Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-04-02
A Murderer Acquitted.
A RIOT Follows THE ACoUlTTAL

| n hlOT rOLLOWS THE aCQUlTTAL.
On the 24th of last December, man
named Berner, and a negro named Pal
mer. both of Cincinnati, Ohio, conspir
ed to kill man named Kirk, of the
same town. They murdered Kirk in
his stable for the money that it was
supposed that he carried on his person.
After killing him with clubs, and d.
viding the one hundred dollars that
they found on his person, they obtain
ed an express wagon, hauled his body
to creek and cast it into the stream.
Suspicion fell on them, they were ar
rested, and Berner confessed the crime
The confession was admitted as evi
dence IN court before which they were
put on trial. Last Friday the jury re-
turned verdict OF "not guilty in the
first degree, but guilty of manslaugh-
ter" "lt was a criminal farce, played
by the administration of justice to mur
derers," and so angered the people of
Cincinnati that a great crowd FASTENED
to the Jail aud with heavy tImbers broke
in the doors and searched the building
for the murderer. He had been taken
out and hurried away to Columbus and
there put in Jail At several stations
on the route TO Columbus search was
made for him by people who desired to
hang him. At Loveland, one of his
keepers vas mistaken for him aud Sc
verely handled before the mistake was
discovered. In the fuss OF the occa-
sion. Berner escaped from the car
He was, however, captured BY the au
thorities. after some hours search in the
country, taken to freight train. lock-
ed in box car, and in that way taken
to Columbus Jail Meanwhile a fight
took place in and about the Jail at Gin
cinnati, between the mob and militia
troops, and thirty were wounded, and
FIVE were killed. The mob broke into
hardware stores and helped themselves
to shot guns and ammunition, with
which to fight the troops that held the
Jail. Berner's lawyer. T. G. Campbell,
has been successful IN securing the re-
lease of many criminals 1t is charged
that be corrup;s juries, by AID of jury
fxers. He received notice to leave
town within 81 Lours. The keynote OF
the violent movement against the au-
tbority of the city Is found IL the fol
lowing circular:
'Public safety demands immediate
action. Organize vigilance committees
10 every ward. Heal sores b; purify /!
ing the body. Serve notice to crlmi
mails, criminal lawyers, gamblers and /
prostitutes to leave Hamilton county
within three days and remain away for
ever or suffer the penalty. As long as
the present clique Of criminal lawyers
that infest the city are permitted to re-
main and corrupt jurles, outrage JUS |
tiee and shield criminals, just that long
will our citizens be murdered, our prop /
erty destroyed and protection by tie
law be denied. Make one clean sweep
while We are at 1t. A vigilance COM
mittee Of three hundred IN each ward,
composed of the best citizens, can by
earnest work cleanse the moral atmos
phere in three days Organize at once
and serve notice TO all disreputable
characters in the ward to leave and ney
er return. The reputation of this city
demands change or wickedness will
reign supreme
The rioters were driven from the
Jail on Friday night, They had de-
manded that other murderers cCrfned
there be gwen up to them.
On Saturday troops were placed in
the Jail, aud breastwoIk or barricade /
was built around the building loo yards /
from it, but when night came on the |
rioters came 10 by the rear way Of !
the Court House and opened fire on the |
Jail with guns and hand grenades. The
Court House took fire and was destroy |
ed. 1t was worth S250,000. The
mob had broken into the County Treas
urer's Office, poured barrel of oil over
the floor and furniture aud fired it
militia charged the mob, and their fire was
terribly destructive. Desmond. Of the
First Regiment, was shot and the riot
ers would not allow the firemen to re-
spond to the alarm, and it was not un-
til nearly day break that tdey were per
Initted to play on the ruins. People
we're shot down within several squares
of the Jail, The Fourth Regiment,
summoned from Day ton, refused to
march to the Jail. Tie mob secured
three cannon at Music Hall and await
ed the coming of the regiment, which
was expected to march from the depot.
A squad of police captured the cannon
Tue mayor issued Proclamation cali
ing on the mob to disperse. A Gatling
gun was used to clear the streets. On
Sunday morning all was quiet, Some
90 men we're killed during the fight in
the night. and or times that many
wounded
During Sunday The Governor order
ed all the military organizations in the
State to report TO Cincinnati.
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