Archer Gang - Shoals, Martin county, Indiana - 1880's - Surnames A-C - Basic Genealogy - Genealogy and Family History

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Archer Gang - Shoals, Martin county, Indiana - 1880's

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Totie	Archer Gang - Shoals, Martin county, Indiana - 1880's		Lead	[-]
Posts: 429 10/27/08 18:11:02	Tags : None I shop at e-bay and I found a 1910 pamphlet on the Archer Gang in French Lick, Indiana and it sold for abt $151.00. I am a Hoosier and I did not know anything about this gang. So, I went looking and found through Google News several articles on the gang. I am going to transcribe them and then post the articles on this thread. If anyone is familiar with Southern Indiana, it is much like the hills of KY. Not all of Indiana is flat, the southern is very hilly and especially the counties of Orange, Martin and Dubois where the gang lived and committed their crimes. For those who can not wait, just do Google News search. There are 13 articles I found through the NYTimes. I will be posting the articles over the coming weeks. Here is a synopsis of the Gang. Archer Brothers (1880's) - Much like the Reno Brothers had operated two decades earlier, the Archer brothers -- Thomas, Mort, John, and Sam, raided Orange and Marion Counties in Indiana for several years. Though to the outside community, they were seen as respectable farmers and shopkeepers, when their funds ran low they turned "bandit." Regularly robbing stagecoaches, trains, and road travelers, their friends and family often protected them against arrest. However, their gig was finally up in March, 1886 when the law found out about their outlaw activities, chased them down, and arrested them. However, before Thomas, Mort, and John could go to trial, vigilantes hanged them. The youngest brother, Sam Archer did go to trial and was found guilty of robbery and murder. He was legally hanged on July 10,1886. http://www.legendsofameri.../WE-OutlawGangsList2.html Last Edited By: Totie 10/27/08 18:26:45. Edited 1 time.
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LincolnsSparrow		#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1959 10/28/08 07:02:43	Great stuff, Totie! I love history, so this really captures me.
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Totie	NewYork Times Dec 31 1885	#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 429 10/28/08 09:02:02	My first installment in a series of article about this gang. The articles are transcribed as read; A BRUTAL MURDERER RUN DOWN, SHOALS, Ind., Dec. 30-John B. Archer, who is charged with the murder of John B. Bunch four years ago, was captured by a posse of 12 men at the farm of Leroy Boyd, five miles south of Vincennes, and brought to the Martin County Jail yesterday by Sheriff Podegett. David Craine, another of the gang, has been arrested here and lodged in jail. Both of these men state that Bunch was killed by the Archer gang in July, 1882, because he had aided a farm band named Marley in escaping from the country. Marley, it appears, had killed one of the Archers in a row, and when Marley got away the Archers set to work to kill Farmer Bunch for aiding him to escape from their clutches. Craine has acknowledged that the Archers compelled him to go Bunch's house and decoy him out. Then, Craine says, the gang ordered him to go home, which he did, when they killed Bunch and threw his body into the river. John Archer says he was placed on watch while the others did the killing. It was the most cold-blooded murder ever committed in this county. A large crowd met Archer one the arrival of the train, and loud cries of "Hang him" were heard on all sides. Archer and Craine are very badly frightened and fear that they will be lynched. The New York Times Published: December 31, 1885 Last Edited By: Totie 10/28/08 09:07:18. Edited 1 time.
