Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1883 — LYNCH LAW. [ARTICLE]

LYNCH LAW.

Selling, tbe Murderer of Ada Atkinson, Hanged b j a Mob. The Old Man Dresses for Death and Meets Hia Doom Coolly.' Jacob Nelling, the murderer of Ada Atkinson at Oxford, Ind., some weeks ago, was taken from the Jatl at Fowler, Ind., on the morning of Nov. 19. conveyed to Oxford by a masked mob and hanged. It will la remembered that after Nelling confessed to the brutal murder of the innocent girl he narrowly escaped execution at the bands of the Inlurialed populace, and was spirited away to Lafayette and confined in the strong prison of that city, for better security against mob vengeance. It uppoa.s that the Tippecanoe county authorities got tired of looking after his welfare, and, as ibe excitement over the tragedy had apparently died out, it was deemed safe to take him back to Fowler for confinement in thp Benton ertunty jail, which was accordingly (lone. Two days after the return of the prisoner the neighbors and friends of the murdered girl proceeded to organize themselves for the work of vengeance, and did it so quietly and secretly that the officers of tbo law were kept In supreme Ignorance of the movement, and were taken completely by surprise. The mob was perhaps the most orderly one that ever strong up a man. While none of the men are certainly known, thelf actions showed thnt they were determined and resolute men. An eye-witness thus describes the affair: “ A solitary horseman was seen to come from the east and rid.- quietly nro nd the Jail. Then he rode rapidly away in tie direction whence he came. About an hour afterward about 170 masked men, in wagons and buggies and on horsci ark, rod : quietly up to tfie jail from the south and posted guards at all the avenues of approach. They then proceeded to divide their forces, a portion going to the entrance io the Sheriff's residence adjoining the Jail, and a part to the east door of the Jail. After demanding the keys to the Jail, they proceeded to batter tbe outer door with sledges. Then with cold chisels, prepared especially for the pur| osc, they cut the locks from the doors, nn l ft» about an hour gal- e l ent -ance to Nil mg’* cell. The old man had in the meantime got Up and dressed himself readytonceve them. They hurried him out to a wagon t at sto si in wai ing, the old man simply remark ng that they ought not to be 50 r >r>gl». t jnt hi ws# older than some of th -m. ’fhtt.i they de./arted with their prisoner in the direction of the murder, near which p'acc he was executed. Everything was done in a business-like manner, having very much the air of a funeral. The jail officials made no determined resistance, owing to tbe number and character of tiie mob.” When Nelilng Was taken from Lafayette to Fowler a few days ago for trial it was given out that he would enter a plea of guilty and accept a sentence or death on condition that his execution be stayed sixty days. Thi» anticipated delay in the course of the law incited' the mob. Nelilng killed Ada Atkinson in ber room some nine weeks ago. She was almost a child, and he had been her father’s laborer for many years. The case excited a great deal of attention, ahd was for several days in mystery. Another roan was arrested on the word of Nelling, but afterward Nelling admitted be lied and said he did it himself. He barely escaped lynching at tho time, and, ag stated above, was removed to Lafayette to avoid tbe fury of the mob. He was to have been indicted and tried in a few days.