Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 November 1902 — HANGED BY FARMERS [ARTICLE]

HANGED BY FARMERS

A NEGRO LYNCHED IN INDIANA DESPITE GOVERNOR. J Mob Hurries Its Plan When the Troops Are Called—-Takes Prisoner from Sheriff and Before Women Victims—Victim Protests Innocence. Indiana farmers, armed and angry and refusing to heed piteous appeals for mercy, lynched James Dillard Thursday night in spite of the efforts of Sheriff Dudley and Governor Durbin to protect the negro captive. The mob hanged him on a telegraph pole near John lemon’s farm, ten miles from Sullivan, in Knox County. Previous to his execution by the mob Dillard had been identified by Mrs. Mary Davis, of Sullivan County, wife of Milton Davis, and Mrs. Lemon as the man who attacked them the Tuesday. Both women are still in a critical condition as a result of injuries inflicted by the negro. The attacks on Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Lemon aroused the entire region for miles surrounding their homes. Men nnd boys swore to be avenged if the perpetrator could be captured. Posses were organized and the police of many towns and the sheriffs of all near-by counties were asked to join In the man hunt. Negro Arrested in Illinois. Dillard was arrested Wednesday at Lawrenceville, 111., after » fight with the town marshal, in which the negro was shot three times. News of his capture and of the suspicion that he was the assailant of Airs. Davis and Mrs. Lemon spread rapidly and at once rumors of a prospective lynching arose. In order to protect Dillard better the marshal of Lawrenceville, took him to Robinson, 111. John Lemon was informed of the capture and he hurried to Robinson. He Identified the prisoner as the perpetrator of the assaults in Indiana. Sheriff Dudley, of Sullivan, went to “Robtireon. secured the prisoner and with several deputies to assist brought him to Sullivan Thursday afternoon. The sheriff made an attempt to steal into town without the knowledge of the citizens. But the angry fanners were on guard at every conceivable spot. Half a hundred determined men with revolvers In pockets or shotguns in hand awaited the sheriff’s return and they discovered the sheriff the moment he reached town with the prisoner.

Mob Seizes and Beata Prisoner. Sheriff Dudley and the negro, accompanied by the deputies, came back in a wagon. As Dudley drove up to the jail the members of the mob ran from hiding places and overpowered the officers. Tha deputies offered resistance, but were compelled to release the negro. Dillard begged for mercy. The mob beat him over the head with revolvers. Dillard was dragged into the main street of Sullivan and thrown into a wagon. The mob then followed after the wagon and he w’as taken to the home of Mrs. Davis, where he was identified. Then the mob started with the negro for the farm of John Lemon. The mob meantime had swelled to enormous proportiona. —— —— • Mob Outwits the Governor. Soon the mob learned that an appeal had been made to Governor Durbin for troops to protect Dillard. It also learned that the Governor had ordered Captain McCoy, with Company A of the State guard, to leave Vincennes by special train and intercept the mob at some point between Carlisle and Oaktown. At- once the mob took means to thwart the Governor’s order. The leaders with the prisoner Inshed their horses and drove to Lemon’s home by a route that avoided the railroad. It took some time to get the militiamen together and more to prepare a special train. Meanwhile the mob drove the ten miles to Lemon's, secured the identification of Dillard by Mrs. Lemon, and then started back to Sullivan. A mile from the farm the fanners held a council, condemned Dillard to death nnd, in spite of his pleas for mercy, threw a n pe over a pole and jerked him into the air. When he was dend the mob dispersed. Protests He Is Innocent. Before his execution DiHard wns nsked If he wished to make any disposition of hie body. “Yes, I want it sent to my mother, Mrs. Anna Bursh, 14th street, Indianapolis,” was the reply. "I die an innocent man and I hope you won’t beat me with clubs or shoot me.” The lenders of the mob assured Dillard they would not torture him. “Then 1 am ready to go to my maker.” he said without • tremor in bis voice or the least sign of fear. He muttered a prayer as the crowd drew him up. News of the lynching reached Vincennes nnd the Governor's office in Indianapolis just ns the State troops were taking a train. The Governor then countermanded the order calling out the troops.