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Totie	New York Times Jan 29 1886	#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 429 10/28/08 11:36:08	SAFE FROM THE VIGILANTES. VINCENNES, Ind., Jan. 25.-Martin County Officers succeeded in quietly removing to the jail at Washington to-day John Lynch and John Archer, two of the gang of outlaws who for the past three days have been narrowly watched by vigilantes in the town of Shoals. Sheriff believes the law will be allowed to take its course. The New York Times Published: January 26, 1886 Washington, Daviess County, Indiana
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Totie	New York Times March 11 1886	#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 429 10/28/08 11:37:55	SWINGING FROM MAPLES THREE MURDERERS LYNCHED BY A MASKED MOB. A FATHER DANGLING FROM A ROPE WITHIN THIRTY FEET OF HIS SON-THE ARCHER GANG LEADERS WIPED OUT. INDIANAPOLIS, MARCH 10-A special form Shoals, Martin County, gives the details of the triple lynching there a little after midnight this morning. Precisely at 11:30 o'clock a Vigilance Committee of about 100, composed of men from Martin and Orange Counties, surrounded the jail. The lynches were very quiet and orderly, and the Sheriff was first aroused by the barking of his dog, followed by a knock on the door. He asked who was there, and the answer was a crashing in of the front door, followed by heavy blows which completely demolished it. The mob then went to the jail door and knocked off the lock and were dismayed to find another which would not yield to blows. After about 20 minutes a man in the crowd was found who understood opening the cell door. It yielded to his effort and the lynches rushed in and grabbed all three of the intended victims, Thomas, Martin, and John Archer, the latter the son of Thomas, the ringleaders of what is known as the Archer gang. The mob was provided with the necessary tools both to get in and to capture them if they made any resistance. Several of them had long iron hooks with which to grab the prisoners around the neck if they resisted without endangering their own lives. When the Archer gang saw the lynches they offered not resistance, and when asked if they had anything to say they refused to speak. Their hands were tied behind their backs, and they were taken over to the Court House yard. They were again asked if they had any confession to make, and, still no reply being given by any of them, they were unceremoniously strung up to young maple trees. Tom Archer, the oldest one of the gang, about 60 years of age, was hanged first, Martin Archer, brother to Tom, aged about 45 years, was suspended next. John Archer, son of Tom Archer, who was about 30 years old, was hanged to a tree with hands tied behind him, about 30 feet from his father. The crimes for which the three men were hanged comprised almost everything in the criminal calendar from murder to petty thieving. For 25 years they had been reigning terror both in Martin and Orange Counties, and had terrorized the community in which they lived until the people did now know when they went to bed at night whether they would be murdered before morning or their houses burned down. They never failed to visit vengeance for a fancied slight, and many farmer in Orange and Martin Counties has lost considerable sum of money by daring robbery, the theft of cattle, or the burning down of barns and houses. Martin Archer had a family living in Southwest Township, Orange County, who are well thought of. Two of his children are young ladies teaching school in that section of the country. Old Tom Archer, as he was called, lived in Martin County, Columbia Township, and had a large family, every on of who are under indictments for larceny, arson and murder, and bear a bad name generally. John Archer formerly lived in Columbia Township, and in the pas year had been living in adultery with a woman named Holt, seven miles east of Vincennes, where he was captured two months ago and brought to this town by Sheriff Padgett. The chief cause for their being hanged this morning was the confession of John Lynch, another member of the gang, who is in the Washington (Daviess County) Jail. He made confession and told where the bones of a man name Bunch, one of the victims, were. They were found in two different graves, the body having been cut lengthwise and each piece being buried separate. It seems that unknown parties followed the officials yesterday when they went to the place where Bunch was buried and saw them exhume the remains. Word was immediately spread over the country, and the vigilants prepared themselves accordingly. Excitements is running high and the sudden migration of several people is looked for at once, as the confession of Lynch implicates about 30 or 40 person in the vicinity. The vigilants were well armed and had another rope with them, as they supposed that John Lynch, the man who made the confession, was also in the jail, and they intended to make a complete job of it. Old Tom Archer has a half-inch hempen cord around his neck, while Martin and John, father and son, have a three-quarter inch cotton cord under their chins. This morning their bodies were swinging gently to and fro be the slight western wind that was blowing through the trees in the Court House yard. The mob left all their tools and mask behind them and Sheriff Padgett has them under lock and key for future remembrances. The Coroner was called and went over to the place but did not cut the bodies down. Word has already been sent in from the country not to cut them down but to let them hang, as the country people wanted to see them hanging and great crowds of people are crowding into the Court House yard, which is in West Shoals, across White River, one-half mile from the main part of the town. The New York Times Published: March 11, 1886
