The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-04-05
The Cincinnati Riot.

We publish this morning details of
terrible riot at Cincinnati, in which forty
nine persons were killed and one hundred
and fifty wounded. Many of the latter
are seriously injured and some are likely
to die.
The riot was the outgrowth of popular
indignation at verdict of manslaughteI
against a youth of eighteen years, who
with the aid of negro, murdered his en-
ployer for the purpose of robbing him.
Both confessed the crime, but retracted the
confession before the trial.
When the jury rendered the verdict the
Judge upon the bench remarked in an un-
dertone that the verdict was an outrage.
and the spectators were incensed at the
finding, when the evidence seemed to be SO
conclusive of deliberate murder. Popular
indignation became widespread, and the
Jury had to leave the city and seek shelter
elsewhere. A few days after the trial a
large public meeting was held at the call
of prominent citizens. Speeches were de,
livered condemning the jury, and resolu
tions were passed heaping scorn and con.
tempt upon them. The speakers went be
yond the limit of conservatism, and went tc
extremes as the applause increased. Jusi
before the meeting closed some one cried
out "To the Jail I" and in a few minutes
the crowd rushed like madmen to that in
stitution, and forced an entrance. A fight
followed between the mob and the police
The military was called out, then bloodshec
followed. The mob increased in number
and violence and finally partially burned thu
court house, with many of its records
They held high carnival until troops wer'
ordered from other cities, and it was MOI
until large number of persons were killed
and MANNED, and after millions of dollar
worth of property were destroyed, that thu
rioters were dispersed and order restored
The riot is a blot upon our system Of
government and a reproach to our civiliza
ton. 1t was senseless and disgrace. The
Judge upon the bench deserves impeach
ment for his criticism of the jury. Though
uttered in an undertone, it was said louC
enough to be heard and reported. The
Jury were sworn to give verdict in accord
ance with the law and facts, and as they
were sole judges of both, it was an outrage
for the Judge to question either their ca
pacity or honesty. The people generally
should not have done so, and it is probable
that no acts of violence would have beer
committed but for the speeches in that
public meeting of the citizens of wealth
and prominence, and the resolutions which
they formulated and passed. They only
meant to publicly condemn the jury and
their verdict, but they might have known
that they were treading upon dangerous
ground, as it is notorious that Cincinnati is
full of communists, anarchists and socialists
Had that meeting not been held, no riot in
all probability would have occurred. The
speeches and resolutions served only to ill.,
crease and intensity popular indignation.
The feelings of the large audience were
aroused to pitch of desperation, and the
outcome was disastrous to the city. lnval-
liable records and millions of dollars OF
property have been destroyed, and many
persons were killed and wounded. Gin
cinnati has a large debt already, and when
the cost of this riot is added it will be in
creased several millions more. The city,
too, will suffer in a general way from the
feeling of insecurity hereafter, and juries
for time are liable to convict on INSULT
Gent testimony in order to escape censure
and to avoid repetition of recent scenes.
People everywhere should uphold the
laws, be they good or bad, and the author
tiles at all times should take precaution to
have them respected. The sheriffof Ham
ilton county and the city authorities could
have avoided the trouble had they acted
promptly. They allowed the mob to pro-
coed too far before they began to restrain
them. The severest punishment should
have been visited upon them at the very
outset by the police and military. An or
der to disbaud, if not Immediately obeyed,
should have speedily been followed by a
volley with deadly aim. Such action is
really humane, and is necessary for the
safety of lives and property. The shooting
down of ten or fifteen rioters at the outset
would most likely have saved the lives Of
twenty-five or thirty, and the court house
would not have been destroyed. As it is,
the present generation will never cease pay
ing taxes to repair the loss.