The herald., 1897-06-05
FURIOUS
CITIZENS
Not Deferred by Militia
Bullets
RIOTERS AT URBANA
Wreak Vengeance on Rapist
Mitchell
THE FIEND KICKED TO DEATH
BY MEN NOT LESS BRUTAL THAN
HIMSELF
Wreak Vengeance on Rapist
Mitchell
THE FIEND KICKED TO DEATH
BY MEN NOT LESS BRUTAL THAN
HIMSELF
The Death Of Four and Wounding Ct
Ten Spectators Causes Intense
Bitterness-More Trouble
Is Apprehended
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
URBANA, Ohio, June Ain a riot
here at 2:S0 this morning four lives were
lost and ten citizens were wounded. At
7:S0 a. M, Charles Mitchell (colored),
the cause of all the trouble, was taken
from the Jail by infuriated citizens and
lynched. The two previous nights and
yesterday predicated the gravest dam
ger but no such results were anticipate
ed as those within the five hours from
2:30 a. m. to 7:30 a. m. today.
Including the brutal Mitchell. there
are five dead and ten wounded. All Of
the victims were innocent citizens who
were spectators on the scene Of the ex-
citement except Mitchell In addition
to this list it is feared that Mrs Eliza
Gaumer, who was criminally assaulted
by the negro, will not recover. and sew
eral of the injured are in a serious con-
dition. Besides the list of casualties,
there Is such an intense feeling against
some of the officials that 1t will not he
wiped out in the present generation, and
further complications are apprehended
in the future. While the past two nights
and days were the scenes Of lawlessness
and b1oodshed, yet the feeling at no time
has been so intense as 1t Is here tonight.
The body of Mitchell was exposed al
day in rough coffin and it intensified
the feeling among the masses who saw
it. The bodies Of the citizens who were
killed were tenderly cared for and their
funerals on Sunday will tend to keep
alive the bitter feeling. While the
wounded are being tenderly cared for
at their homes several of them are Grip
pied for life and will be living reminders
of the trouble.
One week ago tonight Mrs. Gaumer
was criminally assaulted in daylight at
her home in this city. near the court
house. The brute accomplished his
f1endish purpose and Mrs. Gaumer was
prostrated. She felt that it was dis
grace and requested her son to announce
that she was assaulted for robbery. It
was given out that Mitchell attempt.d
to force her to sign check for $500. But
as Mrs. Gaumer's condition became
more serious the facts became known,
and also that the negro was afflicted
with the worst diseases. The negro was
first held for robbery, but on last
Wednesday he was arraigned for GRIM
inal assault.
Mrs. Gaumer wa unable to appear In
court and the hearing was held at her
home. As Mitchell entered her room
she raised up and exclaimed. ''The brute!
Hang him How dare you face me
again, you brute?" And Mitchell was
hanged today in full view Of Mrs. Gau-
mer's residence, which overlooks the
court house and Jail yards.
Soon after the Identification on We'd
nesday at Mrs. Gaumer's home there
was talk of daylight lynching. Crowds
surrounded the Jail that night, and the
sheriff and the local militia had trouble
in protecting the prisoner. Yesterday
a grand jury was impaneled and 1t soon
returned an indictment for criminal as
sault. Mitchell, disguised in soldiers
uniform, was brought last night from
jail into court He waived the hearing
of the Indictment pleaded guilty, and
was promptly sentenced to twenty years
in the penitentiary, the limit for GRIM
inal assault. The trial was over before
o'clock last night, when an attempt was
made to take Mitchell to Columbus on
the 10 o'clock train But the crawdswere
about the court house and jail, and
when the carriage drove up the crowd
made rush for the Jail. The military
drove them back but the crowd in
creased in fury as we'll as in numbers.
SO that Sheriff McLain and the troops
had all they could do to hold the fort at
the Jail, and the trip to Columbus was
given up. With threatening scenes on
the streets and about the public square
all night. it was 1870 a. m. when the
first attack of the citizens was made
on the Jail and the military began firing.
Over twenty volleys were poured into
the crowd and the mob was repulsed
with deadly results. leaving four killed
and ten wounded. Most of the wounde4
persons were innocent spectators. be-
yond the lines of the mob. Bell and
Higgins were killed instantly. and when
their bodies were picked up in the court
house square the crowd became furious
After the dead and wounded were
cared for the crowd rallied. 1t was day
light soon after a. M. and the streets
were crowded with workingmen and
others long before a. m. Everybody
in the city was out when the lynchine
occurred and in the bright daylight no
masks were worn. The local militia
had been on duty two nights and they
did the shooting. Governor Bushnell
had been asked for more troops durine
the night, and before q. m. compau4
from Springfield had arrived. Just then
the local company was withdrawn ff6n
the tail. Mayor 0ansep met the 6pftuG
field company en- route from ~
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