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Totie	The New York Times July 10, 1886	#5	[url]	[-]
Posts: 429 11/02/08 10:00:22	THE PENALTY OF MURDER A MEMBER OF A NOTED GANG HANGED AT SHOALS. HOW THE CAREER OF THE LAWLESS RUFFIANS WAS BROUGHT TO AN END BY A VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., July 9 - With the hanging of Sam Archer to-day at Shoals, Martin County, ended the career of as lawless a gang of ruffians as ever inflicted any community or county. The story of their breaking up is a romance. The gang proper consisted of Mart Archer, the Captain, age 40; his brother, Thomas, aged 60; John Archer, son of Thomas, all of whom were hanged at Shoals; Sam and Thomas Archer, also sons of old Thomas, the latter a mere boy, and Mart Archer, a nephew of Thomas. There were associated with them John Lynch, Sam Morley, John Johnson, Mack Holt, Nathan Holt, Wild Tom Archer, son of James Archer, a reputable resident of Martin County; Webb Lynch, William Ross, and Off Minton. The Archers were ostensibly small farmer, whetstone makers and millers, but they lived mainly by plunder and cowardly murder. It was not long after Mart revisited the scenes of his birth before a reign of terror was on in Orange and Martin counties. Horse and stock of all kinds were driven away and never heard of again. Strangers and peddlers were missed, as well as several citizens, and no trace of their bodies were ever discovered. "Little Mart" Archer, the nephew of Thomas and Sam Morley, stole a log raft and quarreled over the division of the money they received for it. Mart was not satisfied over the division and swore he would "blow" on Morley. Morley shot him to death and was helped to escape from the county by one Sam Bunch. A few days afterward Bunch was captured by the gang and taken to a cave two and half miles from French Lick Springs. He pleaded hard for his life, but the scoundrels were obdurate and poared 16 bullets into his body, leaving it in the cave, where the body was afterward found. Shortly afterward Stanford Freeman, 60 years old a cousin of Bunch was called to his door at midnight and murdered in cold blood. A man named McCormack, a Bunch sympathizer, was also shot from ambush and killed, and thus matters went on from bad to worse. The whole county was terrorized. About four months ago the blacksmith's shop of old Joe Wells, situated a short distance fro the French Lick store, was broken open and robbed of a lot of drills, drill bits, saws, squares, and four guns. They were worth $50, and belonged to a very old man with a large family, who worked for old Joe. The village blacksmith was wroth when he saw how matters were, and he declared to himself that he would bring the marauders to terms. He accordingly went to Paoli, and secured to the authority to make arrests. He then took two neighbors, and called at Mart Archer's house in the hills, about a mile distant. Mart was not at home. The same night, about 12 o'clock, old Joe heard a tapping on his window, and on going out found Mart Archer, who said he had come to see what the old man's visit meant. The blacksmith dressed himself, and the two walked around the hills talking. Joe explained that he needed help in capturing the men who had robbed his shop, and that he would give the right sort of man $300 to aid him. Finally a bargain was truck with Mart, the agreement being that he was to show old Joe where the gang was. They met again the next night at 10 o'clock and proceeded to a hut in the hill a mile west of the Licks. The plan was for Mart to go ahead and mingle with his friends. When Joe entered he was to surrender and be afterward paroled. The plan worked like a charm, and a few minutes after midnight with John Johnson, Mack Holt, Nathan Holt, Granville Lynch, and young Tom Archer all marching at the muzzle of a Winchester rifle. They were taken to the hotel at French Lick and guarded until morning, when they were jailed at Paoli. They were tried a week later, and all except young Tom were sentenced to three years each in the penitentiary. Young Tom was sent to the House of Refuge until he should reach his majority. After this the Archers became divided against themselves and began peaching on each other, and I a short time John Lynch, old Tom Archer, and John and Mart were all in jail together. Lynch at once turned State's evidence and divulged so much about the gang that the lives of the men were threatened. They were removed from Paoli to the jail at Shoals for safe keeping. The citizens were not to be cheated, however, and a few nights after the scoundrels had been taken to Shoals the jail was broken open, the three principals were taken out, and strung up without mercy. It was only a week afterward when Sam Archer was arrested in the Fountain County for the murder of Sam Bunch. He was quickly tried and sentenced to be hanged at Paoli on July 9. With four of the principals hanged, five in the penitentiary, Wild Tom Archer on trial for burglary, Webb and John Lynch, William Ross, and Off Minton out on bail, charged with various offenses, the Archer gang is about subdued. Old Joe Wells, the hero of Orange County, is 64 years old, and was born near where he now lives. He is a rugged specimen of the Hoosier rustic, with a wrinkled, beardless face, slender, wiry body, and about 5 feet 11 inches in height. The New York Times Published: July 10, 1886
