he worked, about the time
SimOnS was murdered. Confronted with
this evidence, Rolla weakened, and con-
fessed his share in the crime, admitting
that he struck the first blow and that the
other two negroes helped him TO kill
SimOns
Trosps Fifteen Minutes Too Late.
The militia from Evansville arrived at
Bonneville fifteen minutes too late, and
the dead body of Rolla met their gaze as
they marched into town.
The citizens of Rockport held meeting
tonight and formed an organization fJr
the purpose of maintaining law and order
and assisting the officers in the prosecu-
tion of criminals. 1t was also resolved to
make an effort to take municipal. affairs
out of politics. While the lynching was
only incidentally discussed, the general
sentiment of the community upholds the
action of the mob in taking affairs in
their own hands. There is no purpose TO
prosecute any one concerned in the mob.
Hurry Orders 10 Militia.
Evansville, Ind. Dec. 17.-ohders have
lust been received from Gov. Mount in
structing the officers Of the local military
| company to assemble their men at once
| and repair as rapidly as possible to Boone
| vile to protect two negro suspects re-
moved 10 that place from ROckport late
| tonight This order was issued by the
! governor upon information received from
the ROckport officials saying mob had
started from that point and would march
| to Bonneville with the intention OF lynch
| ing the two suspects. Advices from Rock
port say the negroes are thoroughly
aroused and a race war is imminent.
| They openly threaten that out of re-
venge for the lynching OF the eOlored men
| they will burn the town tonight. Guards
| have been stationed about the town and
| all of the citizens are heavily armed and
| watching closely for any sign of an out
break among the negroes.
The distance between this city and
| Bonneville and between Rockport and
| Bonneville is about the same, and it is
| feared the mob will have reached there
before the arrival Of the military COM
pany and will have completed their work
| by the time the soldiers arrive.
Prompt Action by Gov. Mount.
INDIANAPOLIS, Dec 17.-Gov Mount was
advised tonight by the sheriff of Spencer
County that a mob of 600 had started from
| RocIxport to Bonneville with the intention
of lynching Joe ROlla and another negro
arrested for completely in the murder of
| Holl:e Simons Saturday night He also
notified the governor that the local au-
thorities would be powerless 20 resist the
mob. and asked that a military company
be sent at once to the scene.
A message was at once sent to Adtt
| Gen. Gore by the governor asking the
/ former 90 consult with the governor as
| TO the best means OF controlling the stu
ation. Before the arrival Of the adjutant
| general, however, Gov. Mount instructed
| Capt. Blum, OF Company Z, located at
| Evansville 10 get his men under arms
| as eXpeditiously as possible. special
| train was ordered 10 be in readiness as
| soon as the Bonneville authorities asked
| for assistance 1t was feared. however.
| that the mob would reach Bonneville ahead
| Of the soldiers. State officials were in
| consultation with the governor for several
! hours late tonight, and he was kept
| closely advised Of lie situation