The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-11-09

Neal and Craft to be hanged. Inc
Court had to be guarded by State
militia during the farce called trial.
Ellis was hung by the mob, and Neal
and Craft were taken to Lexington to
save their lives. Of course any Court
would set aside verdict rendered un-
der such circumstances, and the high
er Court granted new trial. A week
or two ago the prisoners were brought
back, guarded by 200 troops, sent by
Gov. Blackburn. Judge Brown very
properly granted change Of venue,
from Boyd county to Carter county.
Then the mob went to work, and got
the dose they so richly deserved. Now
the savages howl, and say the attack
was made by a few drunken boys, who
only fired small pistol in the air, &c.
but the bullet holes in steamer tell a
different story.
Here is the account as given by the
officers who saw the transaction:
The motion for a change Of venue having been
granted by Judge Brown. and the case removed to
Carter County, an order was issued directing the
Sheriff. connection with the State Guards, to con-
vey prisoners back to Lexington for safe conne-
ment During that afternoon there were good many
rumors to the effect that large crowds were congre-
eating Ashland preparatory to coming to Catletts
burg that night and take the prisoners Craft and Neal
A telegram was received by Major Allen from an OFF,
the G. o. R. R., stating that mob had taken
of the tools of the railroad section hands at
Ashland and as the telegram states, they evidently
meant mischief. Another telegram was received by
the Mayor stating that the mob had torn up the track
at Ashland, believing that the troops would return
that night with the prisoners Major Allen had for
his command return tickets over the G. & o. r. r.,
and intended to back that way, but believing 1t
made arrangements through his Quartermaster
with the Captain Of the Granite State, which went
to Huntington that evening" to take them on his re-
turn trip Maysvie That night the troops, in ex-
pectation of an attack from mob from Ashland, were
under the strictest guard. Eighteen men, VINO were
relieved every two hours guarded every street ap-
preaching the Courthouse, and mounted pickets
posted different points Of the town, under the
command of Captain Murphy to apprise the troops of
| the approach of any mob Nothing occurred that
night except the firing by some party Of anvis aud
guns in the of the quarters troops
which caused them to turn out four five times dur
ing the night believing attack was imminent. AT
| IL O'Clock Wednesday noon the order was given
troops down to the river front, Major
Allen having learned, in the meantime, that mob
from Ashland their way to Catlettsburg. The
| troops marched down to the river front. The
prisoners were marched with guard detail and with
| two companies to assist in guarding them to the
wharfboat The remainder of the troops were posted
| on the hill which commands the river front. The
gun Of the Louisville Light Artillery commanded by
Lieutenant Bligh, was placed facing the depot al
which the mob expected to arrive, and command
ing squares of the street leading to the river
| front. The McCreary Guards were posted on eacf
side Of the cannon, to support the artillery The Lex
ington Guards posted at the corner of another
street, right angles to the river front, to prevent
| any flank movement by the mob. The remainder O
| the troops were placed behind the Alger House
which faces the river ready to wheel into line around
the corner, take the place of the McCreary Guard
in supporting the artillery, in case the latter Guard
should be disabled. This position had hardly beel
taken before train arrived from Ashland, consist
ing Of locomotive, one two passenger cars AM
five or six fat cars closely packed with mob. Thi
train stopped in full view of the artillery and McCrea
ry Guards. delegation OF some twenty five or thir
ty men approached the troops and called for Majo
Allen. He advanced to them about hundred yard
in front of the troops. The committee representa-
the mob said to him that they from Ashland 70
the purpose of taking Neal and Graft; that they cam
peaceably, and to take possession of the prisoner
peaceably possible If not then by forces that the
were two thousand strong in the train, and coul
overpower the troops easily. Their demand was per
emptorily refused, and Major Allen stated that til
| troops came simply tine purpose OF upnOiulnS
law and in obedience to orders and not to budoze
impose upon the rights of county; that they di
not desire difficulty with anybody, and especiall
Kentuckians and would not participate in any diff
entity unless it forced upon them that II any diff
Guilty occurred the responsibility for the results
upon the mob and not with the troops. The rer
resentatives mob then stated that If the trooI
escaped from Catlettsburg with the prisoners the
would be met at Ashland by at least two thousand
twenty-five hundred determined men, supported by
The interview then ended. The troops were the
Withdrawn to the steamer Granite State, which ha
arrived, under Of the cannon, which was face
toward the mob until every soldier had embarked
which was then dragged down the hill and into til
boat with its muzzle toward the mob. The boat the
} left for Ashland with the troops and prisoners.
the time the mob reboarded the train and star
ed towards Ashland. When the boat arrived with
, mile of Ashland the train came in sight and ra
along the track which skirts the river front at th
point, at the same speed the boat. great uumbt
shots fred from the train at the soldiers b,
the range too far and the shots fell too short
cause any damage. The shots were not responded
by the troops, the commanding officer ordering tn.
shot should be fred at them until it became nece,
sary as a means Of selfdefense just as the Grant,
Statelapproached Ashland, ferryboat containing,
is supposed, about a hundred men, armed with mui
kets, rifles, and shot-guns steamed from the LANDING
and approached the Granite State. The ferrybo
whisted signal to stop, which the Granite State df
not heed, but passed on. When nearly opposite
, the Granate State, and from two to three hundre
yards distant great many shots fired from th
ferry boat at the troops wonndng several of the
diers. The command was then given for the troops
return the fire, which they did, and quick and spiI
tted conflict ensued for four five minutes. Th
smoke stacks and hurricane deck of the Grant
state were well perforated by the bullets from th
mob. -Four or five soldiers wounded, thong
none seriously. The fire of the troops directe
entirely at the ferry containing the mob and
at the crowd collected on the bank, which was yer
large, and apparently very enthusiastic supportip
the mob on the ferryboat If persons standing tt
bank were injured 1t through carelessness in bt
ing SO near to lawless mob attacking State troop
and not because the troops fired at them, their
was directed entirely to the ferryboat In the en-
gagement the ferryboat was silenced, and afts
the mob her ceased to fire, not single shot VIZ
fred by the State troops
The commanding officer, while regretting that
was compelled to take such strong and deadly mea,
ures, feels that they forced upon him. and tbs
the responsibility for the unfortunate results res
entirely upon the men who attempted to take the la
into their own hands. The officers of the Grant
State and all the passengers on board of the boat
both times of difficulty will substantiate the stat
= ment that not single shot fred by the soldier
until the mob in the had fred several sho
at them, and that the troops acted simply in sci
!, defense. The troops were on guard until the boz
passed Portsmouth. The Captain Of the boat
! allowed by the commanding officer to stop either
Irenton or Portsmouth, for fear Of a continuance
8 the difficulty. Many shots fired before and dul
ing the conflict by persons the Ohio side of til
river at short range, but it was by individuals an
not by organized bodies and their shots not r.
Z turned by the soldiers.
o The command reached Maysville about half-past
O'Clock at night with the prisoners, and were qua,
tered in the Courthouse there until O'Clock tn
morning, when they started for Lexington, arrivin
here at O'clock when they turned the prisoT
the Circuit Court, the jailer of Fay cite County
In conclusion, Major Allen said that the only fgh