The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-17
Marvin Kuhns Believed to Be I'm Hid
Ing Near Eoganspcrt and Posse
Seeks to Capture Him.
KEITH's TRIAL AT PRINCETON
TT WILL BEGIN TODAY FOR THE
MURDER Of NORA KIFER.
Death at Hartford City Follows FRI
days Assault-Fatal ARRAY Be-
tween Boys mt Terre Haute.


Special TO the indianapolis Journal
ROCKPORT, Ind, Dec. 1.-THE lynch
ing OF two negroes at o'clock tonight
was the result of the murder of Hollie
6imons, a barber of this city, who was as
saulted this morning at o'clock by Bud
Rowland and Jim Henderson, the men
lynched, while on his way home from his
barber shop. Large clubs were used by the
negroes and the head was crushed to a
pulp.
The screams Of the assaulted man at
tracted the attention of two men near by,
who rushed to the scene and whose ap-
proach drove the negroes away. Others
soon appeared and carried the dying MAJ
TO the home. of his partner and brother
in-law, Walter Evans, where he died in
about two hours. Holie Simons came here
from Winslow about three years ago. He
was Of good family and was one of the
most popular men in this city, while his
personal character was of the highest.
His murder was for no other motive than
robbery.
When the news of the murder spread
through town the people became intensely
excited and thousands thronged the streets
all day. Hundreds went to see the mur-
dered man. His head, crushed beyond
recognition, only tended to increase the
anger of the people. public meeting
was held, a purse raised and A. w. Glenn
ents, of Morganfield. was summoned. with
a bloodhound.
Rowland and Henderson were arrested
late in the morning as suspects. Evidence
accumulated against them, and when the
dog arrived he took the trail and followed
It to where the men were captured. Over
a thousand people followed the hound. and
when they saw it go to the home of Row
land their rage became ungovernable and
they went to the county Jail. where the
men were confined No attempt was made
TO conceal identities. but the crowd opened
the doors with a sledgehammer and a tel
ephone pole and broke into the Jail.
No attempt was made by the officers to
prevent the lynching. Rowland was first
captured. and dragged at the end OF a
rope to q tree in the courthouse yard, and
amid the shouts and cheers of a thousand
men, after his confession of his and Hem
derson's guilt, was hanged. a hundred
shots were fired into the body Henderson
was next secured and treated in the same
manner. third man was implicated in
the confession. but his innocence was
sworn to by men who vouched for an alibi
his part. He was not molested.
Many good citizens were opposed to the
mob. but a large majority favored
the lynching. For the past two
weeks Rockport has been subject
ell to the most reckless lawlessness.
Attempted hoidups and house robberies
have occurred almost every night until the
people felt that something desperate would
occur. Feeling has been running high for
some days. and this mornings murder
brought the excitement TO a head. Ii is
thought that to-day's events will have a
salutary effect on the lawbreakers. The
lynched men will be allowed TO hang until
daylight Tomorrow, that it may more
forcibly impress the event upon those to
whom 1T is intended to teach a lesson. Sher-
III Anderson, while he regrets the affair,
says he could not possibly have prevented
its occurrence. No power except the militia
could have beaten back the thousand de-
termined men, so no blame is attached To
him. even by those who deplore the lynch
Ing. He held the keys to the last.
Simons's body will be taken tomorrow
TO Winslow, Ind, the home Of his father,
for burial. His widow and his brother-in-
law. Evans. are down with nervous pros
tration, and ii is not thought that either
Will be able TO attend the funeral