The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-20
A Claim hat the Mob's Action Meets
General Approval.

To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:
Many of the reports Of conditions in
Rockport about colored people are gross
MISREPRESENTATION. While it is true that a
few thugs have left the town and that
some others probably will follow, there has
been no great exodus of colored people.
The report that the negroes are enraged
and threaten to burn the town Is wholly
untrue. Nine-tenths of them approve the
lynching. About the only dissatisfaction
yellow journals from Owensboro and
Evansville. They were highly colored,
grossly represented and in some instances
pure fakes.
The citizens of this county feel that it
is due the good name of Spencer county,,
as well as of the State, that the true story
OF the lynching and the conditions that
led up TO Ii be fairly told. TIL brutal muir
der of Hollie Simons on Sunday morning
is not the sole cause of the mob violence
that wreaked a terrible vengeance on the
three guilty negroes. The causes that led
ur to it go back two years, when Bob Burr,
who killed Gap" Williamson for attempt
ing to defend the honor of his home from
Burr's wanton outrage, escaped with
only two years in the State penitentiary.
Time and again since then crime has gone
unpublished. until ii has come to be be-
lieved that there can be no conviction here.
Politics and money play a prominent part
i'm this story. Negroes by the hundreds
have been bought and fed by the leaders
of the two parties; they have been in
dulged and their offenses excused by the
powers that be until a large element has
lived in fragrant violation of the law. For
a month hold-ups and house robberies have
been the regular order, until the people
lost all patience.
Following these conditions came the bru-
tai murder of Hollie Simons Sunday morn
ing. Simons was a model man. He had 10
bad habits of any kind and possessed the
pan6da-na and aStaom nf QVRrV one whn
knew him. Going home to his wife and
infant child with the earnings of a weeks
hard work, he was mercilessly beat to
death by negroes whom he had treated as
q father when no others would befriend
them. Can the murdered mans friends be
blamed because their blood boiled?
As evidence u~nmiStakable fastened
around the guilty men the best citizens of
this county felt in their hearts that pun
ishInenJ must be swiftly dealt. Knowing
the hardness CT conviction for crimes as
brutal in the past, the open lawlessness of
the past month fresh in their minds, the
desperate character of the negroes well
known, as soon as the last shadow of doubt
was removed there was spontaneous action
OH the part of the people. There was ne
organized mob of toughs. there was no
attempt at concealment, and there was not
All act or violence against the persons Of
the negroes until they confessed their guilt.
1t was the spontaneous and determined
effort OF the best element of this city and
county for the purpose, not so much of
~ N4ie ol
Simons as TO give warning 10 iawbreakers
and criminals that no longer will their
crimes be tolerated in this community.
There are not five men here who condemn
the lynching.
Whatever may be said theoretically
against a mob. its action here has been a
blessing. The citizens meeting held last
might to discuss means for preserving law
and order and Furnishing crime perfected
an organization OF the best citizens. Over
500 was quickly raised to aid in the move
~ art and nfUhr hundred f,ral n
pledge TO support a nonpartisan citizens
municipal ticket in the spring. The law
kssness of negroes has been due to the
action of politicians. 1t has been their
chief living. 1t Is thought that the nominal
ton of n single ticket will get rid of much
of the trouble with the negroes. A special
committee. with ample funds at its dis
posal. was appointed for the quick prose-
cution OF law5reakers.
Rockport. Ind. Dec ~