The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-07-24
MOB VENGEANCE.
Infuriated Citizens Of 0wensboro. KY,
Lynch Negro.

fowensporo CKy.) telegram

fOwensnoro (Ky.) telcRrsmI
An armed mob attacked the County Jail,
killing the jailor. w. j. Lucas, breaking in
the doors Of the cell-room. and taking
Richard May, negro. ont and hanging him
to tree in the court house yard. The
court house and Jail are surrounded by
crowds of people, discussing tho outrage
and deploring the loss of q brave county
officer, who died at his post Of duty. The
negro who was hanged was charged
with attempting assault on ths per-
son Of Miss Kelly. daughter of a
farmer living few miles above
0wensboro about ten days since. The
mob had organized on several nights during
the past week. but did not attempt to carry
out their deigas. Last night about mid
to the city, he was halted by five masked
men near the gravel road toll gate, but suf-
fered TO pass without molesntion. Many
persons in the city were on the lookout for
Il Sunday night visit from the mob, and they
were not disappointed They entered the
city aboat 80 O'Clock and surrounded the
Jail. The jailer called to his wife to have
his pistols in readiness, and refused to open
the doors of the Jail. They demanded of
him the keys. He replied that che was an
officer Of the law and intended to do his
duty" They replied that he would give
up the keys and then do his duty" He re-
piled that "he would do his duty or die, !"
and some one in the crowd cried, D it,
die thenl"
The jailer was at this time up stairs on a
back porch on the north side Of the jail.
and Just between the Jail and the
residence. The mob then began fir
ing, and the fire was returned BY
L..
aged about 16. They fired thirteen
some, rs many as 100. Jailer Lucas fred
from the porch and his son from the froni
windows. Two of the mob are reported as
killed, witnesses saying that they saw
one man fall shot by Tom Lucas, and that
he was placed on a horse and quickly
carried off
After firing six shots from the porch the
iailer was shot, the ball entering his right
side. near the nipple. He was carried to his
room, still refusing to give mp the keys. His
wife took pistol and tined to repel the mob,
but they crowded up the stairs and forced
her to give mp the cell keys. The outer door
was battered down with a sledge hammer.
They then took'May from his CELL and hung
him to the only available limb IN the Cont
House yard. 1t was stated they had ropes
prepared Tor TWO Otner VICTIMS. ne ROPE
was a new one. and the knot regular hang
mans knst. The jail premises are badly
nddled with bullets. The Riler carried q
lantern in his hand and afforded a good tars
get for the mob. After hanging their vic
tim the mob departed, leaving number Of
masks about the Jail premises. 1t is stated
that among them were number Of negroes
and that portion of them came from Indi-
ana, opposite Greensboro, where the girlt
father once lived.
May was the third negro hanged in the
court house yard by mob and the feulth
victim of the gallOws in the county. The
Outrage Of last night is universally con.
dcmAed. Jailer Lucas in spite Of prompt
alienation, died Mt this morning. He was
Virginian, a brave ex- Confederate officer.
The report of two of the mob being killed
has not been confirmed. One of the moi
was heard to say as they left, however, thai
two of their number had been wounded
The excitement has continued al day and
late TINS evening it was reported that the
negroes were organizing to mob Kelly, the
father of the girl, for they think he raised