The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-06-05
MOB DEFIES MILTTIA.
The Lynobing Of a Negro in Ohio
Costs Two Lives,
ANDTBN OTHERS WE'RE WOUNDED

Soldiers who Were Guarding the Com
vict Firod Twenty Volieys Into the
Crowd - The Dead Were Innocent
Spectators of the Exciting Scenes.
Urbana, o., June 5.-Two men were
killed and ten wounded at 2:30 yester-
day morning by a company Of the Ohio
National Guard in defense of Charles
Mitchell, a negro rapist in jail at this
place. In spite of the militia the mob
finally entered the jail and lynched the
prisoner. All of the victims were inno-
cent citizens who were spectators of
the scene of excitement. In addition to
this list, IL is feared that Mrs. Eliza
Gaumer, who was assaulted by the ne
gro will not recover, and several of the
injured are in a serious condition. There
is intense feeling against some of the
officials and further complications are
| apprehended
The dead are: Harvey Bell Urbana
shot in the head and instantly killed.
Upton Baker farmer north of Urbana.
Fatally wounded Wesley Bowen Ca
BILE, shot in the hip; Zach Wank, Ur
| bana, shot in the groin and leg.
While the past two nights and days
] Witnessed bceneS Ol idWlGS5neSS ana
bloodshed, yet the feeling at no time
has been as intense as it is here today.
| The body of Mitchell was exposed all
! day yesterday in a rough coffin, and 1t
intensified the feeling among the crowds
who viewed it. The bodies of the citi-
zens who were killed were tenderly
cared for, and their funerals on Sun
day will tend to keep alive the bitter
feeling. Several of the wounded will
be crippled for life.
One week ago yesterday Mrs. Eliza
Gaumer was assaulted by Mitchell at
her home in this city, near the court
house. The brute accomplished his pur-
pose. Keenly realizing her position, she
requested her son to announce that she
was assaulted for robbery. 1t was
given out that Mitchell attempted to
force her to sign a check for $500. But
as Mrs. Gaumer's condition became
more serious the facts became known,
and as it was also stated that the ne
gro was afflicted with a lOathsome dis
ease. The negro was first held for
robbery, but on last Wednesday was
arraigned for criminal assault. Mrs.
Gaumer was unable to appear in court,
and the hearing was held at her home.
AS Mitchell entered her room she ex-
claimed: The brute, hang him. How
dare you face me again, you brute"'
Soon after the Identification Oh We'd
nesday there was talk of lynching
Crowds surrounded the jail that night
and the sheriff and the local militia had
trouble in protecting the prisoner
Thursday a grand jury was empanele6
and it returned an indictment for Grim
inal assault. Mitchell, disguised in a
soldiers uniform, was brought Thurs
day night from jail into court. He
waived the reading of the indictment
pleaded guilty and was promptly sen
fenced to 20 years in the penitentiary
the maximum punishment for his
crime.
An attempt was made to take Mitch
ell to Columbus at 10 D. M, but tht
2 crowds which had gathered about the
court house made a rush for the jai
when the wagon drew up. The mill
Z tary drove them back, but the mob in
Z creased in numbers and grew mors
: threatening. Sheriff Mclean and thu
; troops had all they could do to holC
the Jail, and the trip to Columbus wal
given UP before the departure of th
3 last train. In the meantime crowds
z had also surrounded the depots, so al
to make sure their man should not b.
? taken away. AS the night wore on tn
mob increased, and the shouts an,
murmurings indicated that it was II
dead earnest.
1t was just 1880 when the FIRST attacl
was made on the Jail and the military
began firing Over twenty Volleys wer,
poured into the crowd, and the mob wal
repulsed, leaving four killed and tel
} wounded. The range was close, but tn
soldiers ared wildly. OF the killed ant
wounded nearly all were on the out
, skirts of the mass of men, those i'm
medately in direct line of fire escap
ing The volleys drove the crowd bacl
a little way and 1t was found that tw
men. named Higgins and Bell, had beel
instantly killed. When their bodie
were picked up in the court hous
square ii made the crowd furious.
After the dead and wounded wer
cared for, the crowd rallied The loca
militia had been on duty two nights
and they did no more shooting. Gov
ernor Bushnell had been asked fO
more troops during the night, and be
fore n. m, company from Spring
field arrived. Just then the local com
pany was Withdrawn from the jail
Mayor Ganson met the Springfield com
pany en- route from the depot and sen
the troops back, saying they were nc
wanted.
The mob, seeing the way open, brok
: for the tail. No force was needed, a
st Sheriff Mclean delivered the keys an
the crowd soon found Mitchelrs eel
- Throwing a rope over the trenblin
wretch's head, he was dragged ou
receiving some kicks and blows. Whe
q the outer door was reached the noos
slipped off and Sylvester Zimmerma
tied 1t so securely as to receive th
cheers of the crowd. The rope wa
thrown over one of the limbs of tire
in the court house yard Mitchell wa
ierEed up until his head struck th
limb and his neck WAS broken, and the
his body dropped to the ground II
v crowd repeated the Jerking sever
times until they were sure he was dea
He died without a struggle. as his nee
was evidently broken by the first jer
He was 23 years old, and a hotel porte
While the body of Mitchell was lyir
on the ground hundreds crowded abol
TO see 1t. The colored people we
,,raatlyy evcitad TheV had preViOus