The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-06
Evidence that the sheriff. Militia Off,
Ger. Mayor or Other officials Blum
dered or Were Lax in Duty.
GOVERNOR BUSHNELL TALKS
HE EXPLAINS THE SITUATION AS RE-
PORTED TO THE EXECUTIVE.
Friends of the 'InnOcent Spectators"
Shot by MiIitiamen Threatening
Vengeance-The Negroes Remains.

COLUMBUS, o., June 5.-Governor Bush
nell was asked to-day what, if anything
he desired to say about the lynching of the
negro at Urbana Jail Friday morning He
said in effect: "A sheriff by the laws of
Ohio. has power to call on state troops in
his county to protect persons and property
The law of Ohio is peculiar in this respect
The sheriff at Urbana called the local COM
pany into service. 1 was at Wooster when
word came to me at Ills p. m. Thursday
of the pending trouble. 1 was at a banquet
of the Sons of Veterans. 1t took the mes
senger twenty minutes to find me. The
word was from Captain Leonard, in COM
n1and Of the Urbana company of state
troops at the Jail in which the negro was
imprisoned, and whose life was threatened.
Captain Leonard stated that the sheriff
said he wanted help. The Governor said
he did not look on the message of Captain
Leonard as being from the proper source.
The telephone people at Wooster were in
bee. They were secured by 11:45 p. m. 1
got Sheriff McLain at Urbana by telephone.
He told me he had forty men. 1 told him
he ought to be able to protect the prisoner
and property with forty men. Il have since
learned he had fifty-five men) He said he
would do the best he could, but public sem
timent was dead against him. 1 said he
had nothing to do with public sentiment
His duty was to obey the law. He did not
ask for help. left the telephone office at
midnight. The shooting by the Urbana
company occurred after that conversation.
"At a. m. a message came from Sheriff
McLain saying his force was inadequate
and for me to send help. / Immediately
telephoned Captain Bradbury, Company B,
Third Ohio Infantry, Springfield, to report
with his company to Sheriff McLain at
Urbana. AT the same time 1 telephoned
Sheriff McLain that Captain Bradbury
would report to him. Captain Bradbury
arrived at Urbana at or before a. m. Col
Anthony, of the Third Ohio Infantry, to
which is attached the Springfield and
Urbana companies, says Sheriff McLain told
him that Captain Bradbury of Springfield
reported to and talked with him (the sher-
iff), and was directed by the sheriff to re-
turn to the train or to Springfield, and the
Springfield troops did return to the train
The lynchng occurred not more than thirty
minutes later, according to the best infor-
nation at the Governors office. Captain
Bradley said by telephone to the adjutant
generals office here that when he was or
dered by the sheriff to return to the train
he sat in the presence of the sheriff as long
as he could consistently and then retired ="
form him of the existing trouble until it
had reached it's climax, although the thing
he'd been brewing several days. He has
been assured by all classes of people in
Urbana that he did all that could have been
done under the circumstances.
Adjutant General AXline, who was present
at the interview to-day, said the mayor of
Urbana telephoned him that the Governor
and troops were in no way to blame; they
did all they could. II there is any one to
blame it is myself and the sheriff, and as
TAR as l am concerned l am perfectly will
ing to take my share of the blame The
mayor further said there was ample prov
ocation for the firing of the militia at 2:30
and ne did not blame them for doing their
duty. The sheriff, he said did not manage
things right and did not seem to appreciate
the gravity of the situation until it was too
late to avoid the lynching without an
awful slaughter of human life"
Governor Bushnell in an interview to-
night, stated he favored the enactment of a
law making the penalty for extreme cases
OF criminal assault death. He thought that
punishment commensurate with the degree
OF crimes was the surest prevention of
lynchings such as that at Urbana He con-
suited one of the judges of the Supreme
Court on the matter, and the latter com
ciQed with his views.