Smyrna times., 1884-04-02


preceded it was that of man named |
Berner who had confessed that he had
participated in the murder of all old
man named Kirk for his money which
he divided with a negro named Palmer
on whom he laid the chief blame. In
the face of such testimony verdict of
manslaughter first shocked the Court
and then angered the community.
The courtroom audience freely ex-
pressed its dissatisfaction on the first
rendering of the verdict. For fear of
more emphatic demonstrations, the ju-
rors were hustled out by back way,
but the news Of their verdict had pre-
ceded them into the street and they
were obliged to run for their lives,
with any angry mob in pursuit.
This scene occurred on Monday
morning of last week, and for days
Cincinpati was in a tumult which cul-
minated in the disgraceful riot and
bloodsAed of Friday and Saturday
nights. The local press reflected and
stimulated the general dissatisfac ton
of the community. One paper spoke of
Berner's acquittal as evidence of the in
ability or indisposition on the part of
the authorities to punish crime in Gin
cippati. THE Berner trial farce" it
said, land the presence of thirty or
more murderers in our midst awaiting
their turn ut the alleged bar of justice
are disturbing elements of no mean
proportions in Cincinnati's commercial
interests" Such language as this was
not lost upon the multitude, nor were
the indignant utterances of the "best
citizens" at the public mass meeting:
ON Friday evening. If the verdict was
as Judge Carter expressed it, an out
rage on law, it was right, reasoned tn,
mob, that the law should be vindicateC
in some way, and but one appeal lie
for the prosecution from the verdict o
> jury, and that appeal was to Judg
Lynch.
So the crowd rushed for the Jail an
demanded Berner, but the officers VIII
: were charged with the lawful author
ity of protecting him refused TO Civ
him up so an entrance was forced bu
: with the help of the militia who ha
been called to the aid of the police the
Ii were driven back and the prisoner
y the mean time spirited off to COlumbr
l. the capital of the State. What tran
> pired during the week and especial
Il during the terrible nights of Frida
n' and Saturday can be detailed only
the expansive columns of a large dali
Ig A few extracts from the daily repor
he will give some idea of the demonic
IL spirit that prevailed:
er All day Saturday changing crow
be filed the street, approaching IA near
IN the Jail as they were permitted to Q
The crowds in the streets numbered
'e- times from 10000 tc 10000 people.
r. Sheriff Hawkins spent the day
a preparing for the expected night. ]
H. called out his own command, veter
o regiment composed of soldiers of t
= late war; Colonel Hunt also muster
10 within the Jail as many of his regime
on as could be brought out; the Gatli
to gun belonging to the police force "
40, also brought out, and street barricaC
composed of heavy transfer wage
'u- backed by wood, stone and iron bui
M ing material from neighboring bui
as ings, were erected 100 yards from
jail.
Meanwhile the mob spirit was smo
Dre dering throughout the city. Infla
Ia atOry posters were stuck up call
mt for the organization of vigilance &C
81 mittees, to consist of 300 from es
- :. ward, and groups of people everywh
aU- gave voice to the general indignat
I to at the criminal farce played by
has Berner jury and at the general sla
rti- ness OF the administration of justice
to mursierers.
age As night drew OH the rioting be-
ion afresh. Gun stores were broken i
nto and the arms and ammunition dist
vho uted and shortly after midnight it
found that the mob had obtained ii
Htfl BidnbCu ht EOl
'out and Walnut streets. Fortunately I'll
sad- in charge of the cannon had no p
red der, and, before they could procur
,hat supply, a squad of thirty policeI
'na' emerged from Hammond street sta
the house and by a gallant charge. will
} af- firing their pistols, captured all
rker guns aud dispersed the mob.
e capture weakened the spirit of
:" VI rioters and comparative quiet was
nty, stored for the time.
has IL was then about 3 A. ".
aIitv nights work had been Il series
,,,a bloody contests between the solo
and police and the rioters, and /
Time were from 80 TO 35 dead bodies
nore In the streets. During the attach
! has Powell's gun store, Mr. Powell DEF
fur. ed bis property and killed at least
men.
pam, At 9.45 p. NJ, fire alaFm was so
paid ed for fire in the treasuTer's ofFic
t., al the first floor of the court house.
rtant square was surrounded by thous
ars-. of excited men, firing revolvers, th
nA' ing stones and yelling. The m
9 fair had fired into the mob from the
" ne house, but it was supposed the,
I,.v used blank cartridges.
The fire was started by rolling
'"' " barrel OF coal oil, setting it on fir
y 9Ae keeping everybody out. The fir
vigor- partmept refused to respond tc
VA are alarm, until an eseOrt of troops
a..e sent. When the first engine app
"'s the mob, with drawn reyQlvevs, w
road them to 20 no further. They Oh
future while hand TO hand fight was i