The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-04-05
I'm CINCINNATI

The Court House and Taiuable Records Par
| tiaUv B,aned-The Jail FSred-lAilitia
Fire on the Mob-Ocer so Men Killed and
about 200 Wounded Stores Opened, Robbed
and Fyred-The Cause Of the Uprising,
Thrilling Incidents, DC, dc.
Shortly before Christmas VIM. FL. Kirk, of
Cincinnati, was murdered and robbed by VIM.
Berner, white, aged Is, and Joe Palmer, col,
ored, aged about IS. They were arrested and
the trial began about the 18th of March, and
on the oath, the jury rendered verdict of
manslaughter, Notwithstanding both had con-
fessed their crime five times, the confession
being withdrawn when the trial began. When
the verdict of the jury was announced Judge
Matthews said sit was a id outrage.
During the week strong denunciations of
the jury were made and on Friday night an in
dignation meeting was held in Music Hall
which was attended by over 5000 people,
many of the best and wealthiest citizens being
present. The following resolutions were
adopted:
Whereas a jury composed of citizens of the county
of Hamilton having heard the testimony in the case
of William Berner, who had been indicted for par
ticipating in the murder of William ii. Kirk, which
was one Of the most atrocious and cold blooded
ders ever committed, and whose guilt was clearly
established has returned verdict OF guilty OF man
Resolved, That the Jurors who acquitted Berner OF
murder in the first degree unfit to live in civil
reeeye the scon and Contempt Of their fellow citi
to such extent that they Will be glad 10 leave
the county and seek homes elsewhere during the re-
Resolved, That we are opposed to illegal methods
of Furnishing crime, and that we Will exert ourseves
to secure more vigorous and speedy administrator
of the criminal laws, and call upon our fellow cit
zens to aid in this endeavor by extra judicial means
to obtain security for life and property in our county
/ Resolved That demand such change IN the laws
of the State as will secure more speedy ana enec
tive administration of the criminal law, ana 70 tnls
point committee of fifty persons to consider ana re
| port at a future mass meeting OF the people whal
changes in the statutes of the State viii be necessary
to promote this end especially with reference 20 the
| jury system.
Speeches we're made of the most denuncia.
tory character of the practices of the lawyers
in technically finding flaw after flaw IN the
indictments, and the manner of selecting
iuries, no less than five hundred talesmen
being summoned in this case. While Judge
A. G. w. Carter was speaking cry OF tic
the iail'' was started, and in a short time the
hall was emptied and all were surging toward
that building, not knowing that the prisoner,
Berner, had been sent to the penitentiary at
Columbus, As it moved on others joined the
throng. and when it reached Sycamore street
in front of the Jail it must have numbered III,
600 men. The approach to the Jail was made
rapidly and quietly Sheriff Hawkins, ex'
Meeting some demonstration, had thirteen
deputies on guard in the office. They were
soon startled by heavy blow on the out
side door, and they Immediately realized
that an attack was being made. Sheriff Haw
kins then called up Fire Marshall Bunker, by
telephone, and the riot alarm was sounded
The mob had brought up long heavy oaE
plank and used it as a battering ram. They
| [ tbn north outside door
The blows rained fast and strong, but the iron
door resisted every effort to force it. Then
the excited men on the outskirts of the mob
growing impatient at the delay and determln
ed to do something to show their indignation
began to throw stones at the building and hre
pistols into the air. Encouraged by these
demonstrations, the men handling the batter
ing ram redoubled their efforts. For fully
three quarters of an hour blows were rainec
upon the door without effect, and the mol
became frenzied and uncomfortable, Aprnp
osition to set fire to the building was made
and thousands of voices took up the cry. The
throng started to carry it into execution, bu
at this moment shout arose from the front
The doors were beginning to give way. The
blows were quickened and rang out on the
night air as through they came from steam
hammer.
GATHERING DOWN THE DOORS.
Suddenly the doors flew off their hinges, anC
the bowling mob rushed pell-mell INTO ths
building. About fifty of them mounted tht
stairs. Here they were met by detail o
police and the sheriff, and were forced bach
into the Jail office. By this time the mob out
side procured Il long, heavy board, and, plac
ing it on the iron railing in front OF the jail
pushed it through.a window into the seconl
story With this they broke out the entire
sash and the inside shutters, and scrambled
into the apartment of Jailer Brady. This sue
cessful move encouraged the crowd, who made
Il rush for the south door door leading to the
street from the second story, which is here
| level with the pavement. This soon gave way
and the mob went through in great numbers
When the mob entered the sheriff S force
| withdrew into the Jail proper, leaving between
them and the mob the heavy grated iron door
which separates the reception-room from the
cell-room. This is at the foot of the stairway
leading up to the cell-room. The reception
room was jammed, and the mob kept calling,
"Give us Berner! Give ps Johnson! and
so on through the list of murderers confined II
| the building. There seemed to be no leader.
Finally tall, muscular negro began to give
orders and the mob quietly obeyed. Space
was cleared. and the plank, used as batter
ing ram, was brought to bear against the iron
door Sheriff Hawkins and his men stood
| behind the door with drawn revolvers. The
! sheriff said calmly that it meant death to en-
ter that door. The crowd wavered moment
and hesitated. Then the colored leader gave
the word to swing the plank. He was instantly
obeyed and the gate trembed with the shock.
! A mighty shout went up. A second stroke
from the batterng ram made the gate weaken
perceptiby, and third loosened it from It's
| bolts and it few open. Sheriff Hawkins had
| instructed his men not to fire, as he did not
wish to shed blood. He attempted to address
| the mob, but they flew by him and up the
winding iron stairway to the celroom. They
sought for Berner, but soon discovered that
| he was gone. They recognized Ben johnson,
one of the Avondale negro burkers, and began
| pounding at the door with their battcring ram,
but the small space prevented its use with
/ effect.
A TEMPORARY REPULsE.
Chief of Police Kelley, hearing that the
men were in the building, entered through
the court house and thence through the tunnel
to the interior of the jail. With this COM
bined force the men were put out of the cor
| ridors about the cells, and the mob seemed to
be repulsed. Not shot was fired up to this
time by the forces within the Jail, not blow
had been struck, and yethundreds of trenzied
men had been dispersed. Those inside the
Jail were momentarily dazed they GOULD net
realize that the fault was theirs. The crowd,
seeing that their repulse was not Immediately
taken advantage OF, again surged into the
lower corridor. The staircase was in posses
sion of the sheriff forces, so that the mob
could not get to the cells Then followed a
battle for the possession Of the iron gate.
Several policemen got behind it and gradually
closed it about halfway. Lieut.. Dunn seized
the colored ringeader, and, striking him on
the head with his club, dragged him through
the gate The mob was staggered. Several
more arrests followed. At length the gate
was closed, and the plank brought by the mob
was broken into two pieces, and served as
braces to keep itclosed. Everybody breathed
easier. The mob seemed repulsed, and that
without bloodshed. This increased the ex-
citement among the crowd outside, and with
implements of all kinds, procured from neigh
boring factories, they assaulted the building at
all points that seemed vulnerable. Doors, win
4 IL L Il. L. i.