Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-06-12
SURRENDERED TO the MOB
AFTER THE SHOOTING
Sheriff and Military at Urbana
Were Seemingly Terrorized
by Their Own Acts
GOV. BUSHNELL INVESTIGATES
Oficers Gave Up the Fight anu
Threw the Keys 10 the "a
to the acknowledgements
Still Great.

Urbann, O., June 7.-Governor Bush
nell arrived here las night to investi-
gate the trouble and especially the ac-
ton of the troops. While the Urbana
company is overwhelmed with local SEN
tlment against their action, they are
also liable for abandoning their post or
duty. Captain Leonard withdrew the
guards about 7 a. m. n the Springfield
took orders from the mayor
instead OF the sheriff when they turned
back from the court u
Governor Bushnell was waited on by
a delegation from here at Columbus
yesterday afternoon. They asked for
protection by troops Of Sheriff McLain,
against whose life threats have been
freely made during the day.
Sheriff McLain left here at 2 y. m.
enroute to Dayton. He escaped 10y the
back door OF the Jail and claims that
dynamite was being prepared to blow
him up. In the excitement and bitter
ness thai prevailed last night it was al
most impossible to get at the facts as to
the responsibility for the loss OF life, but
1t Is generally claimed that Sheriff Nc
Lain ordered the troops TO fire.
There is much dispute as to what oc-
Cured inside the Jail from midnight un-
til the time of the lynching. When the
first attack was made on the Jail at 1870
a. m. a dozen men mounted the rear
steps Of the jail and two OF them used
sledge hammers on the doors. The To-
cal militia company was under arms on
the inside with Sheriff McLain and his
1nnnfipS (Naffain I.anrua w n ~
then stepped out and said:
II will give you three minutes to dis
perse. If you do not do so | must fire."
The crowd evidently believed that
Sheriff McLain had then already or
dered the troops TO fire and they dis
persed. But when the attack was re-
newed on the rear door Of the Jail with
sledges the firing took place and the
crowd dispersed, leaving their dead and
wounded.
II was shortly after 3 o'clock when
Sheriff McLain telegraphed Governor
Bushnell at Wooster, O., that a mob had
attacked the jail; hat he had opened
fire; that his force was inadequate and
that assistance was needed at once. II
liz believed hat there will be a thor
] phbh NNSNik1NAoh INV III a1llbI vi
the mayor, as well as into the action OF
he sheriff and military officers.
Mrs. Gaumer is the widow of a wei
known newspaper publisher. Her
brothers-in-law are D.. IL. Gaumer. pub.
Usher OF the GAINESVILLE Signal and ar
ex-state senator. n c. ". Gaumer
formerly publisher of the Mansfielc
Shield, and an ex-state representative.
Mitchell was % years old and a hote'
porter. He bought milk at the dairy
Of Mrs. GaumeT and knew she was
alone while her children were at school
and deliberately studied his opportu.
nifty for a~ssaulting her.
1t was learned that Sheriff McLair
and Captain Leonard left yesterday aft
at the request OF citizens, wht
feared they were in danger OF violence
They took supper at Springfield anC
left at 1880 on the Big -Four express fol
Cincinnati. but would not tell wher,
they were going. After the fatalitie,
of the night 1t is known that Sheriff Nc
Lain and Captain Leonard decided be
fore daylight that there would be n,
more shooting. The guards were re
moved and the militia went to theil
homes in citizens clothes. Before Thu
evacuation the keys of the Jail wer,
thrown from a window to the mob.
Mayor Ganson ordered MITCHELL
body removed Immediately after III,
tynching, but so strong was the feelin,
that the crowd would not allow the pc
lice to touch the coffin till after darl
last night, when MitchelI's body wa
removed to some unknown place.