The Labor enquirer., 1884-04-19
kTERRlBLE CRIME.
Truth Concerning the Reign Of Terror
in Cincinnati --Thsy Dare not
Investigate.

ated dispatches VI tuc eofonoh 'ino'<s,
contained an anntunceraent that COM
munication from {. prominent citizen OF
Cincinnati would appear in the columns
of the Toledo Commercial Telegram,
showing that the truth concerning the
ariot" had been suppressed, and showing
why an investigation dare not be held.
Bolow is the Communication in full.
The writer of the article is an old and
UNDERSTANDING citizen Of Cincinnati, and
his name is we'll known to many people
beyond the state lines of Ohio. The
name is withheld from the public be-
cause the gentleman does not wish to
become involved in personalities: A
copy of the communication has been
especially procured for the use of The
ENoUIRER: =.
CINCINNATI, April 6.-1he report from
this city is that layr has been reinstated
by the military arra, and the city owes
its rescue from destruction to the Ohio
militia. You shall hear. Only on the
outside of Cincinnati can the state of its
law and order be psinted. The mass Of
the citizens are ineensed at what they
believe an unproyoked slaughter The
killed and wounded now footup 200, and
more are turning 10. The coroner dare
not hold an inquest, because he was pres
ent, and he knows thas the testimony
would show that there was no mob, no
need of the military, no need for them
to open fire, and that they fred on unof-
< Tending people, and that such of the po-
icemen and militia as were shot were
shot by the militia, and because heis in
timidated by the Mclean and Tom
Campbell ring
1t would not be sslfe to publish to this
people the facts which an inquest would
bring out. It would! not be prudent for
the city press to publish what its own
reporters know, who were in at tn q be-
binning and saw the whole affair. The
most of the people have an idea Of the
truth, but there is no public organ to
givei it force of expression. 1t would not
be prudent to hold a public meeting.
Governor Hoadly haA commended Sheriff
Hawkins for good sense. sound judg-
ment, and distinguished gsllantry." The
governor probably thinks 20, but it is an
awful lie. Hawkins has ne brains. He
lost his heart. Before the event he was
contaminated by the Highland House
and criminal lawyer ring, which had be-
fore taken notice of an unfounded and
unmeaning talk of vigilance comittee,
to tell him to kill all he could.
There was absolutely no organization,
plan, design or arms in the crowd that
. by mere accident 1riftec to the Jail.
A terrible mistake was made by giving
the public signal on the fire bell Of
riot and the place of It. This started a
great population to the spot, and that
was called mob and riot. The crowd
was bent on fun. The larger part we're
boys, noisy but not vicious, whistling,
cat-calling, and making all sorts of noises,
as in the gallery of theatre. This was
called riot. Climbing on high fence
to see, was called a riot against the Jail.
A crowd of good-natu red fellows pushed
into the Jail through the open gate and
door, where was Sheriff Hawkins in a
panic, and lot of policemen, who made
no effort, and who we're in sympathy
with the crowd. No soooner had the
crowd got in than it wanted to get out,
and those in front sho lted to those push
ing in tho rear to let them out.
AS they thinned out, Hawkins set on
the police to arrest the remnant and
shove them into celll, actually seizing
men who wanted to get out. They who
had gone out said, Lets go back and
rescue our comrades" and they went
back. All this was without anger, and
was like ajollifcation Meanwhile the
riot bell had alarmed the whole city, and
thousands we're gathering for curiosity.
The number which took part in this
good-natured demonstration was small.
The police could have managed them. If
Hawkins had gone out and told them
that the thing was dangerous and must
stop, he could have quieted all. But he
called this amiable and curious crowd a
mob, and he had called the militia.
The second crowd that went into the
Jail made some demonstrations on the
murderers' cells, but had no effective
tools. They tumbled out pell NELL at
the sight of force. Hawkins had now of
deputies and of militia and police as
many as 400 or 500 armed men. The
crowd had done no violence. They made
bonfres for light, and a Babcock engine,
and steam, engine and hose cart came
driving on run into the crowd, endan-
geEing lives. The crowd, for its own
safety, said, $50 back, and the iremen
took it for riotous mob and went back.
Some of the crowd wen: into the court
house rotunda, from which a covered
way enters the Jail. They entered this,
and were stopped mitgay by an iron
door, behind which were militia.
A few persons made some demonstra-
ton at this door, but no, earnest one, and
policemen from the court house end were
arresting them and taking them out,
when, from the door, without warning.
the militia fred into these and the po-