Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 54

Author: Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: 428, 502 p. : ill., ports. ;
Number of Pages: 962

USA > Indiana > Whitley County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 54
USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 54

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

thieves, or as manufacturers or passers of bogus coin and counterfeit bills, it is thought best to mention as few names as possible in this brief narrative. The children and grandchildren of James Brown are yet living near Akron, Ohio; and, without exception, are all upright and law-abiding citizens. And yet they all feel that their father's infamy is a dark blot on the family name and honor. So it is in a score of instances in Noble County. Hundreds of the best citizens are connected by ties of consanguinity with blacklegs, whose names have become synonymous of disgrace and dishonor. Prudence would dictate, then, that in this volume the subject should be treated generally, that the feelings of delica- cy and shame in the hearts of descendants may be spared, and the family name and honor be cleared of infamy.

New countries are always the haunts of criminals and outlaws. There they find security, secrecy and that lack of law which specially favors their atrocious deeds of villainy. Noble County at once became the headquarters of scores of convicts and criminals, and soon gained national repute as a perfect hot-bed of sagacious crime. In California, after the gold excitement had somewhat subsided, any man, it is said, who announced himself as coming from Noble County, Ind., was regarded with suspicion and distrust. So it was as far east as Maine, and as far south as Florida. Peace officers all over the United States and Canada heard of Noble County, and wondered why the gang of blacklegs was not broken up and dispersed. While it is true that horses, merchandise, money, and, in short, any property wanted by the blacklegs, were taken from the citizens of Noble County, yet it was not done to that alarming degree as to rouse the people of the county to a concerted effort against them until about 1856. A large, well-organized band of criminals made Noble County, among other places, the headquarters where counterfeit bank bills were made, where bogus coin was minted, and where stolen property of all kinds was secreted until the ardor of pursuit had abated, and the property could be disposed of. Criminal action was not comfined to the county, nor to Indiana ; but spread into all the neighboring States, and even West into the Territories. This is what, more than anything else, rendered the name of Noble County odious and detestable. It was the harbor of all villains. It was where they found sympathy and encouragement, security and assistance. Here they could dispose of stolen property. Here they obtained counterfeit bank bills and bogus silver coin. Here they were secreted from irate owners of stolen property and from pursuing peace officers. All this assistance, security and protection were furnished by resident blacklegs, men of seeming integrity, who were often wholly unsuspected by their nearest neighbors of having any complicity in the nefarious practices. Further than this, the very men secretly engaged in assist- ing criminal procedure were elected to the most prominent official positions in the county. The County Sheriff at one time (and perhaps others) was a noto- rious blackleg. It was next to impossible to secure a jury of honest men. Lawyers were blacklegs. Constables in almost every township were corrupt

Orlando Kimmell YORK TP.

HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

and criminal. For these reasons, the laws were ineffectual and powerless. In all law-suits other than against blacklegs, the demands of justice were strictly complied with as far as the blacklegs were concerned, as it was to their interest to appear honest and law-abiding. But, when horse-thieves or passers of coun- terfeit money were charged with crime and arraigned, it was found next to im- possible to convict them. They usually managed to escape on one pretext or another.

It is necessary to begin at the earliest settlement of the county, and trace the growth both of crime and of the efforts made to curtail or terminate it. As early as 1836, Alpheus Baker, residing in the eastern part of the county, lost three valuable horses the morning after his arrival. As many as a dozen other horses were taken during the same year; and, prior to 1840, there must have been at least fifty horses " pulled " from residents of the county. No township or locality was spared. Men dared not keep fine horses, and many were wisely contented with animals too worthless to be bothered by thieves. In 1839, the first real movement was made against the blacklegs. This will be found narrated in the chapter written by Mr. Prentiss. Some twenty were arrested, against nine of whom bills of indictment were found, but all managed to escape the punishment they no doubt deserved. In about 1842, William Mitchell and Asa Brown, who had assisted in the arrest of horse-thieves from Ohio, two men who had fled to Noble County for protection, were repaid for the act by the burning of their barns. About the same time, stores at Rochester and other places in the county were broken open, and considerable property was taken by burglars. Men were attacked in their own cabins, and compelled at the muzzle of pistols to hand over their ready money. Peddlers were stolen from in much the same manner, and widespread apprehension of robbery and even murder was felt. About this time, a public meeting was called for the purpose of organizing a society for the protection of property, and for raising the necessary funds to pay for detecting and capturing thieves and other criminals. This meeting is said to have been held at Kendallville. With startling audacity and presumption, the very men who habitually protected and harbored criminals, were loudest in their denunciations of all blacklegs, and most earnest in their declarations that something must be speedily done to check the alarmingly prevalent commission of crime. They thus became perfectly familiar with all the schemes to detect and capture blacklegs ; and of course were enabled to completely baffle all such attempts. The results of the meeting were thus rendered abortive.

