News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-04-03
The Cincinnati Riot.
ATTEMPT TO LYNCH MURDERER BY THE
CITIZENS-MANY LIVES LOST.

ATTEMPT TO LYNCH A MURDERER BY THE
CITIzENs-MANY LIVES LOST.
The origin of the riot at Cincinnati
was this: William Berner was asso-
ciated with others in the commission
of brutal murder. The victim had
500 in his pockets, and to secure
this sum his life was taken. The ev-
idence against Berner was positive.
Before his trial he offered to plead
guilty to murder in the second degree,
but the prosecuting attorney was so
certain that conviction for the capital
grade of homicide would ensue that
he refused TO accept the lower plea.
The trial occurred. The evidence
was complete. When the jury re-
tired a verdict of guilty of murder in
the first degree was expected by every
one except few who were engaged
in the conspiracy to thwart justice.
Surprise and indignation took posses
sion of the community when the jury
convicted the prisoner of manslaugh-
ter. The presiding judge denounced
the verdict and the populace threat
ened to lynch the jurors. Later In
the day the mob went to the Jail and
kept calling "Give us Bernerl Give
us johnson !" and so on through the
list ofmurderers confined in the build
ing. There seemed to be no leader.
Finally tall muscular negro began
to give orders, and the mob quickly
obeyed. Space was cleared, and a
plank, used as battering ram, was
brought to bear against the iron door.
Sheriff Hawkins and his men stood
behind the door with drawn revolvers.
The sheriff said calmly that it meant
death to enter that door. The crowd
wavered moment and hesitated.
Then the colored leader gave the word
to swing the plank. He was imme-
diately obeyed, and the gate trembled
with the shock. A mighty shout went
up. A second stroke from the batter
ing ram made the gates weaken per-
ceptably, and third loosened it from
its bolts and it flew open. Sheriff
Hawkins had instructed his men not
to fire, as he did not wish to shed
blood. He attempted to address the
mob, but they flew by him and up the
winding stairway to the cell room.
They sought for Berner but they soon
discovered that he was gone. Then
they went to the cell of johnson, one
of the murderers of the Taylor fami-
ly at Avondale. The Mortified pris-
| ho
looked on the determined men out
side. A plank was brought to batter
down the door of the cell, but the
small space prevented its use with eff
feet. In the meantime Chief of Po-
lice Reilly, hearing that the men were
in the Jail, entered through the court
house and thence through the tunnel
to the interior of the Jail. With this
combined force the men were put out
of the corridors about the cells and
the mob seemed to be repulsed.
In the meantime Sheriff Hawkins
sent an order to Col. Hunt, command
ing the first regiment of militia, to
report to him at the Jail with all the
men possible. Only about forty men
were on duty, and these went to the
Jail, passing the court house and tun-
mel already mentioned. Here occur
red the first bloodshed. The further
end of the tunnel was guarded by Of
icers Num- and Won Seggern. AS
the soldiers approached by threes,
with guns pointed, officer Won Seq
germ threw up his hands and shouted,
''For Gods sake, don't shoot; you'll
kill your friends Without needing
the warning the command to fire was
given, and a volley went rafting
through the tunnel. Officer Num- fell,
pierced by four balls. Won Seggern
was shot in the side of the head, and
several of the militia were shot dead
by their own guns. This volley had
the effect of clearing the Jail, but for
two hours thereafter efforts were made
on the outside to destroy the building.
The rioting was renewed Saturday
night. The mob burned down the
court house and it is estimated that
so to 60 men were killed and large
number wounded. At o'clock Sun
day morning the mob took three can
non from the music hall and were
marching toward. the Jail with them
when detachment Of police made a
charge and captured the guns, dis
persing the mob. Comparative quiet
was then restored.
All along the streets were blood
stains where men killed or wounded
fell. The burning of the court house
was purely malicious and aimless.
Here occurred the melancholy killing
of Capt. John j. Desmond, promis-
ing young man sent with posse OF
soldiers to put out the fire. The 18th
regiment, I'd troop cavalry, Scott
Dragons, of Hillsboro, and the 18th
regiment after their arrival were sta
toned in the city park as reinforce
ments to the troops in the Jail. AT
about s o'clock Sunday evening the
regiment guarding Court street was
fired into by the mob, and a volley
was fired in return, and several shots
from Calling, and a number were
injured. The firing continued at in
tervals in all directions.