Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 146, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 June 1915 — ACCUSED WOMAN WROTE TO GOVERNOR [ARTICLE]

ACCUSED WOMAN WROTE TO GOVERNOR

Mrs. Henley, of Thayer, Says She is Being Persecuted by Men Who Would Drive Her Away. Last Friday Sheriff MoCoilly, of this county, and Prosecutor Hess, of the Newton-Jasper cSrcut, went to Thayer to investigate charges made by Mrs. Sarah E. Henley, who was recently released on bail after spending several weeks in jadL Mrs. Henley is charged with complicity in chicken stealing at and near Thayer. She proclaims innocence and blames her trouble to her step-son, Fred Huff, who is now in jail. After being released on bond Mrs. Henley returned to Thayer, where a committee of six men waited on her and advised her to leave town or they would drive her out. Instead of leaving she wrote letters to Sheriff MoColly and Prosecutor Hess and then to Governor Ralston. She asks that she be given protection from the threats of the men whp are trying to force her to leave Thayer. It is understood that the officers advised her to buy ammunition for her 30-30 rifle and to shoot any person who comes about her home after night in an effort to carry out their threat. Governor Ralston’s secretary, Bert New, who is looking after the gubernatorial office during the time the governor is in the south, referred the letter Mrs. Henley had written to Sheriff McOolly. Although Mrs. Henley is accused of complicity in the chicken stealing and notwithstanding the charge made by Roselawn people that she is the head of a family of undesirables, the men who are engaged in the threats ate engaged in a ibusjness that is recognized as about as unlawful as chicken stealing and they had better go a little slow or they are apt to get in trouble that will be difficult to get ou of. Mrs. Henley has a perfect right to continue her residence in Thayer and should be unmolested in doing so. When her case is tried the courts will decied in a proper manner what her fate shall be, but.this section of Indiana wants no revival of the white cap methods of punishment or threats and the prosecutor and other officials should see to it that short work is made of any attempt of this character.