The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-28
Removal OF Old Man Harmon and
moved the Incentive to Riot.
AFTERMATH OF WARDS CRIME
THE NEGRO WAS DEAD WHEN TAX
EN FROM THE COUNTY JAIL.
Women Incited the Burning-Barbar-
ity of Boys and Men-Fasig's Ex-
PLANTATION to the Governor.



TERRE HAUTE. Ind, Feb H.-There Is
no doubt that the action of Sheriff Fasig
in taking old man Harmon to Indianapolis
yesterday evening prevented another lynch
ing. 1t was learned during the day that
men from Brazil. mostly miners. were in
town, and that 1t was intended to follow
up the lynching of George Ward. the MUIR
derer of Miss Finkelstein, with the execu-
tion Of Harmon. The lynchers were in
formed. however. of the removal of Har-
mon to Indianapolis, and they did not visit
the Jail. 1t is understood that some of them
took part in the lynching of Ward yester-
DAY. Late last night there was authentic
information that the plan was to have
taken Harmon from the Jail at 7:3O O'Clock
in the evening. Sheriff Fasig had left word
with the jailer to ask committee of the
lynchers to go through the jail TO satisfy
themselves that Harmon was not there,
should the mob appear at the Jail. Early
In the evening. too. Quincy Foster was
removed from the Jail to a hiding place In
the city. Foster killed a fellow-coal-
named Harley Mcdonald at Fontanet. Re
Gently Ed High. who also killed a miner
at Fontanet. was acquitted on trial be-
cause Of the poor work Of the prosecution,
and this fact created a sentiment in the
Fontanet vicinity that Foster might pos
sibly escape. There was no definite infor-
nation to purpose to lynch him, but
Sheriff Fasig thought 1t prudent to re-
move him from his JAIL whose battered
down doors easily would permit a mob to
get to any prisoner.
Governor Durbin has asked Sheriff Fasig
for a statement about the lynching of
Ward, and this was mailed to the Gov
ernor tonight. The sheriff told the Gov
ernor how suddenly the mob demonstration
started and of his effort to take Ward to
Indianapolis, after having consulted with
Judge Piety. He then recounted all the de-
tails of the affair. hitherto published.
In regard to the leadership Of the mob he
said the leader was n miner, a small man,
but he did not know his name Two other
men. he said, could be identified
After the crowd got outside the jail 1t
was known to those who had hold of Ward
that he was dead; that blow with sledge
hammer while inside the jail had killed
him. but he was held in an upright position
until the rope was placed around his neck,
and the crowd dragged him over the street
to the bank of the Wabash, where it was
the purpose to drown him. This was aban-
doned when woman called out, Don't
dirty the water with him." Women. too,
suggested the burning after he had been
hanged on the bridge. Boys had a too
prominent part in it all. While the body
was hanging a boy pushed 1T occasionally
TO keep it swinging. andAa boy cut off some
OF his clothing for souvenir.
All day long people from this city and
of the burning of the negro. The fire was
kept ablaze until late last night and this
morning there was not vestige of the
body left. What had not been consumed
by the flames had been carried away by
relic fiends and the spot where the tragedy
occurred was swept almost as clean as a
floor. number OF people spent hours
in digging In the surrounding debris and
black dirt where the body had lain, hunt
ing for small pieces of bones, nails frcm
the shoes of the murderer and other pieces
of the man or his clothing. Curious persons
were about the scene throughout the entire
day. The bridge watchman reported to the
County Commissioners that the draw had
sunk several inches as a result OF the i'm
mense crowd on IL yesterday. While IL is
said that the shocking work was begun by
boys, older heads later made criminals of
themselves by canabalistic display never
anticipated by even the most radical
The funeral OF Ida Finkelstein, the VIC
tim OF Wards crime. was held at the home
OF her uncle. Mayer Levin. this morning
The attendace was mostly from the Jewish
Synagogue. of which she was member.
The services were conducted by Rabbi
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