The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-10-08
LEADING CITIZEN STRUCK
IN TRYING TO PACIFY MOB
Prisoner Who Was Sought
Had Been Spirited Away,
Thus Preventing What
Would Have Been a Lynch
ing.
Publishers PresS1

Bloomington, Ind, Oct 7.-Only by
the determined stand of Deputy Shef-
if Davis, the police and NUMBER
of prominent citizens. was an angry
mob kept at bay, and from burning
or entering the Monroe County jail,
at an early hour this morning IN
search of Edwin Jones (colored) who
few hours before had murdered Al
fred Stevens, a restaurant keeper
and we'll known laboring man.
About three O'Clock, so intent was
the mob upon accomplishing its pur-
pose, that a long piece OF railroad
iron was used, in an attempt to bat
ter down the Jail doors, and 1t was
only when Deputy Sheriff Davis told
the crowd that he would shoot to kill.
that the leaders consented that
committee be appointed to make
search for Jones, who had been spir-
tied away through a trap door four
hours before and hurried to Martins
vile.
A Calm Before Storm.
An hour after the first crowd had
demanded the prisoner from the Off
GERS everything seemed to have quiet
ed down. but it was only the calm
before the storm. Shortly after mid
night it was learned that another
mob of much larger proportions was
forming. 1t included quarry men and
laboring men from the suburbs of the
city. The news was at once tele-
phoned to the Jail which was in
charge of Deputy Sheriff Davis who
at once summoned Judge j. b. Will
son. Mayor Malott and Prosecuting
Attorney Londen for a consultation.
At the same time he sent number
of citizens through the crowd to as
sure them that Jones was not in the
Jail, but had long since been taken
to Jeffersonville. This seemed only
to add doubt and fury to the impas
stoned friends of the murdered man.
In the meantime dozen trusted men
detailed to the inside of the jail
where they were armed to protect
the building.
Pacifier Was Struck.
BY this time mob of over 500
were surrounding the jail and the
Jail yard was packed with frenzied
men, demanding the prisoner. George
Henley of the Henley stone company,
attempted to quiet the raving mob
from the Jail steps, assuring them
that Jones was not within. A vicious
attack was made on him and he was
only saved from the excited crowd
after having been struck an ugly blow
in the face.
Policeman Shinn then faced the
mob and with gun in each hand held
them at bay with threats of shooting
any who stepped forward. During this
play G.. H. Cox again tried to satisfy
their demands. 1t was of no avail and
less the crowd was allowed to enter
word was sent to the officers that un-
and search the Jail they would either
burn or dynamite the building.
Fire Alarm Was Sent In.
A fire alarm was sent in and the
companies made a dashing run hoping
to attract the attention of the mob
but the ruse failed. 1t was at this
point that the emboldened leader of
the frenzied crew pushed to the front
with about a dozen followers, who as
sisted him in an effort to batter down
the doors of the stronghold. Deputy
Sheriff Davis took his stand at the
door and with guns showed through
the iron grating commanded the lead
er to surrender. or he would shoot
him down on the spot. This seemed
to bring the crazed man to his senses
and then Deputy Sheriff Davis pro-
posed that if he would quiet the mob
a committee of three might be select
ed from them to enter the Jail and
search for the man. This was done
and the mob dispersed