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Totie	The New York Times March 12 and 14 1886	#6	[url]	[-]
Posts: 429 11/08/08 08:14:35	LYNCHING MUST CEASE IN INDIANA INDIANAPOLIS, March 11.- Bearing on the recent lynching in Martin County, Gov. Gray to-day addressed the following letter to the Sheriff of Daviess County: Dear Sir,- I understand that Lynch, one of the prisoners charged with murder of Bunch, in connection with the Archers, who were hanged Tuesday night at Shoals by a mob, is contined in the Daviess County Jail. The frequent lynching in Indiana of persons charged with crime is bringing the State into public disgrace, and I sincerely hope you will take such precautionary measures as will enable you to uphold and maintain the majesty of the law. Any attempt by persons to take the law in their own hands must be resisted to the fullest extent, and if it becomes necessary you shall have all the assistance required to maintain the supremacy of the law, and insure its due enforcement. Very respectfully, ISAAC P. GRAY, Governor of Indiana The New York Times Published: March 12, 1886 __________________ ANOTHER OF THE ARCHER GANG. Danville, Ill., March 13.-Samuel Archer, Another member of the notorious outlaw family of Archers, three of whom were lynched at Shoals, Ind., Tuesday night, was arrested late last night near Covington, Ind. The prisoner was brought to this city, and will be taken to Shoals to-day. There are three indictments against him for murder in the first degree. He had been in hiding for some months, and when arrested was working in the timber. He was heavily armed but the officer took him unawares. He is a son of Tom Archer, one of the brothers hanged, and is 25 years of age. The New York Times Published: March 14, 1886
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Totie	The New York Times March 17 1886	#7	[url]	[-]
Posts: 429 11/10/08 09:51:01	MOB LAW IN INDIANA, THE TERRIBLE PUNISHMENT METED OUT TO KINDER SMITH. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., March 16.- A Shoals (Martin County) special to the Journal says: Much violence seem to have spread to adjoining counties. A report was current here today for the first time that a bold attempt at lynching was made on Friday night last near French Lick, Orange County. This was not generally known until to-day. The victim was Kinder Smith, a nephew of the late Thomas and Mart Archer, who expiated their crimes more fully. Smith was a desperate character, and was supposed to be implicated in the horrible crimes perpetrated by the family in this county. The mob captured their victim at the house of Bennett Grigsbey. The lynchers, about 35 in number, surrounded the house and demanded the surrender of Smith, who was soon in their possesson. They then marched him in their midst to a dark woods near by, where a rope was in readiness. A noose was hastily made and placed over his neck. The spokesman then ordered the lynchers to make ready. He placed one end of the rope over a limb of a tree and the mob pulled up Smith's body, leaving him dangling in the air for a few moments, when, fearing death would free their victim, he was lowered to the ground. After recovering consciousness he was again swung in midair until he began to turn black, whe he was again lowered and asked to tell what he knew of the Archer gang and their crimes. He said he knew nothing. He was then raise by the rope and lowered again. This time he was almost past saving, but after a short time revived sufficiently to speak, when he was again asked what he knew of the Archer gang, and if he was a member, and, receiving no answer, they decided to try the whipping post. A large bunch of hickory switches were obtained and he was given 40 lashes. When he was again asked for the desired information he said he was innocent, and begged for mercy, when they agreed to free him on the condition that he would leave that section of the State and never again return. He accepted the proposition, and they told him that if he were seen here again a like punishment would be inflicted. The people in that section of the country are determined to protect themselves and property at all hazards, and mob law is the last resort, and they claim it is justifiable in this case, believing that there are some persons yet at large who are as deeply implicated as those already dealt with. The New York Times Published: March 17, 1886
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Totie	New York Times March 25 1886	#8	[url]	[-]
