Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-09-13
a letter requesting that he abandon
his S,1it for her hand


petuous nature Of Green, who became
greatly enraged at the girls letter and
made numerous threats of what he
would do. August 10, 1885, Green, in
company with William Walker, cal&ed
at the Mabbit house in the evening,
and asked to see Luella. Her sister
Cynthia, now Mrs. Walker, went to
the door and told Green that Luella
had gone to bed and did not wish to
get up. Green raved at hearing this,
and finally Luella got up and dressed
and she and Green went out together.
Cynthia went to bed and there was no
one else in the house who knew that
Luella and Green had gone out to-
gether.
That was the last seen Of Luella
Mabbit alive. When she did not re-
turn home search was made for her,
but no trace could be found. Green
was arrested on the charge of murder
and placed in jail at Delphia. Almost
six months afterward, on February 5,
1887, the body Of woman was
fished out of the rivci some miles be-
low Lafayette, and some of the rela-
tives of the girl recognized the corpse
as that of Luella There were doubts
then, and always have been since, a.
to the value Of the Identification. When
the Coroner's jury held an inquest on
the body picked out of the river the
verdict was that it was the body Of
Luella Babbit, and that she came to
her md at the hands of Green. He was
held for the crime, but the State Of
ficials found so much difficulty in
tracing his movements the night he
had gone out with Luella that the trial
was put off time and again in order
that they might make out a case
against him.
This delay was not understood or ap-
preciated by the community, which
was terribly aroused over the disap-
pearance of the girl, and was fearful
that her abductor and murderer, as
they judged Green to be, might es-
cape punishment on some technicalty.
1t was resolved that Green must die.
About 10 o'clock on the night Of
October 81. 1887, a mob surrounded
the Jail at Delphia and called on the
sheriff for the keys. When he refused
to give them up the mob attacked the
| jail with cold chisels and sledge ham,
| mers, and soon forced an entrance.
Green was taken out placed in wag-
on with guard, and then the mob
| climbed in to their vehicles, which
We're standing around, and the process
| sion came up its route to Walnut
Grove.
When they got there Green was con-
fronted with Mr.. Mabbit, and to the
latter's question as to what he had
done with Luella swore that the girl
was alive and well and was then liv-
| ing at Fort Wayne, Tex. Mr.. Mabbit
and the mob were of the opinion that
| this was n lie and was told for the
| purpose of gaining time, so without
any more parley the rope that had
been brought along was placed around
Green's neck and the other end thrown
| around the limb of tree, and In a few
| moments Green was corpse. He pro-
| tested his innocence to the last mo-
ment, and at no time exhibited the
| least trace Of fear except at the eX-
preston of wish on the part of some
of the mob to burn him, and then he
| begged them to XIII him like man."
and not to torture him.
In explanation of his movements
with Luella .Iabbit en- the night they
went away together Green said that
he and the girl had planned to elope
and had gone from the Mabbit house
! to Frankfort, where they separated,
Luella going to indianapolis, while
Green went to Kokomo for money and
they met in indianapolis the day fol-
| lowing. From there Luella had gone
| to Texas, while he had returned home
| to settle up some affairs preparatory
to joining her.
In the meantime the people of Wal
nut Grove are satisfied that Green's
spirit is walking the earth, and that it
will never rest until the mystery of
Luella Mabbit's fate is effectuallv
cleared up. But he has driven them
out of their schoolhouse and forced
the board to build them new one,
and this is undoubtedly the first time
in the history of Indiana or any other
State where ghost has had that
measure of official recognition.
Lost Her Head at the Meeting.
eyes, sir, did my best to train my
daughter up as an accomplished par