Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 August 1887 — THE INDIANA OUTLAWS. [ARTICLE]

THE INDIANA OUTLAWS.

Several Connties Terrorized by the Murderous “White Caps.” Indianapol is News. The “White Caps,” or “Regulators,” an organization which has terrorised Orange, Dubois and other counties for a number of years, is just at this time coming into especial prominence because of its strepgth and boldness. Organized ostensibly to execute vengeance upon violators of law, the “White Caps” have long ago degenerated into a - pluii" dering, marauding gang of knaves. Whenever one of the “White Caps” becomes offended at a neighbor,he takes some of his pals into his confidence, serves notice on the offender to leave the country, and, in case of his refusal, steals upon him at night and brutally beats and often shoots him. The work of the gang is .inspired by spite or the hope of plunder, ‘ and their lawless deeds have become so numerous and above-board that the Governor has been called upon to assist the local authorities in bringing the evil doers to justice. A gentleman from the district aflicted by the “White Caps” is in the city today. He says that the public in this part of the State can not appreciate the condition of the terrorized inhabitants in some portions of the counties doriiinated by the organisation. It has come to such a pass that many of the best citizens dare not express themselves, and the gentleman in question says that, since he hopes to return to Orange county, he can not afford under his own name, even at this distance, to make complaint against the gang. On his way out from Orange county he met a farmer who had been prominent in the county, who was hurrying away from the infested district with his family and all his portable possessions, impelled by the “White Caps,” who had made one assault on him and had given him fair warning that he must be out of range before a certain date. He had been obliged to leave his farm, and this he was trying to sell through another. The premises had been plundered by the outlaws.”

“Why don’t you appeal to the local authorities for assistance?” was asked of the complainant, who is now in the city. “It is rfot safe to complain at all. The Governor has advised the county officers, I have been told, that he will assist in prosecuting the marauders, but he does not know the gang. The county officers are afraid to prosecute. They are in many instances the creatures of the regulators. A justice of the peace in our section was recently found to be a member of the gang that had been systematically robbing the stores and neighbors.” “Can testimony against the regulators be had?” “If the witnesses could be protected, an abundance of testimony could be furnished. I know of one case where the “White Caps” assaulted a respecta-. ble farmer at midnight. They were beating him unmercifully, when his daughter ran from the house, and, having seized a knife, began to fight the guard who had been left with the horses. She succeeded in cutting loose several of the horses, and in doing so cut a gash in one of the animal’s breasts. The regulators took after their horses and the next day the ! wounded horse could be tracked to the barn of one of the most prominent citizens in the township. As the gang operates in disguise, it is difficult to recognize them, but in this case, and generally, there is no doubt as to the identity of at least some of the marauders. It would hate been folly to have complained against the prepetrators in the case mentioned above. The leader was evidently the owner of the wounded horse and a man prominent in politics-r-a bigger man than the sheriff, and against whom no county officer would dare raise a hand.

“Another embarrassment is, if one endeavors to organize for protection against the White Caps, lie does not know whom to approach. They are secret in organization, and tfaeir band includes so many of the citizens in its various d< grees and branches that your best friend and nearest neighbor may be a member of high standing. Southern Indiana is suffering severely from this gang and cannot prosper or increase in population from immigration until these murderous Ku-klux have been disbanded. It is a State disgrace that the citizens of three counties should be terrorized for years without relief from local or State authorities. “Some of us are ready to take up arms, or, what ie safer, leave the accursed region forever.” Funniest Part ot a Dog. Texas Siftings. Hunter —“Can you tell me what is the funniest part of a-dog?” Farmer—“ His tail, I guess. It’s such a wag.” “No. The funniest part of a dog is his Jungs!” “How do you make that out?” “They are the seat of his pants,’don’t you see?” £. The Church Nap. “And now,” concluded the clergyman, after a long discourse, “we have seen that millions on millions of people have been benefitted by following this scriptural injunction.” Just then -Lawyer Stubbs woke up long enough to say in a sleepy manner: “Move that the injunction be made permanent”.