Posts: 429 11/12/08 18:27:25	A VERY UNPLEASANT OUTLOOK. A PROBBILITY OF HANGING WHETHER CONVICTED OR ACQUITTED. JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind., March 24.-Samuel Archer and John Lynch, the Martin County murderers, who have been in the Indiana Southern Prison here for safe keeping for three or four weeks, were taken to Shoals for trial this morning by Sheriffs John A Padgett, Frank Dobbins and Esquire Very. They were met by the militia at Seymour. In answer to questions as to whether he was afraid to go back to Shoals, Lynch said: "No, Sir; I would just as soon go back by myself as with the militia. I'll tell the truth when I get there, if they hang me in the court room. I was led into his thing, and I know the people won't hang me. Sam Archer says he can prove an alibi does he? Well, he'll have a hard time proving it. He was with me in the cave, just as I told before." "Do you think you will get a fair trial in Martin?" asked the reporter. "Fair!" said Lynch. " I would not be tried in that county for stealing a duck. Will the military be sufficient to protect us from any mob? Why, I could take five men and whip the whole county. Yes, Archer is a tough citizen. About two years ago he got drunk and went to the drug store of Dr. Ritter at West Baden, and shot the show window full of holes. On another occasion he set fire to a house and an indictment was entered against him but he was acquitted." Archer was asked what he thought of returning to Martin County. "I feel sort of uneasy," said he, turning pale. "I am afraid they won't give me a chance to prove my innocence, but if they do, I am sure to be acquitted, because I did not murder nor help murder Bunch. I was sick that night. I know there is a feeling against me out there, but the stories about me have been greatly exaggerated. Lynch has talked too much, and has injured both of us by being too free with the reporters. We will ask for a change of venue." Sheriff Padgett told a reporter that Lynch was one of the most reckless dare devils in the county and had very bad reputation. Archer, he said, was also a bad man, and had been engaged in numerous affrays. Calling the reporter aside, he said: "I don't like to talk to newspaper men about this. They have caused most of the trouble. Why, I wouldn't give 10 cents for the lives of these men after the militia leaves. Should either of them be acquitted he will be mobbed 10 hours after being released. The people are terribly excited out there. I think they will both be convicted, but whether they are or not will make little difference as to their final fate. They will both be hanged, whether acquitted or convicted." The New York Times Published: March 25, 1886
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Totie	The New York Times March 27 1886	#9	[url]	[-]
Posts: 429 11/12/08 18:28:59	WILLING TO FOLLOW THE GANG. Shoals, Ind., March 26.-The interest in the Archer murder trial increases. The special feature of yesterday's proceedings was the quashing of the indictments against David Crane and John Lynch, accomplices of the Archer gang. Mrs. Bunch, wife of the murdered man, testifed that young Mart Archer was killed on July 9, 1882, by Tom Morley, an employe of her husband. The killing maddened the entire Archer gang against Bunch. David Crane, the second witness, swore that the Archers compelled him by threats to assist them. Six witnesses were examined yesterday, among them John Lynch, who helped to murder Bunch, and who turned State's evidence. Some very damaging and sensational testimony was elicited against the outlaw. The military escort the prisoners to and from the court room. Everybody believes that Archer will be sentenced to death. He has expressed the feeling that he does not care whether he is hanged or not. He says that all the "boys"- the gang, are gone and he is willing to go too. The New York Times Published: March 27, 1886
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Totie	The New York Times March 28 1886	#10	[url]	[-]
Posts: 429 11/12/08 18:30:29	THE LAST OF THE ARCHER GANG. SAM ARCHER TO BE HANGED AND JOHN D. LYNCH TO GO TO PRISON. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., March 27-A special dispatch from Shoals, Ind., gives the conclusion of the trial of Sam Archer, the last of the gang three of whom were recently lynched in the Court House yard. The trial has been proceeding since Wednesday, the prisoner being under the guard of a company of State militia from this city. After the Judge had charged the jury they retired, but were not out more than an hour when they agreed upon the verdict, as follows: "We the jury, find the defendant, Samuel Archer, not guilty as charge in the second count of the indictment, and we do find the defendant, Samuel Archer, guilty of murder in the first degree as charged in the first count of the indictment, and assess his punishment at death." The prisoner, who sat facing the jury, moved not a muscle, but sat motionless as he had during the whole of his trial, yet his face showed that he was in deep thought. The attorneys asked for a new trial, which the Judge overruled. Another motion was made asking an arrest of judgment, which was also overruled, and then the Judge addressed the prisoner as follows: " It has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that you willfully and maliciously took the life of Samuel A. Bunch, making you guilty of the charge of preferred against you of murder in the first degree, for which crime you shall suffer death. You shall hang by your neck in the jail yard in West Shoals until you are