The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-23

killed and another probably fatally wound
ed in a fight here to-day to save Jim
Brown, negro. from the vengeance of
mob after he had been tried and sentenced
to be hanged on Sept. 20 for criminal as
sault-
WALTER BLANKENSHIP, shot through
the head. the ball penetrating the skull
above the right ear.
The Wounded
ARTHUR BLANKENSHIP. breast and
abdomen penetrated by birdshot. eye put
out.
SMALL BOY, the son of James Hanley.
slightly wounded about the face by bird
shot.
The Blankenships were brothers. Walter
died within two hours after being shot and
Arthur is in precarious condition.
The attempt Of the mob to gain posses
sion of the negro followed a swift trial. 1t
was battle of witnesses. with the judge
and court officials the defensive to sup
press the fast rising anger of the crowd, as
detail after detail of the negro's work was
told by the witnesses for the state There
was no evidence for the defense. AS Brown
said afterwards in his confession, there
was nothing the witnesses he had sum-
moned could say In his behalf.
The clash came half an hour after Judge
Pelham had pronounced the sentence. BY a
ruse the courtroom was cleared of half its
angry occupants The remaining half was
surly and seemed bent on mischief. At the
reQuea of Judge Pelham. j. L. Garrett,
father of the girl assaulted by Brown
mounted table and counseled peace. He
had hardly addressed the assembly as his
friends and neighbors before he broke down
IN tears. In concluding his appeal he said:
IF you have any respect for my feelings.
II can have any weight in your hearts. let
me urge you as good citizens to go home
and obey the law and will never cease to
thank you from the bottom of my heart
from this day TO the day of my death"
THE OUTBREAK.
After some difficulty the courtroom was
cleared. Sheriff North thought II unwise TO
attempt to take Brown TO Jail. a few blocks
away. for the crowd was rapidly increas-
Ing around the front door of the court
house. Twenty-eight deputies. armed with
pistols and shotguns, were stationed in the
fnout hall and al the windows Of the room.
The nrst sign of outbreak came when
one man from the outside, with a pistol
in his hand. started TO mount the stair
way. He was followed by two or three
others. Sheriff North warned the mob that
the first man who attempted to enter the
place would be shot. AS soon as the three
or four men began TO ascend the stairs sew
eral shots were fired. Then there was
fusillade. The mob leaders retreated to
the outside. when its members began firing
into the windows. Arthur Blankenshp
was hit first. and his brother was shot
while emptying his revolver I'm the direc-
tion OF the windows above. About 100 shots
were exchanged. About this time a hard
rain began falling and the mob retired.
The bodies of the wounded were removed.
and the crowd scattered about in front
of the stores across the street. The off,
GERS took advantage of this luI and spir-
tied the negro away in charge OF two spe-
cial deputies. He was got safely aboard
a freight train for Birmingham.
The crime for which Brown will hang
was committed on May near springvilIe.
within quarter of a RE OF the home of
the CARROTS. He was working in field
near where Miss Garrett, who Is a school
teacher. had 10 pass in returning home late
In the afternoon. He followed her for
some distance and finally assaulted her
near a creek, afterward dragging the girl
into the water and threatening TO drown
her. Abandoning this last thought OF end
ing hls crime by murder. he pulled of his
Clothes and put on another suit in the
presence of the young woman, throwing
his shoes :nto the water. He was with her
for three quarters ot an hour. Miss Gar
rett remained upcc 4scious for some time
and then made hef way 20 the house and
gave the alarm Brown left the vicinity
at once, first going to Birmingham. then
To Admission, Atlanta. and finally to
Charleston. 8 C.. where he was captured
In the meantime another negro had been
shot TO death because he was mistaken for
Brown. The real Brown attempted sui
eide by cutting his throat with a piece Of
glass shortly after his capture on the
way 10 Birmingham this afternoon Brown
E-ade his hrSt confession. He confessed
every point brought out in the evidence
ana his only excuse was that ne must have
been crazy when he committed the crime
Hc Is now in the Birmingham jail and
will remain there Till the day OF his eNscu-
tion.