Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1884-04-03
RIOT RUN MAD.
Terrible Riot at Cincinnati on Account
of the Berner Verdict.
Tho Militia Called Out and Gatling Guns
Used-A Large Number Mnled
and Wounded.

Pablo indignation over the verdict OF
the Jury in the case OF VIM. Berner. the
confessed murderer of VIM. d. Kirk.
culminated at Cincinnati, on the nieht
OF the 28th, in an attack on the Jail by
large mob. The jury had found Berner
guilty of manslaughter, and he was aen-
tenced to prison for twenty years. This
outrageous verdict led to the calling of
mass meeting at Music Hall, from
which, after adjournment, the mob
started for the jail. The sheriff defend.
ed the prison, but the excited rioters
battered in doors and windows and Sc
cured entrance to the cell room, In the
meantime the sheriff had telephoned for
the militia, which appeared on the scene
through side passage, and collision
Immediately occurred. Shots were ex-
changed and finally the fusilade became
general. When the shooting had ceased
it was discovered that Police Officer
Num- was dying from bullet wound re-.
ceived from one of the excited militia.
men; VIM. Kates, rioter, was dead: e.
james Green, dying; Walter Tay, diving:
james Turk, mortally hurt; and large
number Of the mob shot more or less
seriously. During the melee a deputy
sheriff took Berner out of the jail and
managed to get him to the depot and on
board OF train bound for Columbus.
The train was mobbed at Loveland and
Morrow, by people bent on lynching the
prisoner. During one of these attacks
Berner escaped, but he was recaptured
and taken to Columbus on another train.
So much indignation existed over the
action of the militia, aud so MANY
threats OF further violence were made.
that the Governor called out militia
from all parts of the state and made full
preparations to resist any attempt to
rescue q number of rioters who had
been captured during the fight at the
Jail.
On the 29th the excitement was inten.
| sitied by reports that the mob were
armed with dynamite bombs, and were
preparing to blow up the town, One
Thousand militia arrived from interior
towns, but were held at the depot lest
their appearance should inflame the mob
to greater violence. Appeals were
circulated in the form of circu-
lars calling for vigilance COM
mittees to drive from the city all
criminals and criminal lawyers. At 10
o'clock the alarm was again sounded and
skirmish took place, in which no one
was hurt. Bombs were thrown into the
jail-yard without effect. At 1920 the
militia charged the mob, and the work Of
death began. The people, inflamed
with liquor, fought desperately, using
all manner of weapons. It is not known
how many were killed, but the number
is large. The courthouse was set on
fire, and an engine which attempted to
force its way to the scene was cut to
pieces by the mob. A Gatling gun was
then put in use and the militia ordered
to shoot to kill. Six of the mob went
down at the first fire, and hundreds of
wounded were carried away. 1t is es.
timated that 200 people were killed dur.
ing the firing. The courthouse is in
ruins.
During the day aud up to late in the
evening of the 30th, little disturbance
was created, but at Or. II. there was a
collision with the mob. Twelve of the
rioters were killed at the first fire.
Numerous small skirmishes took place
during the night, but the large force
of militia seemed to shake the confidence
of the rioters, and the worst is thought
to be over. Berner is still in the jail at
Columbus, and is closely guarded.