dead on the 9th day of July, 1886." Had the Judge fixed the date three days later it would have been the fourth anniversary of the murder for which Archer forfeits his life. In the meantime the Judge ordered that the prisoner be kept in closed confinement in the Martin County Jail or such other place of the safety as the court may from time to time direct. The prisoner was then removed to his cell. He was gazed at by hundreds as he passed through the long lines of people on ether side of the walk through which he was required to pass. The court room was then cleared of part of the spectators, and John D. Lynch, the last of principal evidence was obtained which fixed the guilt of his comrade, was called to answer the charge of perjury. He pleaded guilty, and was immediately sentenced to three years at hard labor in the State prison. He was removed to jail to remain until afternoon, when he was taken to the station under the escort of Sheriff Padget and the militia, and arrived at the Jeffersonville Prison this evening. Since the conviction and sentence of Sam Archer it is currently and authentically reported that he has exposed the entire gang, and that some starting revelations will be result. It is thought the Archer gang is not the proper appellation, and that the organization extends over some half dozen counties at least, and that Mart Archer, the acknowledge leader in this locality, ranks no higher than second lieutenant as compared with some of the other leaders. The New York Times Published: March 28, 1886
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Totie	Two years later, New York Times March 4 1888	#11	[url]	[-]
Posts: 429 11/18/08 09:54:42	ARRESTED FOR AN OLD MURDER. VINCENNESES, Ind., March 3-Intense excitement prevails in Shoals, Ind., over the arrest of John G. Jones, County Commissioner; Mr. Stanfield, and James Archer, charged with the murder of Jack Ballard a Federal soldier 24 years ago. Albert Qualkinbush turned State's evidence. Ballard came back to this county during the war to arrest a deserter, and, it is said, the above parties belonged to the Knights of the Golden Circle. At a meeting of the order Ballard's murder was decided on, and it is alleged that the men arrested were implicated in the commission of the crime. Jones is out on $1,000 bail, Stanfield and Archer are in jail, and a man named Stone, who resides near Olney, Ill., it is said will be arrested. The New York Times Published: March 4, 1888
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Totie	The New York Times March 5 1888	#12	[url]	[-]
Posts: 429 11/18/08 09:56:10	AN OLD MURDER RECALLED ARRESTED AFTER A QUARTER OF A CENTURY. INDIANAPOLIS, MARCH 4.-The indictment of four men, and the arrest of two in Newton County for the murder of a man named Jack Ballard recalls on the political crimes which were committed in Southern Indiana during the time of the civil war. The neighborhood of Jack Ballard's home, in Martin County, was the "stamping ground" in which Bowles, Milligan, and Horsey are alleged to have figured so conspicuously. Steve Horsey yet lives in Martin County, and he is frequently seen at the Court House in West Shoals. The spot where Ballard was killed is but a few miles from French Lick Springs, which were then owned by Dr. Bowles. Ballard was a member of the Company I, Twenty-fourth Indiana Volunteers. In the Spring of 1864 he obtained leave of absence to go home, and was also given instructions to arrest a deserter supposed to be hiding in Lost River Township. His mission was suspected by the Knights of the Golden Circle, and a plot was laid to murder him. It was well carried out, for on the morning of the 18th of March he was shot from ambush just after he had left his house and was instantly killed. The rifle shots were distinctly heard by his wife and children. Suspicion was directed toward several persons, but owing to the fact that a large number were in sympathy with the assassins nothing was done, and the crime has lain quiet for a quarter of a century. Last Thursday an old man named Albert Quackenbosh appeared before the Martin County Grand Jury, confessed that he was one of the party that murdered Ballard, and implicated John G. Jones, William Stanfield, and James Archer, all of whom have been arrested, and are now in the hands of the officers. Jones is a member of the Board of the County Commissioners, and is an Elder in the Christian Church. Archer is a brother to two of the Archers who were lynched at Shoals three years ago, and an uncle to Samuel Archer, who was executed July 9, 1886. Stanfield is the father of the young girl who was murdered a few months ago by Charles Archer, her lover. Charles is a son of James and is now in jail at Shoals charged with Miss Stanfield's murder. The Archers claim that the girl committed suicide. This trouble between the Stanfield and Archer families created such an ill feeling that Quackenbosh, out of revenge and to protect himself, appeared before the Grand Jury and informed on his own accomplices in the murder of Ballard. He was promised immunity for his confession. A strange story could not be conceived. The New York Times Published: March 5, 1888
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Archer Gang - Shoals, Martin county, Indiana - 1880's

Archer Gang - Shoals, Martin county, Indiana - 1880's