Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-01-12
A COURT ROOM RIOT.
Murder Trial at Mt. Vernon, KY, Broken
Up by an Intoxicated Witness-The Per-
sonal Bravery of the Judge 0uells the
Tumult, Which Ends Without Blood
,od

Up by an Intoxicated Witness-The Per
sOnal Bravery Of the Judge Quells the
Tumult, Which Ends Without Blood
shed.
MOUNT VERNON, Jan. 11.-This little
village, usually so quiet, was yesterday
the scene of wild and tumultuous, but
bloodless riot The circuit court was in
session, A. o. Bradley sitting as special
judge. The cause of the commonwealth
against Robert Randall, murderer, was
on trial, and witnesses were testifying.
John Mu llins, witness in the case, who
had been placed under rule, came into
the court room in an intoxicated condi-
ton, and was leaning against the bar.
Judge Bradley spoke to him, asking him
if he was not witness. Upon his reply
in the affirmative, he asked him what he
was doing in the court room. Mullens
responded that he was standing there,
he reckoned. "Fine him $40, Mr. clerk, %
said the Judge. Mullens made
another insulting remark, and another
fine of $40 was entered against him.
Another insulting remark was followed
by an order from the court to the iailer to
take Mullins into custody.
Mullins then ran out of the court room,
followed by two deputy sheriffs, who
town, when he turned and fired shots at
them, when the sheriffs fired, but no one
was hit. After short chase Mullins was
captured and brought to the court room
by posse. He was accompanied by his
father, Champ Mullins, who was also in
toxicated. Jno. Mullins was ordered to
Jail by Judge Bradley, whereupon he and
his father both arose and declared that
he should not be taken to Jail. Champ is
one of the most powerful men, PHYSICALLY,
in the country, and it takes half a dozen
ordinary men to hold him.
When the jalier and posse started
with John to jail the prisoner and his
father resisted. The scene which fol-
lowed beggars description. The large
crowd in the court room broke into the
widest disorder. Men were knocked
down, pistols were drawn, guards rushed
in with shot guns, and the rush for doors
and windows was tremendous. The
Mullinses and officers fought their way
out of the court room and down stairs
into the street When they reached the
street some one gave Jno. Mullins a
pistol, with which he fired tive shots, in
what direction is not known. Both men
were finally arrested and placed in jail,
where they now are.
The excitement was atfever heat, while
everybody breathed freely when quiet
was restored, and the closest search failed
to discover any co1pses. AS soon as the
disorder began Judge Bradley left the
bench and shouted: 81 call on every man
in this house to assist these men, and 1
will assist myself" and he did lend such
assistance as he could. The jury IN the
Randall case were scattered and con-
fused crowd, and after the restoration of
quiet, by agreement of both sides, they
were discharged from further considera-
ton of the case, and the trial was contin-
ued until the next term. The day was
disgraceful in our county's history, and
good citizens should now rally to the sup
port of the law, and see that nothing like
it occurs again.
CINCINNATI, Jan. ia Mount Vernon,
KY: special says the heroism and person
al exposure alone Of Judge W. o. Brad
ley prevented bloodshed in the riot at
court yesterday. His remarks to the jury
before discharging them made deep i'm
preston. The rioters are Pine Hill min
ers, very rough, and the citizens are very
firm in the determination to maintain law
and order.