While every township had its blacklegs and rascals, perhaps the most notorious place was in the northeastern part of the county, in and around Rome City, and a little farther north, at a spot known as " The Tamarack." In this vicinity, several of the most notorious leaders of the blacklegs resided. The physical features furnished excellent facilities for the secretion of stolen property of all kinds. It was in this vicinity that, so far as known, the only bogus coin

HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

was manufactured in the county, except, perhaps, in Noble Township. In the latter place, while it is clear that the necessary implements for manufacturing bogus coin were found, yet there is no conclusive evidence that such coin was minted there. Men lived there who dealt largely in the coin, buying it for about 25 cents on the dollar of those who did manufacture it, and passing it at every opportunity to travelers and others. There is reasonably conclusive evidence that counterfeit bank bills were engraved and printed in Noble Town- ship. It is related that one of the oldest and most prominent citizens of Noble Township audaciously admitted to every one that he had any amount of bogus coin. He is said to have answered a man who wanted to borrow money of him, " Yes, come over ; I have plenty. I know it's good, because I made it myself." It is also stated that he bought a piece of land of the Government Agent at Fort Wayne, paying for the same with bogus silver coin. Speaking of this transaction, he said, " The money was so d-d hot it burnt my fingers." An engraver of bills resided in Noble Township ; also a signer of the same.

The Tamarack was a notorious place. Both counterfeit bank _bills and bogus coin were manufactured in this vicinity. Hundreds of men were induced to pass bad money, who would not assist in the manufacture. Hundreds of men would buy and secrete stolen property, who would have nothing to do with stealing. Hundreds of young men were led into a more or less guilty com- plicity in criminal practices. This was one of the principal reasons why rascals could not be detected. So many were in some manner connected with the blacklegs, that neighbor dared not trust neighbor, and all concealed the truth. A certain chivalrous dignity became attached to the term " blackleg," that adventurous young men could not resist. They were thus gradually led into crime. It must be understood that, while there was no boldly open and concerted opposition to the execution of the laws in the capture and conviction of criminals, yet the efforts of honest officers were avoided and the require- ments of the law frustrated. Honest men were not wanting; they lacked unity and secrecy of action. All their plans became at once known to the blacklegs, and they were thus for many years outwitted and misled. Perhaps no one individual among the honest men of the county was responsible for the lack of unity and secrecy in the conviction of criminals; and yet it is strange that, during all the long years of guilt and fear, no united and determined effort was made to end the "reign of terror." It cannot be said that there was not a sufficient number of honest men, as the criminals were comparatively very few. The execution of a few horse-thieves or counterfeiters by "Judge Lynch" would have ended the reign of crime in its infancy. It is a matter of wonderment that something of the kind was not done. What could the honest men have been thinking about ? Are they altogether free from blame ?

