Bloomington (IN) Evening World
June 27, 1903
page 1

MOB WAS AFTER MASSENGALE

James Massengale, formerly of Ellettsville, who attempted to criminally assault a little girl at Jeffersonville, Friday, narrowly missed a lynching the same night. A Jeffersonville dispatch says: "If George Kendall, father of the six-year-old girl who James Massengale attempted to assault yesterday afternoon had given his consent last night, a mob would have taken the prisoner from jail and lynched him. Late last night about thirty men called at Kendall's home and endeavored to secure his assistance in hanging the brute, but Kendall refused to go with them and finally persuaded them to desist from their purpose. The prisoner was arraigned before Mayor Schwaninger this morning and pleaded guilty. His bond was fixed at $1,000, and he was immediately hustled off to the reformatory for safe keeping. The prisoner admitted in court that his real name is James Massengale and his home is in Oolitic, Indiana."

Typed and donated by Randi Richardson.