The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-11-13
HORROR Scene
DESCRIBED BY
WHIPPED men
Alleged Reds Are Beaten
BrutaIIy; Woman Among
Those LaShed.
HUNT LEADERS OF MOB
JobIeSS Father of Six Is
Forced to Walk Home
on Bare Feet.
By UHred Press

DU OHtIBU FFCSS
PONTIAC, Mich, Nov. 49,, -
Stricken with terror, the unem-
ployed men who were kidnapped and
whipped here for alleged Commu-
mist sympathies, today were of little
assistance to authorities inveSti-
eating the attacks, according to Po-
lice Chief Robert AlSpaugh.
I'VE believe some of the victims
know who the mob leaders were, .
Chief Alspaugh told the United
Press. But they have been in
Inundated"
Alspaugh said Clarence Sherman,
one of those whipped, has agreed to
identify two Of the mobsters if they
are apprehended. Sherman ap-
pears to be our one hope of a wite
ness against mob leaders, the chief
said.
While only three of the victims
have made official reports of the
attacks on them, their accounts in
dictate that at least three others,
including one woman, were abb
Quoted and dashed with horsewhips.
Father of Six
Sherman, "a, father of six chill
dren, today described his experience.
Sherman said he was not a Com
munist.
But I do sympathize with the
unemployment council, because it
can aid me to get work." he said.
Sherman, barefooted because the
mobsterS took from him the only
pair of shoes he owns, forcing him
to walk home from his beating on
the cold pavement, showed weltS on
his back and arms.
Nov, I guess I'll have to walk
barefooted through town to the well
fare Office to ask for Shoes" Sher-
man said.
Il was eating dinner when there
was knock at the front door. It's
boarded up for the winter, so 1 left
the table, went out side door and
walked around to meet them. There
were two men.
Grabbed and TruSSed
They asked me my name, and
when 1 told them I was grabbed
and truSSed up. A sack was pulled
over my head and eyes. Then I was
thrust in the back seat of an auto
mobile. There were five men in the
car.
"At first I didn't realize what it
was all about. We rode a while and
then the car stopped. Later, when
the sack was taken off my head, I
found I was in a Held near state
park at Cass lake." Sherman con-
tinued.
FAs I stood there, bound and
blindfolded, I could hear enough to
know what was in store for me. In
the park others were being beaten.
could hear the fall of whips and
mems screams. Then there was a
woman's scream. They must have
beaten a woman, too.
Thinks Leader Cop
Then l was showed about and
the mask taken from my face. I
knew my turn had come. I looked
about. There we're twelve or fif-
teen automobiles drawn up to form
a circle. The men wore either
handkerchiefs or sacks with holes
cut out for their eyes. The leader,
l believe, was policeman.
"Then came the whipping. was
bound and helpless as the lash fell
five times. No one said much. 1
couldn't recognize any of the voices.
After the beating I was forced to
drink heavy oil. 1t tasted like cas-
tor oil. My shoes were taken off
and I was told to get out"
Leo Fortin's story was similar.
Walter Hardin, Negro, the third
man reported beaten, a resident of
Pontiac fifteen years, said he was
handcuffed by his captors.
when objected to the treat
ment, I was hit on the head with
the butt of a revolver" he declared.