Abilene weekly reflector., 1897-06-10
THE mob SUCCEEDS.
Mitchell Is Taken from the Urtena
Jail and Lynched.
SOLDIERS OFFER No RESISTANCE,
No Attempt at Secrecy and Women and
Children Witness the Affair-Intense
Feeling Against Ofiicials-The
Governor to Investigate.

URBAyA, O., June 5-ln a riot here
at 2:30 yesterday morning four lives
were lost and ten citizens were
wounded. At7:3Oa. IN. Charles Mitchell,
colored, the cause of all the trouble,
was taken from the Jail by infuriated
citizens and lynched. All of the vic.
tins were innocent citizens, who were
spectators on the scene of excitement,
except Mitchell, In addition to this
list, it is feared that Mrs. Eliza Gaumer,
who was assaulted by the negro, will
not recover, and several of the INJURED
are in serious condition. Besides the
list Of casualties there is such intense
feeling against some of the officials
that it will not be wiped out in the
present generation, and further com.
plications are apprehended in the
future.
The body of Mitchell was exposed
all day in a rough coffin, and it inten-
sified the feeling among the masses
who witnessed it. The bodies of the
citizens who were killed were rever-
emily guarded, and their funerals on
Sunday will tend to keep alive the bit
ter feeling. The wounded are being
tenderly cared for at their homes.
Several of them are crippled for life,
and will be living reminders of the
trouble.
Everybody in the city was out when
the lynching occurred, and in the
bright daylight no masks were worn.
The local militia had been on duty two
nights, and they did the shooting.
Gov. Bushnell had been asked for more
troops during the night, and before
seven a. m yesterday company from
Springfield arrived. Just then the
local company was withdrawn from
the Jail. The mayor met the Spring
field company en- route from the depot,
and sent these troops back, saying
tney were not wanted.
The mob, seeing the way open, then
secured large sledgehammer and
broke for the Jail. The hammer was
not needed, as Sheriff McLain deliv-
cred the keys, and the crowd soon
found Mitchelps cell. Throwing a
rope over MitchelPs head, he was
dragged out, receiving some kicks and
blows. When the outer door was
reached the moose slipped off and Syl-
vester Zimmerman tied it so securely
as to receive the cheers of the crowd.
The rope was thrown over one of the
limbs of tree in the courthouse yard.
Mitchell was jerked up until his head
struck the limb and his neck was
broken, and then his body dropped to
the ground. The crowd repeated the
jerking several times until they were
sure he was dead. While the body of
Mitchell was lying on the ground hun
dreds crowded about the place. The
colored people were greatly excited.
They had previously made resolutions
for the punishment of Mitchell, but
many of them talked about him not
being guilty.
Women and children, as well as a
multitude of men, witnessed the lynch.
ing. There was no attempt at disguise
or secrecy. The assemblage in the
public square was as open as any pub
lie meeting that had ever been held in
that place. The local militia COM
pany, feeling the overwhelming pub
lie feeling against them, offered no re-
sistance when the mob broke into the
Jail. Gov. Bushnell arrived here last
night to investigate the trouble, and
the action OF the troops,
While the Urbana company is over
whelmed with local sentiment against
its action, it is also liable for abandon
ing its post of duty.