The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-06-08
Decision Not to Return Indict-
ment Against RaiIsback
Reached After Making a
Thorough Probe.
DEFENDANT STATES
THAT NE is SORRY
He Said That While He Re-
grets Staying the Meeks, He
Is Convinced That He Did
The Right Thing.

Public sentiment seems to approve
the action of the grand jury in not re-
turning an indictment against Joel
Railsback for murder. The jury did
not come to its conclusion hastily and
had it believed there was reasonable
chance a petit jury would have con-
victed the accused, it would have
brought in bill. In the jury's re-
port to the court it says: I'VE have
made careful examination of all mat
ters pertaining to and in connection
with said alleged crimes and have
heard all witnesses who knew any
thing about said matters. and as re-
suit of said investigation find no bill
or indictment against any person con-
nected with the said alleged crimes" !"
A Good impression.
II there were any wavering members
Of the jury, who questioned the right
of a man to shoot down two others al
though he and members OF his family
were under fire from assailants. their
doubts were dispelled when Railsback
testified. In his quiet calm and dis
passionate manner of conversation he
convinced the jurors that he did not
shoot Alexander and Raymond Meek
from any hatred, enmity or malice.
but solely as a means of defense. That
Railsback made very favorable i'm
preston on the jurors is admitted.
Speaking to friend, after his exon
Grafton. the young man said: II hate
this thing awfully. hate to think
that have killed two men. but what
else could have done? 1t was just
about what any other man would have
done. 1t locked to me at the time as
the only way to save our lives"
Visits His Brother.
After receiving the congratulations
of his friends in the court room and
telephoning the glad news to his home
in the country. Railsback went to the
Reid Memorial hospital to visit his
brother He has been very felicitous
as to the welfare of the injured men,
Der of the family ever since the affair.
Early in the morning of May 10.
Larkin and Joel Railsback took axes
and left their home, two miles west of
the city. They crossed a field. and
accompanied By brother, Frank Jr., a
few minutes later, begun chopping at
the posts which sustained line fence
between their fathers farm and that of
Alexander Meek While the chopping
was in progress Alexander Meek and
his son Raymond rushed up through
the meadow to where the chopping
was in progress. Alexander carried a
revolver and his son held a shotgun.
Alexander demanded that the chopping
stop.
Subject Of Dispute. -....
The fence had been built by him
four years before, but ever since had
been the subject for contention be-
tween the families. the Railsback' s
claiming a part of their land had been
appropriated. Words followed and
Joel Railsback left his brother and ran
to the house. He secured shotgun
and preceded by his demonstrating
father and mother. rushed back te
where the disputants were. As he ap
preached he saw Raymond Meek rails.
his gun and fire at Frank Railsback
Immediately Joel threw his gun int
position and fired. Raymond fallin:
over backward. Alexander Meek hat
begun firing into the Railsback famil.
group with his revolver, and afte
Joers father sunk to the ground. thu
young defender fired at the elder Meek
also killing him instantly.
Frank Was Injured.
| Young Frank had been injured b.
the discharge from Raymond Meek
gun. so Joel climbed into the famil.
wagon and drove to the city. HI
went to the office of a physician. dis
patched him to his home and then pro
ceeded to the county Jail and CAV
himself into the custody of the sher
/ iff
/ The murder was the most sensation
al that has been added to the annals
Wayne county in recent years Tn
| fact that Joel Railsback was on hi
own premises and did not fire unit
fired upon were what proved his saliva
tion. He has been sincere in his be
lief he did the only thing he could un
der the circumstances. He will re
sumo his occupation as carpenter.