The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-11-10
WOULD.DE LYNCHERs DEFEATED.

The Recent Troubles In Kentucky in Con-
neofion with the Ashland HOrror-A Mob
Attacks Steamboat Bearing the Prison
ers Neal and Craft, Who Were Under
the Protection Of the State Mfiitia-The
Troops Fire Upon the Attacking Party,
and Upon Number Of Spectators-Sev-
eral Killed and Many Others Wounded
Both Sides of the Story.
IRoNToN, O., November l.
William Neal and Ellis Craft were convicted
some months ago ut the Catletts5urg Boyd
County, KyJ Circuit Court, of the murder of
Robert and Fannie Gibbons and Emma Car
rier. They were granted a new trial by the
Supreme Court George Ellis, an accomplice,
who confessed and was sentenced to imprison-
ment for life, was hanged by q mob, at Ash
| land last summer.
On Monday last Neal and Craft, guarded by
two hundred and twenty State troops, with
one section of artillery, arrived at Catletts-
burg from Lexington. where they have been
held for safe-keeping, to stand trial. 1t was
learned at Ashland, in some mysterious way,
that Judge Brown was going to grant change
of venue, and the excitment there became in
tense. About eleven o'clock this morning
word was telegraphed from that place to
Catietts5urg that most Of the men had quit
work in the iron works, and that the nail fac
dispatch said, were marching on Catlettsburg.
In an hour or so nearly one hundred and fifty
of them did arrive, and hard, determined
looking crowd they were. They carried no
arms about them, but were said to have
weapons concealed out side of town. As they
| marched sullenly about the Streets the rumors
of coming trouble increased.
At one o'clock the courthouse yard was
packed with dense mass of men, most of
whom seemed to have come from the adj join
ing counties The courthouse was packed
when the soldiers marched in with the prison.
ers. The soldiers went inside the bar, sur
rounded the chairs of the prisoners, and pre-
pared to defend them to the last. The evidence
for change of venue was overwhelming.
Judge Brown said he was sorry to say, for the
honor of his old home, that Boyd County could
not give the accused men a fair trial, and he
would have to grant a change of venue, and in
compliance with the law he would have to
| select an adjacent county. He selected Carter
County, and the trial would be set for the third
day Of the Carter County Circuit Court, which
begins on the first Monday in February.
A few moments later the soldiers again gath
cred about the prisoners AMI marched them
back to the jail, the room just above the court
room.
Soon there were but few men in the yard
or near the building, and the dangerous-look-
ing crowd had melted away. They could be
seen in groups about the street corners de-
nouncing Neal and Craft, and utterng threats
of violence. Strange to say, His Excelency,
Governor l.. p. Blackburn, was abused almost
as much as those two.
This afternoon at $50 Sheriff Kountz, with
the State troops and prisoners, boarded the
steamboat Granite State for Maysville, intend
n a.
Jail, to confine the prisoners until trial.
After the Granite State, with the soldiers
and escort had left, the citizens took the train
and returned to Ashland. which is five miles
below Catlettsburg, arriving few minutes
ahead of the boat. They disembarked, AND
about thirty or forty, mostly wild boys, board
ed the ferry-boat and started out to hail the
Granite State, which was hurrying by near the
Ohio shOre. The ferry had reached mi1-river
as the Granite State passed her. She had dis
regarded the ferry-boits signal to land, and
about this time some one on the boat dis
charged revolver. The military opened a
murdcrous fire, piercing two steam pipes and
the boiler manhead. There was no further re-
ply from the disabled ferry-boat. several of
the mob had been wounded but none killed.
The fire of the soldiers was still kept
up, but was rned principally against the
crowd of unoffcnding spectators upon the
wharf and Front street. All who were killed
and mortally wounded were shot on or near
the grade. whence not q shot had been fired.
After all the shooting had ceased from the
ferry-boat, the military kept firing as long
as they could see the boat or a soul i'll
town. 1t looked like vengeful determine
ton to carry out Blackburn's threat to kill cv-
erybody in Boyd County. The following
named persons were killed or MORALLY wound
ed: John Bass. James Mcdonald, Colonel Rap
part, George Keeier, Mr.. Dunlap's baby, Mort
dunlap, Alexander Watt John Gallagher,
Mrs. Jack SeerZ, Graham Randall, Bob Latin
Seventeen other persons were slightly
wounded.
CINCINNATI, Novembera.
Mr.. Phister, clerk of the Granite State, says
Major Allen engaged their steamer Tuesday
night to convey the prisoners and troops to
Maysville. but this was kept profound Sc
cret, even from the other boat officers, Major
Allen wishing to avoid collision with tho
mob. They telegraphcd to Major Allen that
they would be at Catlettsburg at 1:50. but
failed to reach there till afternoon. He thinks
if they could have arrived there promptly the
whole trouble would have been avoided.
When Ashland was reached the ferry-boat
was seen, apparently filled with belligerent
people, and the wharf-boat was also full of
men, and the banks lined with people. The
pilot blew two whistles, as if to land, but with
no intention of landing. This was a ruse to
get away from the ferry-boat. When the latter
saw the Granite State was steaming by, four
whistles were sounded by the ferry-boat to get
paid to it, and then the firing began. The
Granite State refused to take the prisoners
until written order was issued commanding
them to do so. .-a
Brose Dennis, who, with Mr.. Williamson, oc-
cupied the pilot-house, the latter being on
watch, says the soldiers were placed in the
piot-house to keep the pilots at their post. He
says that shots were fired at the Granite State
both from the wharf-boat and the men on the
bank. Many of these were aimed at the pilot
house, and six balls struck the pilot-house.
number of other bullet-marks appear on other
parts of the boat.
OF the firing from the bank and the wharf
boat Dennis is certain. Both he and the clerk,
Phister, say it would have been easy for the
ferry-boat to have overtaken them and had
renewal of the battle If the troops had not
acted with promptness in returning the fire.
They speak in commentator of the action of
the officers, and say there was no disposition
shown to be bloodthirsty or malicious.
Upon the re urn of the troops to Lexington a
reporter interviewed the commanding officer.
Major Allen, and obtained the follOwingState-
ment: The motion for change of venue hav-
ing been granted by Judge Brown. and the
case removed to Carter County, an order was
issued directing the Sheriff, in connection
back to Lexington for safe confinement. Dur
ing that afternoon there were a good many ru-
mors to the effect that large crowds were con-
gregatng at Ashland preparatory to coming
to Catlettsburg that night to take the prison
ers. Craft and Neal telegram was received
by Major Allen from an official of the Chesa-
peake Ohio Railroad. stating that a mob had
taken possession of the tools of the railroad
section hands at Ashland, and, as the telegraph
states, evidently meaning mischief. Another
telegram was received by the Major stating
that the mob had torn up the track at Ash
land. believing that the troops would return
that night with the prisoners. Major Allen
had for his command return tickets over the
Chesapeake s. Ohio Railroad and intended to
made arrangements through his Quartermas-
ter with the Canfain of the Granite Srate