Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-10-10
From tho Loransport Journal.
Colfax Mobbed by Old Liners.


Two Men KiIIed----WOmen, Men and
Horses Knocked Down.
From a reliable correspondent, we have
received an account of riot at Bourbon
Marshal county, at the discussion between
Judge Stuart and Mr.. Colfax.
A wagon containing four men and a
number of ladies, came from Kosciusko coun-
ty, to attend the speaking. In the wagon
was borne banner representing buck on
his last legs. Threats were made against
the wagon before it reached the ground
and during the speaking thirty Irishmen,
who were employed by the railroad, prepar-
ed hickory clubs, and as the wagon passed
a grocery at the other end of town, it was
attacked by these men, who knocked down
the horses and commenced an indiscriminate
assault upon all in the wagon.
The screams of the women as they beg
ged for their lives, and the shouts and the
murderous blows of the attacking party were
awful, which drove in terror the multitude,
which was largely made up of women
Men endeavored to save their own families,
and there was no time to assist the unfor-
tunate wagon load, which was soon over
powered by the infuriated brutes, who for
got to discriminate between women and
men in their mad attack.
Whilst one of the mob stood with his
club elevated with both hands, and in the
act of striking, he was shot and fell dead.
The persons in the wagon were seriously
bruised and injured, and were only saved
from death by the attention of the mob di-
rected to another object.
In the wagon was the wife of Mr.. Leffel,
a citizen of Kosciusko county, who, hearing
of the danger of his wife, rode back to pro-
tect her. On approaching the wagon
he and his horse were knocked down
and finding the odds against him too strong
he retreated to the house of the Rev. Mr..
James, whose family, with himself had been
witnesses of the scenes at the wagon. Mr..
Lefel was persued by the mob, who picked
up axes as they went, broke in the door and
a window and brutally murdered him in
the presence of the terrified family. His
body was horribly mangled, his legs and
head being nearly cut to pieces.
Mr.. Colfax had been to supper a third of
a mile from the scene of these transactions,
and in a short time after passed the grocery
where were congregated the assailants Of
the wagon. They assailed his horse with
clubs and nearly knocked him down, and
threatened the life of Mr.. Colfax. He was
able to keep his horse in motion, and escap-
ed. The mob dubbed a man riding short
distance behind him, and threatened the
the life of Capt. Sterling, who had recent
ly become Republican, and beat young
man named Samuel Disher. They took
complete possession of the town, whilst the
people, anxious to save their women, fled
in confusion.
Mr.. Leffel was prominent member Of
the NJ. E. Church. He was mild and in
offensive man, and universally beloved.
All parties agree that there was no pro-
vocation for this murderous affair, and the
assailants are universally condemned particu.
larly by the Democrats who witnessed it.
1t is hard to realize the fact that so wantou
an outrage could be perpetrated in civiliz
ed community, and that Irishmen, who arc
so notorious for their chivalrous respect
for women, should so far forget their charac-
ter as to be guilty of such an outrage
They must have been urged to the deed by
some political fiend, or have been drunk
1t is hoped that the murderers may be found
and punished.