The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-12
Sheriff Must Take Precautions to Pro-
tect the Prisoner, Calling Citizens
to His Aid IL Necessary.
REVIEW OF THE SITUATION
OBSERVATIONS OF THE JOURNALS
STAFF CORRESPONDENT.
Lessons to he Drawn from the Unfor-
tunate Tragedy-Negro Leader
Arrested-Minor Clashes.

EVANSVILLE, Ind, July 1l.-Judge Louis
o. Rasch to-day received a letter from
Governor Durbin setting oGt in detail the
Governors attitude on the question of the
removal OF Robert Lee from Jeffersonville
to this city for immediate trial and correct
ing the impression which prevails here to
a certain extent that the Governor had as
sumed final jurisdiction over the prisoner,
and had forbade. under any circumstances,
his return to Evansville at this time The
letter, which is dated Friday. is as follows.
Dear Sir-I take it from dispatches APP
pearing In the public press this morning
that my attitude with reference TO the re-
moval or the negro Lee to Evansville for
trial may not be clearly understood. / have
not at any time claimed Jurisdiction over
this prisoner; IL would have been usurpa-
ton OF authority for me 10 do So For pru-
Dental reasons suggested-I did not direct
his removal by the sheriff OF Knox county
from Vincennes to the State Reformatory
at Jeffersonville.
'On grounds fully set forth in my dis
patch TO you of July 1 withheld my sane
ton from any arrangement whereby the
State troops would be permitted To remain
at Evansville 10 protect the civil courts
during the progress of an immediate trial
in your city, which you informed me was
contemplated. / directed that the troops be
withdrawn from Evansville as soon as in the
opinion OF the commanding officer this
might be done without endangering public
safety. Here my authority and RESPONSE
bility ends and that Of the court and its
officers begins. s-..,.-
1T is for you to determine when the pris-
oner shall be returned for trial. and il is for
the sheriff of Eanderburg county 10 make
such provisions for the preservation OF
peace and order In the community as in his
Judgment, as responsible officer, circum-
stances may require. These provisions should
be limited only by the extent OF protection
or prospective danger to constituted author
ity, II SUCH danger still exists.
Nothing could be more salutary, should
further disturbance arise, than that the
civil authorities should demonstrate their
supremacy by stern use OF the force they
are empowered 10 employ in resisting law
less Efforts at interference with the exer-
else OF their just functions. Nothing could
be more unfortunate, as suggested IN my
dispatch OF the 9Th, than that there should
be resort 20 the military arm OF the gov
ernment without the civil authorities first
exhausting their resources in an effort to
subdue lawlessness
1T would be unfortunate in this case,
first. because OF the confession 10 the
world in general and TO the unruly ele-
ments in your community in particular that
the courts may not conduct their procedure.
and peace officers may not effectively
sert their authority, unless this be done
under military auspices. In all have done
/ have had above all else at heart the good
name and the future safety OF your own
community.
Whenever the accused is physically able
to make a defense, IL be has one To offer,
you should not hesitate, in my opinion, Co
direct that he be brought into court, with
a view TO his speedy trial. Let the sheriff
make ample preparations, 10 the end that
at this time the civil authorities may be
sustained, even IL IL be necessary Tor him
to swear into duty every lawabid.ng cit
izen in the community capable OF bearing
arms.
eff it shall be shown that these are not
sufficient-and we all know that the law
less in Evansville insignificant mi
nority-th an back OF them stand the mill
tia, active and sedentary. OF the entire
State, and there shall be no delay. or hesi-
tation, in sending so much OF IL as may be
required, to your support.
I'm this connection L desire to commend
the promptness with which indictments
have been returned against alleged partic-
ipants in the outbreak that resulted I'm the
unfortunate events OF July 8. The blood
of the victims of that tragedy is upon the
heads of those who forced an issue with
the State TO which they owed allegiance.
The best guarantee OF the future safety
of life and property in Evansville will bc
fomenters of riot whose guilt IL is possible
to certainly determine. Very respectfully
yours. WINFIELD I. DCRBlN,
Governor of Indiana"
Referring to Governor Durbin's letter.
Judge Rasch said tonight: Regarding the
return for trial or Robert Lee, the negro
indicted for tse murder OF Policeman Mas
sued to have Lee brought back to Evans
vile. 1t will be done just as soon the
authorities here satisfy me that no danger
will attend the action. When that time will
be L cannot say now"
RESUME OF THE SITUATION.
So many theories have been advanced in
explanation OF Evansville's tragedy that a
resume of the situation from the standpoint
OF disinterested observer may not be amiss.
There are three phases Of the question TO
be considered-First. the causes that led up
to the outbreak of rampant, rioting lawless-
ness; second. could it have been prevented.
and, third, how IL might have been pre-
vented.
The killing OF Patrolman Massey BY the
negro. Robert Lee. was. OF course. the
strong wind that famed into violent con-
fiagration the smoldering embers OF racial
prejudice and disregard OF law that had ex-
isted-and still exists. IL is apprehended in
spite OF the price that has been paid for IL
among a large element OF Evansville pop
ulation. both black and white. The pri-
mary trouble is that Evansville Is cursed
with a considerable number OF bad blacks
and bad whites To explain whence or why
they came would be as impossible as IL N
immaterial. Every city. every hamlet. has
it's bad element: that is inevitable. The
racial prejudice that exists here l. but little.
IL any. more pronounced than IL is in other
cities. Indianapolis. Cor instance, where
the Bungaloo gang has from time 10 time
committed its depredations in spite OF an ef-
icient police force. The police here have
had much trouble with the bad negroes:
naturally they are prejudiced against the
race 10 certain extent One OF their num-
ber was killet by one OF the wors, OF the