During the period from the earliest settlement until the power of the blacklegs was broken, many criminals were made to suffer the penalty of their misdoings. Six or eight persons, several of whom yet reside in the county,

HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

were sent for short terms to the penitentiary. The blackleg leaders could not be caught by the mild efforts made ; neither could the gang be broken up. At last, lawlessness had become so widespread, that the State Legislature, in 1852, enacted a law authorizing the formation of companies of not less than ten nor more than one hundred persons, with all the rights and privileges of constables, in the detection and apprehension of criminals. Strange as it may seem, no movement in pursuance of this law was made in Northern Indiana until 1856, at which time the "La Grange County Rangers" came into being. Within the next three years, thirty-six other companies were organized in Northern Indiana. The following were those formed in Noble County: Al- bion Rangers, Jefferson Regulators, Lisbon Rangers, Noble County Invincibles, Port Mitchell Regulators, Perry Regulators, Swan Regulators, Sparta Guards and Wolf Lake Sharpers. Perhaps there were several others. About five hundred men belonged to the companies organized in Noble County. The Lisbon Rangers numbered eighty-one members, the Swan Regulators sixty- one, the Port Mitchell Regulators sixty and the Perry Regulators seventy- nine. While the law undoubtedly brought these companies into existence, some of them went beyond the stipulated legal authority conferred upon them. The law gave them no right to try, convict or execute criminals. The author- ity conferred was confined to the detection and arrest of law-breakers. Any company that went beyond this was acting without proper legal authority. Each company adopted a constitution and by-laws, setting forth the various objects of the society. Any person making application for membership was required to bear an untarnished name, to make a solemn pledge of secrecy, and to subscribe his name to the constitution and by-laws. The deliberations of each company were kept in profound secrecy until the contemplated arrests were made. Any man against whom suspicion rested, unless he cleared himself to the satisfaction of the regulators, was denied membership in any company. This state of affairs soon completely overthrew the power of the blacklegs.

During the autumn of 1857, the first shot was thrown in the ranks of the enemy. "The first public demonstration was a grand parade of the regulators on the 16th of January, 1858, at an old settlers' meeting at Kendallville. Soon after the arrival of the morning train, and just before the organization of the meeting, about three hundred men on horseback moved down in majestic strength through the streets of the town, bearing mottoes and banners of every description, one of which contained a representation of the capture of a crim- inal with the words, 'No Expense to the County.' After a full display through the principal streets, they repaired to the common near the Baptist Church, where several speeches were made, severely denouncing the blacklegs, and setting forth the intention to forthwith end their infamous deeds. This, to Noble and adjacent counties, was the star of hope-the omen of better days in Northern Indiana."* Many blacklegs were in town, who saw with fear that they

* From History of the Regulators of Northern Indiana, by M. H. Mott, Esq., of Kendallville.

HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

could no longer control things as they had formerly done. Early on the fol- lowing day (Sunday, the 17th of January, 1858), a posse of fifteen or twenty members of the Noble County Invincibles, from Ligonier, proceeded to Rome City, and arrested nine (afterward five more) of the most notorious blacklegs, one of them being Gregory McDougal, all of whom were taken to Ligonier and placed in confinement to await investigation. A separate and private confer- ence was had with each man, and an opportunity afforded him to make a full confession, after which he was returned to confinement to await the action of the Regulators. In most cases confessions were volunteered, but, in a few instances where they were refused, a rigid means of extorting them was adopted. In this manner a more or less complete confession was obtained from each blackleg arrested .* From the time of the arrest until the 25th of the same month, thousands of people went to Ligonier to see the rascals and watch the movements of the Regulators. Every train brought in men who had been stolen from, and who had come forward to ascertain from the confes- sions where their property could be found. Scores of witnesses appeared from all quarters, even from the Eastern States, with damaging testimony against the culprits. In every confession, men were implicated who had previously borne an irreproachable character. This led to many additional arrests. One of the rascals had stolen thirty-six horses, besides a large amount of store goods. Every confession was a continuous and shocking recital of theft, bur- glary, assault, counterfeiting and other crimes. A committee of five of the most prominent Regulators was appointed to decide what was to be done with the blacklegs. This committee heard the confessions, questioned the prisoners, and examined witnesses. A few arrested parties were dismissed for want of damaging testimony. All the others, except McDougal, were turned over to the legal authorities.

