Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1897-06-09
HANGED TO A TREE.
After a Night Of Rioting and Blood
shed at Urbana, O.,
A Mob Takes Click Mitchell From jail
and Strings Him Up-rhe sh-rir aud
Capt.in. Who Are Responsible for
Firing the Mob, Flee for
Their Lives

Judge Heiserman instructed sheriff
McLain to impanel a grand jury at
once TO consider the case against
Mitchell In the absence of the Prose-
cutting Attorney, - y Deaton, who is
away on legal business, the court APP
pointed Attorney George Waite assist
ant prosecuting attorney TO conduct
the proceedings before the special
grand jury.
The sheriff was just II minutes in
impaneling the jury. AT ESQ the jury
was sworn in 10y Judge Hciserman,
whose charge was brief. but TO the
point and related entirely TO the
Mitchell case.
The jury, after examining DR.. Rob
srt Henderson tMrs. Gaumer's ply
Slcianl, Bruce and Charles T.. Gaumer,
adjourned at ! o'clock until 1870 Thurs
day evening. At $50 the grand jury
returned an Indictment for criminal as
sault against Charles Mitchell
The grand jury had scarcely left the
courthouse until arrangements were
completed for the arraignment and
trial OF young Mitchell All the prin-
cipal doors in the house were locked
and bolted, and members OF the guard
were stationed in the halls at the same
on the inside All the other mem bcrs
OF Company d were lined up on the
outside ready to repulsc any attack.
Mitchell was brought from the Jail To
the courthouse in the custody OF Shcr-
itf McLane and Deputy Kirby, sur
rounded by square of the guards
lie was hustled upstairs into the
courtroom without the knowledge OF
the thousands of men who stood out
side. Death-like silence prevailed dur
ing the proceedings which did not last
five minutes. Mitchell remained stand
ing, and was evidently quite scared.
The court then appointed Mr..
\ Flaugher to defend him. In response
to the question of the court as TO
whether the defendant would waive
the reading of the Indictment, Mitch
ellis attorney answered in the aflirma-
tive.
Mitchell pleaded guilty. The court
then at once sentenced him To 20 years
confinement in the Ohio pcnitcntiarv.
the limit OF the law.
Mitchell was hurried back to Jail
and the immense crowd on the outside
was none the wiser of what had taken
place. 1t was part Of the plan Of
Sheriff McLain and his deputy, Harry
Kirby, TO spirit Mitchell into a car
riage and drive him to Hagen baugh
station or Woodstock, and there board
the eastbound Panhandle which ar
rives in Columbus at about midnight
The exciting incidents of the last
two days had an unfortunate and de-
plorable elimination at 2:3O Friday
morning. The disorganizcd mob OF
l, 800 stood on the streets all night
yelling and perfectly willing To lynch
a brute in human form guilty of a
fiendish crime
The mob had been slowly advancing
all night nearer and nearer 10 the iaIl
The guards were crowded closer to the
building as the night advanced. FL
nally dozen men or more got onto
some steps leading 70 the back en-
trance in the jail.
fellow with big sledge hammer,
he had been carrying all night under
his coat, blazed away at the door.
knocking IT in. AT that instant the
guards, who were stationed inside the
building, opened fire, and at least 20
shots were poured promiscuously into
the crowd.
The man who carried the slcdge
hammer escaped without injury. but a
young man named Higgins or Hagans
dropped dead, shot through the body
The crowd scattered instantly. Dur
ing the few seconds in which the firing
took place some deplorablc work was
done. Harry Bell, son of Smith Bell,
Of this city, and the man Higgins.
whose identity can not be csta blished,
died almost instantly.
he following were wounded: Zach
Wauk, of Urbana shot in the hip. his
Thompson, of North Lcwisburr. shot
in the forehead; Dennis Graney. of
Jrbaua, shot in the right foot: Shcr-
man ; Deaton, the prosecuting at
torney. shot in the hip: Wesley Bowen
Of Cable, shot in the hip; Gus Wciscr,
Urbana, face wound: Geo. Elicott.
superintendent electric light plant.
face wound; Ray Dickcrson. living
cast OF town, shot in the shoulder;
Ray Mcclure, Urbana. shot in the right
arm; Ralph McComb. shot in the arm.
Most Of those injured we're standing
in the street and were spectators
Gov. Bushnell has just ordered one
Of the Springfield companies here.
Quiet prevails here now.
COLUMHus o.. June "a special 90
the Dispatch from Urbana says.
Click Mitchell, the Negro brute.
has paid the penalty OF his foul crime
with his life. An outraged peop.c
have taken the law into their own
hands and melted out 90 Mitchell the
punishment ne so richly deserved. and
have obeyed the command and wish
of his PROSTATE, and as is announced.
dying victim.
The sensational and unfortunate
events Of the night intensified the
feeling against Mitchell II that was
posi- ole, and the determination bc.
came general that the brute should
never leave the town alive
After the firing OF the military on
the crowd of spectators during the
early morning hours. GOV Bushnell
ordered Company T., Third infantry. Of
Springfield, Co come here at once The
Springfield militia arrived here az 7.IO
Friday morning and left their special
train ON the outskirts Of the city. or
near the water works Tho company.
3G strong, under Capt Brad bury.
marched mp town TO- tine Jail. where
they found e 900 people surrounding
the Jail.
The company marched into The Jail