Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-04-03
RIOT AND HAVOC.
The City of Cincinnati in the
Hands of RiOtOus Mob.
Enraged at the Impunity of
Crime, the People Rise.
Besieging the Jail and Lynching
Murderers.

CINCINNATI. March 2S.-Ten thou
sand people gathered at Music hall in
response to a call by reputable citi-
zens to take action on the Berner YER
dict. Many could not get in. Strong
resolutions were adopted condemning
the verdict, and committee on Iegis-
lation appointed. Upon adjournment
vast crowd moved directly to the
jail where they began an attack on
the front door. At 9 40 the riot alarm
sounded, summoning the entire police
force to the Jail. Vast crowds of peo-
pie are gathering in this vicinity.
Berner was remanded after his SEN
tence this afternoon, and is now on
his way to Columbus, but if the mob
gets IN, the other murderers will be
lynched. The police upon arriving in
the vicinity of the jail commanded
the crowd to move. Not being Obeyed.
they fired, but as no one was hurt,
it was presumed the police fired in the
air. It is said that was the intention
of the police, they being deep in sym
pathy with the movement to condemn
the outrageous Berner verdict A shot
or two was fired from the jail, but the
crowd refused to move. They have a
good leader and are still 40 p. NJ at
work at the jail.
Midnight About thirty shots with
muskets were fired by the militia for
the purpose of soaring the mob. The
result was that glancing balls struck
at least four persons inficting iniur
les which may be fatal in the case of
one or two. Police Mum and Pri
vate Cook are the worst hurt. The
latter was shot in the breass. The
volley seems to have checked
the movement of the mob though
the crowds have not yet dispersed from
about the Jail. There does not seem to
be any doubt that these wounds were
inflicted by the guns of soldiers. The
mob made no effort to shoot.
$50 a. m.-The firing by soldiers
from windows has been terribly de
structive. The following wounded
have been gathered into the drug
store on the corner of Court and Wal
nut streets, and at hotel near by: E.
J. Green, dying; Walter Fay, dying;
Jas. Turk, MORALLY wounded; T.
Zohner, a bad wound in the thigh.
and Ed. Dullef, shot in the leo.
These are all bystanders and there is
growing bitter feeling against the
soldiers. The mob has taken all the
arms they want from Kitteridge's
store including 1t small cannon.
CINCINNATI, o., March 30 IT. O.
Campbell appeared on the streets to-
day guarded by dozen men. He is
the criminal lawyer who has been
charged with corrupting iuries. The
crowds shouted: Hang himi" He
went on, Change, but was told that ii
would not be safe for him TO remain
there. While he hesitated about
leaving, q crowd gathered about him,
and he was pushed before it out of the
door It is said he received several
notices this afternoon that if he did
not leave the city within twenty-four
hours he would be lynched.
AS the evening has advanced the
excitement has increased The streets
are full of excited men. The crowds
in the vicinity of the court house are
greater than last night. One thous-
and militia arrived-from the interior
towns. They were stationed at the
Cincinnati, Hamilton &c Dayton depot
in order that the crowd might not be
excited by seeing them march through
the city, and yet they would be within
easy call.
The following circu Jar was dis
tributed through the crowd and in
tensi6ed tie excitement: Public
safety demands immediate action.
Organize vigilance committees in
every ward. Heal sores by purifying
the body; serve notice to criminals,
criminal lawyers, gamblers, and pros
tiJutes to leave Hamilton County
within three days and remain away
forever, or suffer the penalty. As
long as the present clique Of criminal
lawyers that infest the city are per
mitted to remain and corrupt juries,
outrage justice, and shield criminals,
just that long will our citizens be
murdered, our property destroyed,
and protection by the law denied.
Make one clean sweep while we are at
it. a vigilance committee of 800 in
each ward, composed of the best
citizens, can by earnest work cleanse
the moral atmosphere in three days
Organize at once and serve notice to
all disreputable chara ctcrs in the ward
to leave and never return. TIE repu-
tation of this city demands change
or wick edntss will reign supreme.
At 10 o'clock the riot alarm was
again sounded. There had been in
discriminate firing on the part of the
mob for an hour The militia return
ed the fire, but med their guns over
the tops of the buildings. Their eff
forts to brighten the mob had no effect
at ALL Just before the riot alarm was
sounded several dynamite bombs we're
thrown into the Jail yard. They burst
with terrific force.
An attack was made upon the
treasurer's Office in the court house.
The doors were battered down and an
entrance effected. It is supposed coal
oil was poured about the room. At
any rate. d Ere was started soon after
ward. It burned fercely, although
the building is fire proof. The fire