The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-29
Coroner of Sullivan County Sheriff
Under the statute and Will BE
Backed by the State.
HOW DUDLEY GOT IN TROUBLE
JAMES DILLARD TAKEN FROM HIM
AND LYNCHED NEAR SULLIVAN.
Evidence That Goes to Show Full Pre-
cautions Were Not Taken Against
Mob-PrObable Appeal.

The official head of John s. Dudley, de-
posed sheriff of Sullivan county, remains
in the basket. Governor Durbin yesterday
gave out the information that he will re-
fuse to reinstate Dudley, and that the no.
tification to that effect has been sent to
Dudley at his home in Sullivan.
The decision of the Governor was not
unexpected. The burden of the evidence
presented at the hearing Of the former
sheriff was unfavorable to his petition for
reinstatement 1t was not shown at the
hearing that Dudley exercised all possible
care in protecting the life of the negro.
James billiard. from the Sullivan mob. and
1T was shown by sworn statements of peo-
pie from Robinson. ILL.,, from which place
the negro was taken by Dudley and his
posse, that the negro was taken to Indiana
without his consent. Witnesses also swore
that members of the sheriffs posse had en-
tered saloons in that town and that the
sheriff himself had visited one place. A
great deal of the evidence adverse to Dud-
ley's hopes was brought out by the severe
cross-questioning of the Governor, who
handled the witnesses with all the shrewd-
ness and technical knowledge of trained
criminal lawyer.
BILLIARDS CRIMES.
Dudleys misfortune grew out of the
rape of two women living near Sullivan
by a negro who called himself James Dill
lard. After abusing and maltreating one
woman who liz ed -nsaf~ Sullivan he fled.
and on his way to Illinois committed the
same crime upon another. The whole COM
munity became aroused to the point Of
lynching upon the instant. The country
was secured for the brute, but he made his
escape over the line into Illinois. officers
were on the watch there, however. and he
was caught and incarcerated in the jail at
Robinson, near the border.
Sheriff Dudley was informed that the
man wanted had been captured. With a
posse consisting of his deputy, Mills. his
father. oliver Dudley, and one two
other Sullivan men, he went to Robinson In
a carriage and demanded the person of
the negro. The Robinson officers sur
rendered the negro, although telling Dud-
ley that requisition papers should be OBJ
tanned. The negro himself when he found
he was about to be taken back to the
scene of his crimes. appealed to Robinson
people for protection and asked the advice
of Robinson lawyer as to what to do
under the circumstances. He was advised
by the Robinson attorney to protest in the
absence Of the proper papers. Finally,
however, as claimed by Dudley, he con-
sented to go back to Indiana without
requisition papers. He was bundled into
carriage roughly, some witnesses main
tanned, and driven rapidly back toward
Sullivan.
DUDLEY'S PROMISE
Sworn testimony before the Governor
went to show that Dudley promised the
doomed man he would be taken to Mar
shall. Ill.,. where he would be safe against
he made no further protests. Dudley did
not start In the direction of Marshall. but
took roundabout way back to Sullivan.
The news of the negro's return preceded
the coming of the sheriff. When Dudley
carriage, with the trembling negro, reached
Sullivan, men sprang from everywhere. A
mob estimated at two hundred men sur
rounded the carriage and dragged the ne
gro from 1t. Testimony before the Gov
ernor varied as to the size Of that mob.
Witnesses introduced by Attorney John
S. Bays, representing Dudley, went to show
that there were at least two hundred, or
possibly two hundred and fifty, in the mob.
Attorney General Taylor. who REPRESENTED
the State, had witnesses who sv ore that
there were only ten or fifteen people who
took part actively in the assault on the
carriage.
The upshot of the attack on the posse
was that the mob secured Dillard Without
much of fight being made. Dudley drew
his revolver, as did one or two other riem-
bers of the posse. and threatened to fire in
to the crowd, but no shots were exchanged
and the pistols were not used as clubs.
Dudley stated that he pressed his revolver
against the breast OF man who at once
threw open his shirt and told BIN TO shoot
if he wanted to, but that he WOULD not
save the life of the negro. He said that he
was unwilling TO fire into the faces of men
and neighbors whom he liked and respect
ed, and that even If he had shot it would
have done no good and would have caused
useless bloodshed.
With his clothes torn from his back the
negro was dragged from the carriage and
driven out of Sullivan few miles where
he was hanged about O'Clock in the even
ing. The sheriff made up a small party
and started in the direction the mob had
taken. but could do nothing toward saving
billiards. life.
PRECAUTION NOT TAKEN.
During the hearing the attorney general
and Governor Durbin both intimated that
not enough had been done toward notify
ing the Governors Office In Indianapolis,
and If sufficient caution had been exercised
i'm that direction the life of the man might
have been saved for the law. The former
sheriff contended that there was not suffi-
cient time to warn the Governor to order
out the militia.
Under the law the sheriff was at once
deposed, since the prisoner in his care had
been taken from him and lynched The
lynching took place Nov. 20. and Governor
Durbin at once notified Dudley that he wa
no longer sheriff and 10 relinquish the Office
to the cororer of the county as provided BY
statute. Dudley however refused to sur
render the Office. He engaged the services
of John s. Bays, of Sullivan. and Charles
Hunt and proceeded to fight. A long Pc
tition was prepared, signed by scores OF
Sullivan citizens. asking his reinstatement