The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-09-03
Nightrider Mob, Composed
of Business Men, Almost
Kill NeighbOr.
HE WILL ASK $15,000.00
FROM MOB LEADERS
Attorney Knehans Says Letters
Sent Through Mails Will Go
to U. s. Officials.


80 miles south of the Cape where he
investigated circumstances surround
ing the horse-whipping several weeks
ago Of a man named Howard LeVan,
Oscar A. Knehans, attorney and
United States referee in bankruptcy,
yesterday afternoon announced he ex-
pected to file damage suits shortly
against the "nightriders," naming
some of the most prominent men in
:ne community.
Following the prosecution of the
damage suits, Knehans said letters
which he has in his possession, sent to
, LeVan and man who befriended him
after he had been beaten almost to
death, threatening both men, will be
turned over to the U. S. postal inspec-
tors and a Federal prosecution is sure
to follow.
knehans declared he has evidence
now that will positively identify three
of the men who were in the mob that
attacked LeVan, and he declares that
he is sure, he can name the individuals
who wrote the threatening letters.
LeVan is a young married man liv-
ing at Blodgett Several weeks ago,
the charge that he had been window
peeping was circulated in the town and
he received a letter signed by "The
Fifteen"
The letter briefly told LeVaR to
leave town or he would be harmed
bodily. The handwriting was disguis-
ed, the letters being printed out by
| hand.
LeVan gave the letter no heed and
in few days, the blow was struck.
He was at his home, when a man came
to the door and when LeVan replied
to summons, the man strobe in.
LeVan recognized him as being one
of the most prominent men in the COM
munity. He carried a revolver in his
hand and as soon as he got inside the
door, he began talking.
"Your better get away from here
right away" he cried. "They're COM
ing for you and they're going to lynch
you. You can't tell, maybe that crowd
will hang you. They're hoppin' mad"
He flourished his revolver about as
he spoke, and LeVan started to make
some preparation to leave. In mo-
ment after the last words had passed
the intruder's lips, the door was forced
open and in swept the mob of masked
men.
The first intruder pretended to pro-
tect LeVan with his revolver. He COW
cred the mob, but they insolently
brushed him aside and the young man,
LeVan, was carried off without a shot
having been fired.
Outside the house, the ''nightriders"
tied both hands and feet together and
blindfolded LIE Van. There in the yard
they tore his shirt from his back and
several of the men took turns at beat
ing him across the back with ropes
soaked in water.
It was several minutes before the
mob desisted from their work and fled,
leaving LeVan lying upon the ground
unconscious. His back had been laid
open in a dozen places. The blood
flowed freely from his gaping wounds,
and he barely was able to move.
After several minutes he regained
consciousness and managed to free
himself of his shaclEles. He was crawl
ing toward his house when the man
who first had entered his house, re-
appeared, and said he had wondered if
LeVan had been able to loosen his
bindings.
He left when he found LeVan was
free.
The news of the horse-whipping
spread rapidly in Scott County, and
along with it, went the news that the
mob that did the job had been COM
posed of the best men in Blodgett.
"Nightriders" organization have
been common in that part of the State
among a socialist class, and public of
ficials have been hard put to it to
prosecute them. In recent months they
had well nigh put an end to the mob
idea.
However, the leaders at Blodgett in
the principal business houses believe
that the news of this mob's work will
act in a peculiar way upon the might
riders" They will read in it, being
formed of the best men in the COM
munity, mark of approval of might
riding" and it is feared that much
more mob depreciation in Scott County
will result.
After LeVan had managed to get
into his house, he was unmolested for