The career of McDougal had been much more infamous than any of the others. By his own confession, he, with the assistance of others, had stolen in less than a year thirty-four horses ; had broken two jails ; robbed four stores and two tanneries; taken the entire loads of two peddlers, besides a large amount of harness, saddles, buggies and other property, and had passed large amounts of counterfeit money. He publicly boasted that no jail could hold him, and that he feared neither God, man, nor the devil. The Deputy United States Marshal of Michigan stated to the committee, under oath, that in Canada a reward had been offered for the arrest and conviction of McDougal, who was charged with robbery, jail-breaking at Chatham, and murder. The Marshal (a Mr. Halstead) also testified that he went to Canada to investigate the matter, and there learned that McDougal had killed a jailer's wife in order to free his brother from confinement. The testimony of a confederate of Mc-

* Prominent men at Ligonier, who were Regulators, and who participated in the examination and punishment of the blacklegs, informed the writer that several of the criminals refused to confess until they were threatened with lynching, Ropes were brought in and even placed around the necks of the villains; this generally brought them to their senses. It is said that one man was actually suspended by the neck for a few minutes, and then let loose, after which his confession was given without further ceremony.

HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

Dougal confirmed this evidence of murder. It was also testified by the same witnesses, and others, that McDougal had robbed and murdered a school teach- er on the ice in Canada. One witness also testified that McDougal and several others had tortured an old Scotchman with fire to compel him to hand over his money. All this evidence satisfied the committee, and the Regulators gen- erally, that McDougal was guilty of murder. The testimony was carefully considered ; the whole subject was calmly and impartially scanned and dis- cussed, and the committee finally, on the 25th of January, unanimously adopted the following report :

We, the committee appointed by the Noble County Invincibles, to collect and investigate the evidence in the case of Gregory McDougal, now pending before this society, ask to make the following report : After having made a full and fair investigation of all the testimony, and having found during said investigation evidence of an unmistakable character, charging the said Gregory McDougal with murder, do recommend that the said McDougal be hung by the neck until dead, on Tuesday, the 26th of January, 1858, at 2 o'clock P. M.

Soon afterward the following resolution was passed :

Resolved, That the captains of the several companies of Regulators in Noble and adjoin- ing counties notify the members of their companies to appear at Ligonier on the day of execu- tion, at the hour of 12 M., and that each captain be requested to escort his own company into the village in regular file and good order.

The above report, recommending the hanging of McDougal, was submitted to the large assemblage of Regulators present, and on motion was received and adopted. It should be noted by the reader that, while the whole country was roused up at the prospect of the execution, and while Ligonier was filled to overflowing with excited men, the investigating committee was calm, just, de- liberate and rational, and the great body of Regulators thoughtful and deter- mined. All felt the responsibility of executing the sentence of death upon a fellow-mortal; and the decision was only reached after nearly two weeks of impartial investigation. McDougal, no doubt, had as impartial a trial as he could have received in a regularly authorized court. Of course, the Regulators had no legal right to put him to death. But it has been the custom the world over from time immemorial, when the law is inadequate to afford protection to life and property, for the people to arise and calmly put offenders beyond further power of committing crime. In a case of this character, when a fair and impartial trial is afforded the accused, when competent men are appointed to defend (as in the case of McDougal), when all proceedings are deliberate, wise and just, and the law cannot afford that protection guaranteed by the constitution, society recognizes the right of the people to punish criminals, even to the extent of taking life. This was precisely the state of affairs in the trial and execution of Gregory McDougal. It may be presumed that the in- vestigating committee knew what they were about when they recommended his execution. While McDougal confessed multitudes of crimes, he never admitted having committed murder, even when standing on the scaffold.

