The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-05-21
Law III LouIs,,iIle.
THREE SEsR0Es HUre. ~
Wetuke the following from the L9uisfill,
Journal Uf the 9Th instant:

81 IL
Wetuke the following from the Louisville
Journal Of the 9th instant:
Yesterday afternoon, the arguments OF
the CT unset were concluded in the case OF
ihe three negroes charged with the murder
Of the J. yre family, in this county, several
months ago. Judge Bullock then charged
the jury, who retired, and in a short time re-
iurnrd y Ith a verdict Of "Not guilty" II
would have been impossible, we are told BY
lawyers, 70 render different verdict, csnsiG,
ering the testimony introduced by the prose.
cution, which consisted mainly or the state
ments OF the negroes Implicated in the crime,
Besides, Judge Bullock in his charge deelar-l
ed this evidence to te entitled TO little ifaDy
credit.
d, Immediately after the rendition OF the yer
diet, the greater portion of'the persons IN
The COURTROOM left and proceeded towards
Ithe jail, where the accused were confined =
The crowd was somewhat excited, and mani.
Tested q desire TO satisfy themselves BY tx
eCuting summory vengeance upon the ne.
groes, who they conceived were i'm properly
acquitted. Arriving in front of the jail, they
were met at the gate by the Chiefof the PJ.
lice and a body OF his men, who resisted
their attempt to enter. Foiled in their ef.
forts the excited crowd retired ard until
night were gathered in The vicinity, but made
mo further demonstrations. In The mean
time the police force was strengthened, and
arrangements made for the defense OF the
Jail in view of contemplated attack. by
nightfall the multitude had greatly swelled
| in numbers, and the excitement was mani.
festly increasing. The majority OF the per.
sons present, however, appeared to be mere.
ly fpest"tors, taking no part in the distur-
bance. Appeals were made of a highly in
fisnmatory nature, ard the indignation of
the people was naturally heightened. Final
ly q desperate onslaught was made, the
prison fence was broken down, and the large
crowd rushed to the door. Several shots
were fired, and the force within returned by
the discharge of blank cartridges. This ffm
resistance further mOddened the infuri1ted
mob. A party OF men and boys forced an
entrance into the building where the artil.
Jlery is kept; and procuring q cannon, heavi,
| ly loaded 1t with every da4cription Of deadly
missiles This was planted within few
| Ieet of the prison door, which was already
battered down, and the windows broken in
| Threats were made to discharge the cannon
into the small ante chamber where Mr.
! 1 homas, the Jailor, and his deputies, Mayor
Pitcher and about twenty policemen, were
stationed. 'a faHF." 1- r-2 q .H4 t
/ Further resistance would have been utter.
| ly futile, and at the imminent peril Of the
life 0! every one Of the gentlemen who were
attempting to defend the prison. 1t would
Giso have resulted in demolshhg the prison
! tefences and safe guards, and freed more
than fiity prisoners. Under these circum,
stances the officials in charge found them.
fsclVes forced TO the painfDl measure Of deiy-
ering up the negroes, These ctfcers had,
during the evening, conducted themselves
= with much mnnliress, and for two hours be-
I fore durk, had successfully kept at bay the
tattIcking mob. H ID the crowd been dis.
. Persed whob It first assembled and engaged
| in diSOrder.y proceedings, the terrible ira
geGy that ensued could have been arrested
Three OF the prisoners being delivered up,
1 q razor was given to the fourth in the jail,
(Jaek, the property Of Mr.. Samuels, OF Bul.
/ lit ceunty.) and he cot his throat, scvcring
the jneutir vein and wind pipe, and produc.
: ing instunt death, The wound was Of the
+, most horrible character, and q more ghastly
: spectacle was se1rccly ever Wtncs ed than
! the dead body when it was brought to tho
ynrd and exposed to the view OF the crowt.- -
iInpes were Outainrd, and the other negroes
marched off to the Courthouse Square. AT
the west end, George, the slave OF Mr. Sam
neis, was hung upon Il tree, amid the hoot
/ in Qs and excavations of the multitude The
! ether two were then marched through the
! square, and near FIFTH street were likewise
executed. One of them, the blave of Mr.
Brown, protested his innocence, and plead
| pi'aously to be released. His agony OF mind
ind suffering were very intense. Mr. Pen
dis toms Bill, the one who was the States
evidence. in the case, Wos the last executed
We understand that he and one OF the others
confessed their guilt.
Fires we're kindied under the suspended
bodies, but they were not consumed. Large
numbers of persons fingered about the scene
OF this awfu! tragedy until late hour. The
excitement, in some degree, subsided, and
! tie turbulence gave way to a feeling Of si
lent horror at the terrible scenes that were
witnessed. The rioters themselves, having
wreakcd their vengeance upon the victims,
appeared to be more awe-stricktd than exul-
tNrt. 'h #
pKnSnnRtS nF fF.x,