The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-04-02
MURRAT HALsTEAD.
CINCINNATI, March 29.-10;20 P. Nj.
PARTICULARS OF THE RIOT.

PARTICULARS OF THE RIOT.
CINCINNATI, Ohio, March pa
riot, which was but the elimination
of the bitterness of feeling on the
population of Cincinnati against a
most infamous verdict rendered in
the Berner trial, took place on Fri
day night and early this morning in
front of the Jail. 1t was a riot
which, as to size and consequence
excelled everything witnessed be-
fore in the history of the city. For
a long time indeed was the indigna-
ton of citizens growing against the
frequency of murders in their midst
and the cause of that distrust was
based on the corrupt methods OF
our criminal lawyers and the sus-
capabilities of our jurors. Murder
after murder followed in quick sue
cession, and with the tardiness Of
Justice a family of forty murderers
was placed at the tender mercies of
the county. Several were released
on bail, aud others, having been con-
victed. were granted new trials tech
nicalities. The people, after the in
famous murder and the quickly fol-
lowing crimes of the colored rascals
Allen and Ingalls,, aroused them
selves to a sense of their danger, and
when William Berner, the self-con-
fessed murderer of Kirk. was only
found guilty of manslaughter,
through the Vaccinations Of unscru-
pulous criminal lawyers and verdict
of a corrupt and ignorant jury, the
indignation of the citizens quickly
rose to a fever heat. The excitement
finally found vent in a terrible riot,
which threatened on Friday night
to make quick work of all the MUIR
derers confined in Jail.
AROUND THE PRISON.
The vicinity of the Jail during the
day has been crowded by vast
shifting throng of excited, determin-
ed men, who crowd upon the SOL
diers on duty there as close as pos
sible and scan the Jail with a hun
CRY look that bctokens continued
desire to wreak vengeance opon the
wretched criminals within It's mass
i've walls. There is. however,a "A sullen
silence about the neighborhood
which is like the precursor of a.
storm. Travel is necessarily sus-
pended, and soldiers guard every
approach, although the path of ev-
cry sentinel is outlined by a far ex-
tending sea of people, some of whom
for hours have viewed the scene
with vacant stare. At the same
time every step taken by the SEN
tinelS is furtively watched. TIE
crowd is composed mainly of Draw
ny, capable men, and there are no
women and children among them,
as was the case last night. The
whole of the Sycamore street side of
the jail presents an expanse of desc
lation. The window panes are all
broken; the frames are in splinters
or have entirely Disappeared, and
the stout iron bars are bent, as if by
sudden convulsion. 1t appears
that nothing on that side had escap-
ed the fury of the mob of last night.
The outer doors of the Jail office,
which are composed of heavy iron,
are all battered up, the ornaments
torn of, and indicate that the blows
given them must have been terrific.
Axes, sledgehammers and heavy
beams were brought to bear against
them. In the Office signs of the vi
olence of the mob are seen every
where. The foo. is entirely covered
with broken glass, heavy powders,
brickbats, cartridge shells and plas-
tering ground to dust under the
tread of many feet.
BERNER's ESCAPE.
The jail officials thinking that
Bailifi Joe Moses was two well
known to start with Berner for the
penitentiary, Dominick Devote was
chosen to take him at three O'Clock.
DeToto notified Berner to prepare
for hasty trip TO Columbus. A
carriage was summoned and station
ed a short distance north of the iail
entrance and on the east side of
Sycamore street. They drove to
Linwood, where they took train
for Lcveland, where Moses was to
join the the party. They arrived
at Loveland at half-past eight
O'Clock. Dressed as private citizens
Devote and his charge sauntered
slowly about the town. Their iden-
tity was at once suspected by the