Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-12-21
TAKES A THIRD LIFE.
Another Negro Lynched by the
.Rockport, Ind, Mob.
Marches to Booneviiie-Drnps John
RoIIa from His Cell In the Jail and
Hangs Him-was Implicated
In Simons' Murder.


indianapolis, Ind, Dec. 1s.-A special
| to the Sentinel from Bonneville, Ind,
says: John Rolla, the third of the col
| ored men implicaed in the murder of
| Hollie Simons, was hung to tree in the
| courthouse yard by mob of about 100
men from Rockport at $3.50 o'clock
| Monday evening. Not shot was fired.
| and everything was conducted as quiet
ly as if the execution had been one un-
| der the sanction of the law. Rolla was
brought to this place about three
o'clock p. m. in charge of Sheriff An
derson, of Rockport. Upon his arrival
he was placed in a cell on the second
floor of the Jail, and his presence was
known only to few citizens. 4 few
! minutes after six o'clock body of 100
! men marched through the principal
street of the town to the Jail, and de-
manded that the prisoner be turned
over to it. Sheriff Benjamin Hudson
was out, of town, and his deputy. Ray
mond Cherry, was in charge of the Jail.
Break Into the Jail.
He declined to give up the keys to
at once began to batter in the wall of
the Jail with telegraph pole, which
was handled by dozen or more men.
AS soon as a hole large enough to admit
the body of man was battered
through the wall six members of the
mob crawled through, and with sledge-
hammers broke down the door of
Rolla's cell. Inside the Jail the negro
could hear the sounds of the telegraph
pole as it bored its way, inch by inch.
through the wall. and he lay upon the
floor in his cell in an agony of fear.
begged for His Life.
When the men reached his cell he
protested his innocence in loud tones,
begging pitifully now and then to be
spared. The men working at the door
of the cell might have been made of
marble. judged by the attention they
paid to the wailing of the negro. Little
time was used in breaking into the
cell, and in the twinkling of an eye
the thoroughly terrorized colored man
was in the hands of the men, who pro-
ceeded to place rope around his neck.
All left, crawling again through the
hole by which they had entered. drag
ging the negro after them.
Hanged to Tree.
A few minutes time was consumed
in the march to the Jail yard. the rope
was thrown over the limb of a tree. and
a hundred willing hands pulled at the
rope and sent his body flying into the
air. The loose end of the rope was tied
to tree. and as soon as the members
of the mob were sure their work had
been completed they left in as orderly
a manner as they entered the town.
None of the mob wore masks. and the
men, to all appearances, in every sta
tion of life. took part in the lynching.
RolIa HID Confessed.
Owensburg, KY, Dec. 1s.-John
Rolla, third of the negroes lynched, was
implicated by Rowland, one of the ne
groes lynched Sunday night at Rock
port, in his confession. but denied his
guilt. He was guarded by some de-
termined citizens, who had some doubts
as to his guilt. He told conflicting
stories, and it was learned that he was
away from the Neranda hotel, where
he worked, about the time Simons was
murdered. Confronted with this evil
dence, Rolla weakened and confessed his
share in the crime, admitting that he
struck the first blow, and that the other
two negroes helped him TO kill Simons.
Militia Ordered Out.
Indianapolis, Ind, Dec. 1s.-Gov.
Mount was advised Monday night by
the sheriff of Spencer county that a
mob of 600 had started from Rockport
to Bonneville with the intention OF
lynching Rolla, negro arrested for
completely in the murder of Hollie
Simons Saturday night. He also noti.
fed the governor that the local author.
tiles would be powerless to resist the
mob and asked that military com.
pany be sent at once to the scene. A
message was at once sent to Adjt. Gen
Gore by the governor asking the for.
mer to consult with the governor as to
the best means of controlling the situ
alton. Before the arrival of the ad
jutant general. however, Gov. Mount
instructed Capt. Blum, of company L
located at Evansville. to get his mer
under arms as eXpeditiously as posi-
BILE.
After being informed of the lynch
ing of the negro at Bonneville, Gov
Mount wired Capt. Blum, of company
Z, at Evansville, countermanding the
order for the militia to proceed to
Bonneville.
bryan VIII Talk.
Omaha, Neb.. Dec. 1S.-Col. W. ]
Bryan, who will be the speaker at tn,
annual banquet of the Jacksonian club
to be given Monday evening. Januar,