Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-04-04
air Stree prsss.
RIOT AT CINCINNATI.
Desperate Attempt to Lynch a
Murderer.
Sixty Men Killed-Terrible Scenes
of Bloodshed,
The Mob VS.. the Auth critics.

lulS llllhlu DCTncT was hBsOClutCu WIFI
others in the commission of brutal murder
The victim had 500 in his pockets, and to
secure this sum his life was taken. The
evidence against Berner was positive. Be
fore his trial be offered to plead guilty to
murder in the second degree, but the pros
ecuting attorney was so certain that convic-
ton for the capital grade of homicide would
nn7ue that he refused to ACCEPT the
lower plea. The trial occurred. The evil
dence was complete. When the jury re-
tired q verdict Of guilty of murder in the first
degree was expected by every one except
the few who were engaged IN the conspiracy
to thwart justice. Surprise and in
dignaton took possession of the com
munity when the jury convicted the prs
oner of manslaughter. The presiding Judge
denounced the verdict and the populace
threatened TO lynch the jurors. Ten ihous.
aud persons gathered at Music hail. Friday
night, in response to a call by reputable CHI
zens 10 take action on the verdict. Many
could not get inside the building. Strong
resolutions were adopted cOndemning the
verdict and committee Gu legislation was
appointed, Upon adjournment the crowd
moved to the Jail, where they began an al
tack on the frOlt door. In the meantime
Bern, h ID been driven to Linwood, taken
thence by train to Loveland, there to await
the arrival of deputy sheriff with the neces-
sary papers for his commitment to the peniten
tiary al Columbus. 1t became known that Ber-
ner was there. When later in the day the de-
putty arrived and the other deputy with Ber-
ner IN charge attempted to board the same
tram with him, L large crowd which had
collected made a rush for Btrner. he AN
through the Car and escaped. Ignorant of
this, the crowd under leader began work
on the Jail door, AS soon as it was learned
in th" jail that the mob was outside, Sheriff
Hawkins called up Fire Marshal Burker,
by telephone and the riot alarm was sounded
The sheriff and his posse made all prCPara-
lions to repel any attack on the way to Jail.
The mob secured long, heavy scantling and
used it as batterlng ram. They began opera
tons on the north outside door and knocked
a hole large enough to admit mans body,
through which the mob crowded thick and
fast ahont fifty of them mounting The stairs.
Here they were met by a detail of police and
the sheriff and were forced back into the jail
office. BY his time the mob outside procur-
ch long heavy board, and placing it on the
iron railing in front OF the Jail, pushed it
through window into the second story
With his they broke out the entire sash and
The inside shutters, and scrambled into the
apartment of Jalor Brady. THIS success
rush for the south door leading to thr
street from the second story, which is here
level with the pavement This soon gave
way. and the mob went through in great
numbers The shelifI's force consisted of
thirteen men. When the mob en cred these
Withdrew hastily into the jail proper, leaving
he w2en them and tho mob the heavy grated
iron door which separates the recep-
ton room from the cell room. This is
at the foot of the stairway leading up to the
cell-room. The recep,ion-room was jammed,
and the mob kept calling GIVE us Berner
Give us Johnson" and so on through the
lis, of murderers confined in the building
There seemed to be no leader.
Finally q tall muscular negro began t.
give orders and the NOS quickly obeyed
Space was cleared and the plank, used as {
battering ram, was brought to bear agains
the iron door Sheriff Hawkins and hi:
men stood behind the door with drawn re
volvcrs. The sheriff said calmly that il
meant death to enter that door. The CrOwC
wavereh moment and hesitated. Their
the cOored leader gave the word to SWIM
the plank. He was imme 1iatey obeyed, ant
the gate trembed with the shock. A mighty
shout went up. A second stroke from tn,
tue battcrng ram made the gates weaker
DerCeptibly and a third lOOsened it from it
bolts and it flew open. Sheriff Hawkn
had instructed his men not to fire, as he dit
not wish to shed blood. He attempted t.
address the mob, but they flew by him an
up the winding iron stairway to the Gel
room They sought for Berner, but the
sool discove ed that he was gone The
they went to the cell OF Johnson, one of til
murdcrers of the Taylor family at Avon
dale. The Mortified prisoner suffered NOR
than death as he looked on the determine
men outside. A plank was hrou-ht to bal
Ter down The door OF the cell, but the sma
space prevented IFS use with cff,ct Besidc'
the deputy shcriff5 caught hold of the plan
and prevented its being used.
In the meantime Chief Of Police R"illy
hearing that men where in the jail euterC
through the court house and thence thrOug
,he tunnel to the interior of the Jail. WI
this combined force the men were put OUT {
the corridors about the cells and now the me
seemed TO be repul,eh. Not shot was fire
up to this time hy the forces within the isl
The stair say was again in pOss sslOn OF Il
sherff's forces, and the struggle began #
thu iron gaze. The cOIOren nnglcader VI
seiz-d by Lictrrant Damn, struck on Il
heat AMI dragged INSIDE. The gate was tn,
closed, several Others heinz arrested. AbO
the same time the hatterirg Iam hrOAe
two, served as "A brace Tor the gate III
mob seemed rcpuIsed, and the st 'ry W.
ont, spreading thrIpgA the crowd, only
inf ime II t. more &c iOus Efforts. These {
forts were rcdoubled at all the entrance
aud the southern gate to the jail yard W
broken down.
In the meantime Sheriff Hawkins sent
o der To Coz. Hunt, commanding the Fir
regiment OF militia, to report 10 him a. I
jail with al the men possible. OlY abb
forty men were Oh duly, aud these $50
lp IN
house aud the tunnel already mention
Here uCCrrcd the frs bl)odshcd II
luther end of the tunnel was guarded
Offices Num- and Won Scggern. As {
soldiers approached by threes, with ~
pointed, Officer Won Scggern threw up
hands and shouted, For Cots sake, do
shoot; you'll kill your friends WI
out needing the warning the comma
20 fire was given, and volley W.
Tattlng through the tunucl Officer Num- f,
pierced by four balls. Won Srggern "
shot in the side Of the head, and several
the militia wee shot by their own gu
This vOlicy la the effect OF clearing
Jail, but for two hours thereafter effp
were made on the outside TO destroy
building. A batrcl of coal oil was pDuI
down INTO l1Ie lower part of the Jail aud
IN fire.. but the officers within managed
cxlingqish the flames. The keepers cll
furnished some wood, and that was Il
ti'eA, but a@ ne jail is mulDly stone d
ir"n, This ,h' ut was futile. The Gro
th..q stones AID tired pistols prom
'u,-'y .trh .i.1rWs, a,d The militia fl
.r,,I tie window n lhr c,oNd. She
!o.kr- led % cn'r' Ibis nru5 by
,s,.a In ftut n.uIc han ,u" man sho
e.. u. re- .i.. ,.rfi.' .nh g., tighten
.. Nlt 3d.. ~ o,.u yea. uu"nl, E l'ah, ,
lied at III rrp sd. a .,.. a. ..@ 5 "u.a "a
'Hc crowd broke iriI the Ne,Itps' ar.n
aud Kiirod.'r', gun ore aud is,Jcpr,r an
H} .,e iIuu iul. Mas ta., ApEry.r
crow Ia +, h,.urd at 'bt nu f,ri
seli rs s'"'ntut " ullr, all II u.il-f
thr.' ~ l.r nuyn'rs quot NGS res'u Il.