Soon after the decision to hang McDougal was reached, he was informed for the first time of the doom that awaited him. Prior to this, he was careless

HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

and defiant. He declared he could not be frightened, and made profane and insulting remarks to those around him. When he was officially told that he was to be hung at 2 o'clock on the morrow, he became confused and affected, and made some wandering remarks. He asked for a clergyman, and also desired that his wife be sent for. This lady and her little child-the child of McDougal-arrived at 7 o'clock the next morning, and learned for the first, from the lips of her doomed husband, of his impending fate. She was com- pletely overcome with frenzied sorrow. McDougal, though perfectly composed, wept freely, and lamented his fate. The poor wife wept violently and bitterly, and the little child, catching the reflex of sorrow, cried with its parents. McDougal firmly denied that he had committed murder ; and his wife, on her knees, with streaming eyes, implored the Regulators to wait until her husband's innocence could be established. She begged that his execution might be delayed until some one could visit Canada ; but her prayers were unheeded. The final separation was hard; but McDougal resolutely kissed for the last time the sweet faces of his wife and child, and was hurried away. He was placed in a wagon which contained his coffin, and driven to near Diamond Lake, accompanied by a large crowd. Here a rope was fastened to the limb of a tree, a plank was extended from the top of the wagon to a prop at the other end, and the doomed man was given a last chance to address his fellow-beings. He spoke for about five minutes, declaring solemnly that he had never committed murder, but had stolen much property. He advised young men to take warn- ing from his fate, justified the intention of the Regulators to break up the gang of blacklegs, and finally declared his belief that God had forgiven his sins. His face was then covered, the rope was placed around his neck, the prop was knocked out from under the plank, and in a few moments Gregory McDougal was pronounced dead. That was the soberest occasion ever occurring in Noble County. McDougal lies buried near Rome City. His execution produced a profound impression in all the surrounding country ; and the power of the blacklegs was completely broken, and the guilty members scattered in all direc- tions-fugitives from the law.

Two things remain to be noticed concerning the McDougal case: The right of the regulators to take the law into their own hands in the execution of the death sentence upon a fellow-mortal, and the conclusiveness of the testi- mony charging McDougal with murder. In regard to the first, it may be said that society, more especially in a new country, where the law is slack or alto- gether wanting, has always asserted the privilege (or the right) of hanging horse-thieves. While such action is often deprecated, yet the world at large condones and frequently applauds the offense. The servants of the law, knowing the sentiment of the public on this question, submit to the act and secretly say : "I'm glad of it." When, however, the crime of horse-stealing is repeated again and again under peculiarly atrocious circumstances and through many successive years ; when numerous assaults coupled with highway

HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

robbery and burglary are added; when the infamous career of crime is darkly burdened by one or more distressing murders, and when the law is lifeless and inert-who will undertake to say that society is not entitled to the privilege (and perhaps the right) of calmly, justly and deliberately taking human life ? But it cannot be said that, in 1858, the law could not be executed ; neither was it necessarily inoperative through the preceding twenty years. Nine out of every ten men in the county were honest. Why did they not execute the laws ? It was also seriously doubted at the time, even by the Regulators, whether McDougal was really guilty of murder. One of two things is certain : If McDougal was hung on the testimony that he had committed murder, and would not have been hung if such testimony had not been given, then either the investigating committee were satisfied of the conclusiveness of the testimo- ny, or they willfully perjured themselves, and outraged the public, in recom- mending his execution. The report of the committee does not state that " un- mistakable evidence of McDougal's guilt " was found ; but that "unmistakable evidence charging him with murder " was found, and in consequence of the evidence of the murderous charges his execution was recommended. It is rea- sonably inferred from the report, that the committee were not satisfied that Mc- Dougal had committed murder ; but that they recommended his hanging on general principles, because, by his own confession, he was an infamous villain, and because the charge of murder was tolerably well substantiated. Perhaps they also thought that his death would terrify his companions, and break up the gang of blacklegs. This is the view taken of the case by the great majority of citizens. It was afterward ascertained, beyond doubt, that the persons alleged to have been murdered by McDougal were yet living in Canada. In view of this fact, it is said that Halsted must have perjured himself before the commit- tee. One thing is certain : When Halsted visited Ligonier some time after- ward, he left the town in a hurry in fear of being lynched.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 54

Author: Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: 428, 502 p. : ill., ports. ; Number of Pages: 962

Author: Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: 428, 502 p. : ill., ports. ;
Number of Pages: 962