Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-07-27
THE DEADLY RAZOR,
Makes FrightfuI Havoc at Martins
Ferry.
A Drunken Negro, Perhaps Fatally cares
Officer Lynn and Joe Bayliss, Who
Came TO Assist Him-Account
of the Butchey.

Our neiehboring town of Martins Ferry
was thrown into fever heat Of excitement,
last night, by a shooting and cutting affrsy
which leaves the lives of three men in
very precarious condition. The circum-
stances are as follows:
On Tuesday evening Ohio Gilmore, a col
ored man of As years of age, was arrested
for drunkenness and committed to- the
lookup. Yesterday morning he was fined
s3, and in default of payment was sent
back behind the bars. Shortly after 6
O'Clock, last evening, his cell was discovered
empty and examination revealed the fact
HE HAD ESCAPED
through the wall by means of an aperture,
which, from the frequency with which it
has furnished means of escape, is known as
'sthat same old hole" An alarm was at
once given and the police force sent upon
search for him. At $50 o'clock Officer
William Lynn found him at John Burk-
hsrt's store, placed him under arrest and
took him back to the City hall. In the
Mayors office he was searched and half
pint flask of whiskey taken from him.
During the search, Gilmore and Officer
Lynn had some words and the negro
grew abusive and insulting. The row ended
in Lynn drawing his mace and clubbing
the prisoner, but when the first blow was
struck the negro produced a razor and at
tackled the officer, intlicting upon him a
succession of terrible wounds. The first
cut was upon Lynn's left cheek, laying 1t
second swoop of the razor made horrible
wound on the head, reaching to the skull
and seyeriDg a large artery. In anguish
LYNN, as he defended himself from
the deadly attack, called out:
"aURDER! MURDER! HELP. HELP"
After a moment, but not before a
half dozen gaping gashes had been
inflicted upon him, the officer got
out his pistol and fired. His cries and the
shots attracted the attention of Joseph
Bayliss, driver OF Exley & Sons, who
came to his assistance. Entering the room,
he seized the now demoniac and infurated
negro and, together they fell to the floor.
Gilmore retained his hold of the razor and
at once turned its deadly edge upon his
new assailant, cutting him severely and
dangerously about the arms and at
the same time giving him tremendous
kick in the pit OF the stomach. During
this struggle Lynn had continued firing,
discharging four shots from his revolver.
The blood from his wounds had streamed
over his face and into his eyes, binding
him, so that the last shot took effect in
Bayliss' right leg below the knee. The
latter cried out
'FoR COPS SAKE DON'T SHOOT NE, LYNN"
and at the same time the negro broke
away and ran. Though it was not
known at the time, the colored
fiend had received two OF the four
shots fred by Lynn and he could
not run vigorously. A hue and cry was
raised and crowd started in pursuit. The
negro ran as far as the Presbyterian Church,
where Officer Ed. Wright captured him.
Bayliss had followed his assailant, but,
with the terrible loss OF blood, sank down
exhausted in front OF Colts store. Lynn
had also started, but Just at the door of the
Mayors office had tainted away. Officer
Wright brought the demoniac negro to the
Jail and securely locked him up, while the
two wounded men were carried into Ong's
drug store.
BY this time the news of the ARRAY had
spread like wildfire, and an immense crowd
assembled around the Mayors office. In
dignation ran high, and as it was generally
believed both Lynn and Bayliss were in q
dying condition, shouts of
LYNCH HIM"
were frequently heard. A strong guard
was placed about the Jail to prevent the add
of summary justice to the be-
lieved murderer.
In the meantime, large medical force
had been summoned to Ong's drug store to
attend the wounded men. Drs. Warwick,
Blackfor Hervey, Ong and Williams were
present and did all in their power. Lynn
was frightful spectacle as he lay gasping
there. Four gaping cuts were visible on
his head and face and the hemorrhage
OF blood was terrible. A cut had severed
the tendons of the right wrist and the left
hand and arm had received two cuts. AT
a late hour this morning the flow OF blood
had been checked, but the life was In a
precarious condition. Officer Lynn is
brave, good officer and very generally liked
about the town.
BAYLIss' HURTS.
Bayliss was severely, though less serious
ly hurt. The ball from Lynns revolver
had entered his right leg below the knee,
and at last accounts it had not been found,
though thoroughly probed for. He received
two dangerous cuts on his left arm and one
less severe on the right. He complained
greatly of his stomach and had evidently
received a frightful blow. His injuries are
not necessarily fatal.
TWICE SHOT.
The negro Gilmore had been thrust into
a cell and his injuries were left until the
others had received attention. He was then
found to be seriously injured. Two balls
from Lynn's revolver had caught him, one
right cheek, coming out at the ear, infiict-
ing a severe but not dangerous wound.
The second, received while he was on the
floor, penetrated his right breast, breaking
the collar bone and lodging in his body.
The physicians thought the lungs had
escaped, but could not, at this time, predict
the the result of the wound Gilmore was
slightly intoxicated at the time the fight
began. He told a REGISTER reporter he
was not going to be imposed upon"
THE EXCITEMENT.
Scarcely anything in the history of Mar
tins Ferry has so excited her people. The
immense crowd surged about Second street,
in the vicinity of the tragedy, |
and for time an appeal to Judge Lynch
was imminent. Gilmore, who is the
father of a family of six children,
bears a rather unsavory reputation, |
while Lynn and Bayliss are both we'll |
liked. When it was learned Bayliss would |
no doubt recover, while Lynn had fight |
ing chance for life, the crowd cooled off, |
and, better council prevailing, decided to |
allow the law to take its course.
The latest information from. Martins |
Ferry, at2 A. NJ, says the men are all in |
the same condition given above.
ABAD SHOT,