The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-06-10

pencil picked up at the time for a clew,
Officer Wootenham began to hunt the
man, and by noon next day had "Click"
Mitchell behind the bars.
Mrs. Gaumer was too i'll to appear at
the mayors office, and on Tuesday of
this week the hearing was held by
Mayor Ganson at Mrs. Gaumer's resi-
dence.
She being very sick, was compelled to
give her testimony from her bed. and
Mitchell was then charged with rape.
| When it was learned that Mitchell was
suffering from loathsome disease indig
nation knew no bounds. The colored peo-
pie held an indignation meeting and gave
it as their wish that if Mitchell was
guilty of the atrocious crime with which
he was charged he should suffer the
severest penalty provided by the law.
The excitement reached fever heat last
night, when the rush was made by the
mob to break the Jail. 1t is said that
Sheriff McLain gave the order to fire, at
the crowd.
The order was obeyed, and four men
are dead and seven others wounded, some
seriously, others slightly.
Mrs. Gaumer, upon whom the negro
committee the assault which led to the
lynching, is lying at her home in Woe
full condition and is praying for death
to relieve her from what she considers
disgrace. There is no doubt of the ne
gro's success in accomplishing his purpose.
Rape was the sole object of the assault,
! and there was no attempt at robbery,
that story having been circulated to spare
Mrs. Gaumer's feelings. She is complete
ly Frustrated from the nervous shock and
is in hysterical condition, but it is
thought she will recover. 1t is under
| stood that she was in the mans power
for over half an hour and was prevented
from crying out to the neighbors by a
shawl which he wrapped around her
head when he first attacked her. He
tore her clothing off, and in the strug-
, gle scratched and bruised her badly. He
also bit her about the neck and breast
She is said to be about 45 years old, small
and handsome and is well spoken of by
1 everybody here us lady of culture and
| refinement. The coroner returned a YER
, dict in the case of Mitchell that he ''came
to his death by hanging in the cour,
house yard at the hands of an Infatuated
mob whose names are not known"
e Among the sights shown visitors today
was a tree in the same court house yard
where a man named Ullery was lynch
ed twenty-three years ago for SINH
: lar crime upon the 7-year-old daughter
D of J. r. Morgan. Then the Jail doc
e was burst open with log and the sher
: if surrendered the keys and no lives
were lost except that of the culprit. Th'
tree is still standing, but the limb OF
= which Ullery was hanged is dead ant
stands out as a CHASTITY reminder of vic
Y lence.
o The Sherif,s Life Threatened.
f Governor Bushnell arrived here tonigh
: to investigate the trouble. and especial.
the action of the troops. While the Ur
u bana company is overwhelmed with loca
t sentiment against their action, they ar
S also liable for abandoning their post o
n duty. Capt Leonard withdrew tn
guards about Z a. M. and the Springfield,
- company took orders from the mayor in
stead of the sheriff when they turne,
d back from the court house. GOverno
o Bushnell was attending an encampmen
: at Wooster last night and was met b.
a delegation from here at Columbus thi
afternoon. They asked for protection
+ by troops of Sheriff McLain, agains
whose life threats have been freel,
made. Sheriff McLain left here at
p. m. and arrived in Springfield at
p. M, en- route to Dayton. He escape,
by the back door of the jail, and claim
dynamite was being prepared to blow
y him up. In the excitement and bitter
u ness that prevails tonight it is almost i'm
Il possible to get at the facts as to tn,
u is generally claimed Sheriff McLain or
l. dered the troops to fire last night. 1t il
: believed there will be a thorough inves
:, tigation into the action of the mayor al
well as into the action of the sheriff
I Mrs. Gauman is the widow of a wei
9 known newspaper publisher. Her broth
= ers-in-law are D. II. Gaumer, publishes
of the GAINESVILLE Signal and ex-state sen
! ator, and G. N. Gaumer, formerly pub
: Usher of the Mansfield Shield and al
ex-state representative.
Mitchell was % years old and hote
porter. He bought milk at the dairy o.
> Mrs. Gaumer, and knew she was alone
, while her children were at school, ant
deliberately studied his opportunity fol
assaulting her.
It is learned tonight that Sheriff Nc
Lain and Capt. Leonard left this after
noon at the request of the the citizens
who feared that they were in danger Of
violence tonight. They took supper al
Springfield and left at 1880 on the Big
-Four express for Cincinnati, but would
not tell where they were going.
Making a Quiet Sneak.
Cincinnati, June 4.-Sheriff McLain and
; Capt. Leonard of Urbana passed through
, Dayton on the Big Four for Cincinnati