The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-28
MEMBERS OF THE MOB FIRED
UPON BY GUARDS THREATEN
TROUBLE.
SHERIFF VAN NESS BRAVERY.
He HAD ATTEMPTED SINGLE
HANDED TO HOLD BACK THE
CROWD OF LYNCHERs.

|
early this morning to avenge the murder
OF August Shultz, Tiffin's popular City
Marshal, who was shot down in cold blood
by Leander ]. Martin, alias Williams, a
farmer of Hopewell Township, last Wednes-
day evening, two more victims were added
to the tragic affair. At / 80 o'clock a mob
OF 100 Infatuated men, many of whom were
under the influence of liquor, attacked the
jail in an effort to secure Martin and hang
him. A volley from a half dozen Win
chesters met them and two of the mob,
Henry Mutchler Jr. and Christian Matz,
| were killed.
AT daylight this morning crowds began
to gather in the vicinity of the jail, and,
| Sheriff Van Ness fearing further trouble,
called out Company c of the Sixteenth
Regiment, O. N. g., to maintain order.
| This company, which is stationed here, is
not numerically strong, and the Sheriff
thinking Captain Loomis' men would be
unable to cope with a more general civic
uprising, telegraphed to Governor McKin-
ley for more troops. The Governor COM
piled with the request, ordering three adj
ditional companies to the scene. During
the day one company each came from
Fremont and Sandusky, and late this
evening the company from Kenton arrived
on the Big Four.
1t is not believed that there will be any
! further trouble, yet the friends of the dead
men threaten vengeance on the guards
who fired on the mob, and the dead Mar
shals' friends say they will kill Martin if
they can get to him.
Martin was spirited away to Fremont
| long before daylight, but this the people
refuse to believe. The names of the guards
who fired the fatal volley are known only
to Sheriff Van Ness. Three hundred mill
tiamen are guarding the Jail tonight
| Martin runs small farm near Watson
station, six miles south of town. Wednes-
day afternoon he got into a controversy
with son of a neighboring farmer. The
boy, who is scarcely Is years of age, had
refused to obey some trivial request of
Martin, and the farmer flew into a rage
He struck the boy with his fist and then
seized him by the neck, nearly strangling
him. The boy finally succeeded in break
| ing away, and. half dead though he was,
| reached town, where he told his story to
the police.
/ Officer Pat Sweeney and Marshal Shultz
Immediately started tor the Martin farm.
apparently saw them approaching, for he
rushed inside. and when they arrived had
! barricaded the doors and was watching
| from one of the windows.
! Sweeney and Shultz had not taken the
affair very seriously and had expected no
determined opposition. They walked di-
rectly to the door OF the house, but when
| they reached close range Martin opened
| fire from the window They blazed away
in return, but before more than half
dozen shots had been fired both officers
had fallen. Shultz died instantly where
he lay. Sweeney had started to retreat
from the house at the first shot and sue
ceeded in getting beyond range with two
wounds, which were not fatal.
Requirements arrived later from
town and Martin seeing that further re-
sistance was useless laid down his arms
and surrendered.
The news of the death of Shultz caused
the widest excitement in town and among
the neighboring farms where the dead
man was well known and liked. Shultz'
funeral was held yesterday and was largely
attended, the farmers for miles around
adding their numbers to those of the
friends of the Marshal living in town.
After the services there was much talk
among the populace, especially the farm
ers living near Watson, and it was noticed
| as evening drew on that few of the tillers
of the soil had taken their departure for
home.
| Nothing was thought of this, however,
as the farmers regard Saturdays at this
season of the year as holidays and often
make day of it" in town. There was
considerable drinking among the town
crowd and plenty of talk about lynehing
Martin, but it was not taken for much.
| Sheriff Joe Van Ness, knowing Shultz'
popularity, had. however, taken the pre-
caution the day after the murder to place
four or five guards in the jail and arm them
with Winchesters. He said this afternoon
that he really expected no trouble, but put
the men there lust to be on the safe side"
AT midnight most of the saloons closed
and the town was apparently quiet. 1t
was noticed that nearly everybody had dis
appeared, and the two policemen who do
night duty around the business portion of
the little city walked their beats with an
parently the usual dull night ahead of
them.
Out at the old fair grounds, just one mile
|
nament the exact center of the CITY, an
exciting midnight scene was being enacted.
Belated residents making for their homes
in that portion of the city noticed groups
of men in various parts of the grounds.
which were lately sold by the county to a
syndicate for subdivision of the city. The
groups grew and their numbers were aug
mented every few minutes by the arrival
OF people from various parts of the city and
country. No leader seemed in evidence.
Shortly after o'clock there was con-
certed move, and the mob, which had at
last found leader, started into the city.
The night was dark and the shadows cast
by the big trees which lined the pavements
on both sides of the streets through which
the mob marched added to the gloom.
The marchers. on mob law bent, came in to
Market street just east of Heidelberg Col
lege, and, passing the handsome homes on
the avenue, arrived in the rear of the Jail
at 80. After wait of two or three mo-
ments the mob, with terrific veil. rushed