Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1897-06-12
A LYNCHING IN OHIO.
Citizens of Urbana String Up q
Black Brute.
Militia After Killing Two Men and Wound
Ing Half a Dozen Others, Two Fatally,
Repent OF Their Action and Make
No Opposition to the Mob
Full Account of n Ter
rible AFFAIR.

Urbana, o., June SIN a riot here
at $3.50 Friday morning four lives were
lost and seven citizens were wounded |
At 1880 a. m. Charles Mitchell (colored),
the cause of all the trouble, was taken
from the Jail by infuriated citizens and
lynched.
Following is the revised list of cas-.
ualties:
Dead-Harvey Bell, Urbana shot in the head.
Upton Baker, farmer.
Fatally wounded-Wesley Bowen, Of Cable,
shot in the hip
Zach Wank, Urbaaa, Shot in the groin and
leg
Seven others we're slightly wounded.
1t is feared that Mrs. Eliza Gaumer,
who was criminally assaulted by the
negro, will not recover, and several OF
the injured are in a serious condition.
There is such intense feeling against
some of the officials that it will not be
wiped out in the present generation.
While the past few days witnessed
scenes of bloodshed, yet the feeling at
no time has been as intense as it is now.
One week ago yesterday Mrs. Gau-
mer was criminally assaulted in day
light at her home in this city, near the
court house. The brute accomplished
his fiendish purpose, and Mrs. Gaumer
was prostrated. She felt that it was
disgrace and requested her son to an
nounce that she was assaulted for rob-
berry. But as Mrs. Gaumer's condition
became more serious, the facts became
known and also that the negro was dis
eased. The negro was first held for
robbery, but last Wednesday he 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 brutel Hang him! How
dare you face me again"
Thursday night Mitchell pleaded
guilty and was sentenced to 90 years
in the penitentiary. 1t was 1880 a. m.
when the first attack of the citizens
was made on the Jail and the military
began firing. Over 90 shots were fired
into the crowd and the mob was re-
pulsed with deadly results. Most of
the wounded persons were innocent
spectators, beyond the lines of the
mob Bell and Higgins were killed in
stantly and when their bodies were
picked up it made the crowd furious.
After the dead and wounded were
cared for the crowd rallied. The
streets were crowded long before a.
m. Everybody in the city was out
when the lynching occurred and no
masks were worn. The local militia
did the shooting. Gov. Bushnell was
asked for more troops during the night,
and before a. m. a company from
Springfield arrived.
Mayor Ganson met the Springfield
company and sent them back, saying
they were not wanted. The mob then
secured a large sledgehammer and
broke for the Jail. The hammer was
not needed, as Sheriff McLain delivered
the keys and the crowd soon found
Mitchell's cell. Throwing a rope over
his head, he was dragged out, receiving
kicks and blows. The rope was thrown
over limb of tree in the court house
yard, Mitchell was jerked up until his
head struck the limb and his neck was
broken.
The local militia company feeling the
overwhelming public feeling against
them, offered no resistance when the
mob broke into the Jail or when the
lynching was going on. An hour or
more after the lynching Mitchell's
body was picked up and placed in
rough coffin, but still left under the
tree, where hundreds of people viewed
it, Later in the day the body of Mitch
ell was removed by the coroner.
Gov. Bushnell arrived here last night
to investigate the trouble and especial
ly the action of the troops. While the
Urbana company is overwhelmed with
local sentiment against their action,
they are also liable for abandoning
their post of duty. Capt. Leonard with
drew the guards about Z a. m. and til
Springfield company took orders from
the mayor instead of the sheriff when
they turned back from the court house.
Gov. Bushnell was attending an en-
campment at Wooster Thursday night
and was met by delegation from here
on his return to Columbus.
Some citizens of Urbana asked for
protection by troops for Sheriff Nc
Lain, against whose life threats had
been made. Mcfain left here at p.
m. and arrived at Springfield at p m,
en- route to Dayton. He escaped by
the back door of the jail, and claims
that dynamite was being prepared to
blow him up. In the excitement that
prevails it is almost impossible to get
at the facts as to the responsibility for
the loss of life, but it is generally
claimed that Sheriff McLain ordered
the troops to fire.
Mrs. Gaumer is the widow of we'll
known newspaper publisher Her
brothers-in-law are d. II. Gaumer, pub.
Usher OF the GAINESVILLE Signal, and an
ex-state senator, and C. N. Gaumer,
formerly publisher of the Mansfield
Shield and an ex-state representative.
Mitchell was 23 years old and hotel
porter He bought milk at the dairy
of Mrs. Gaumer and knew she was
alone while her children were at school
and deliberately studied his opportuni'
ty for assaulting her.