Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-06-05
OHIO MOBOCRACY
Overrides and DeaJes the Law and
Id Executors.
MOB INSISTS UPON A HANGING;

And the Mayor Kindly Makes ItU 6a1b -
the Rioters to Have Their Way-Merzs
Mitchells Crime and the Other Crans n
Has Resulted In-Model Ohio Town NJ
Safe for Men Who Did Their Duty -
Upheld the Statutes.
Urbana, O.. June SIN q riot here II
2:30 yesterday morning four lives We
lost and ten citizens were wounded n
7:30 q. m. Charles Mitchell (colored), the
cause Of all the trouble. was taken M
the Jail by Infatuated citizens ana
lynched. The two previous nights and
Thursday portended the gravest danger.
but no such results were anticipated e
those within the i've hours from $50 to
7:30 a. m. yesterday. Including Mitchell.
there are five dead and ten wounded.
In addition to this 1t is feared that Mn.
Eliza Gaumer, who was criminally as
saulted by the negro. will not recover,
ard several Of the injured are in a Sc
rious condition. Besides this list Of cas-
ualities there is such intense feeling
against some Of the officials that it win
not be wiped out in the present genera.
ton and further complications are an
prehend in the future. While the past
two nights and the past two days wit
messed scenes Of lawlessness and blood
shed, yet the feeling at no time has been
as intense as 1t is now.
Exposed the Negroes Body.
The body of Mitchell was exposed all
day in a rough coffin, and it intensified
the feeling among the masses who wit
messed 1t. The bodies of the citizens
who were killed were tenderly cared for,
and their funerals on Sunday will tend
to keep alive the bitter feeling. While
the wounded are being tenderly ca red for
Mt their homes yet several of them are
crippled for life and will be living re-
m!nders Of the trouble. One week ago
yesterday Mrs. Gaumer was criminally
assaulted in daylight at her home in
this city, near the court house. The brute
accomplished his fiendish purpose and
Mrs. Gaumer was protrated. She felt
that 1t was disgrace, and requested
her son to announce that she was as
saulted for robbery. 1t was given out
that Mitchell attempted to force her to
sign check for $500. But Mrs. Gaumers
condition became more serious, the facts
became known and also that the negro
was afflicted with the worst disease.
The negro was first held for robbery,
but on last Wednesday he was arraigned
for criminal assault. Mrs. Gaumer was
unable to appear in court and the hear
ing was held at her home. As Mitchell
entered the room she raised up and ex-
claimed: 1.-THE brute; hang him; how
dare you face me again. you BRUTE" and
Mitchell was hung yesterday in full view
Of Mrs. Gaumer's residence, which over
looks the court house and Jail yards,
Soon after the Identification on wednes-
day at Mrs. Gaumer's home there was
talk Of daylight lynching. Crowds sur.
rounded the Jail that night and the siaer-
iff and the local militia had trouble all
night in protecting the wretch. Thurs.
day grand jury was lmpaneled and Il
soon returned an indictment for criminal
assault Mitchell. disguised in a sordier's
uniform. was brought from Jail into
court at night. He waived the reading
Of the Indictment. pleaded guilty and
was promptly sentenced to twenty yeau
In the penitentiary, the limit for Grim.
inal assault.
The Mob increases in Fury.
The trial was over before 9 O'Clock n
night. An attempt was made to taxi
Mitchell to Columbus on the train at 10
p. m. But the crowds were about the
court house and jail, and when the car.
rage drove up the crowd made a rush
fer the Jail. The military drove them
back. but the crowd soon increased in
fury as well as in numbers. SO that
Sheriff Mclean and troops had all they
could do to hold the fort at the Jail, and
the trip to Columbus was given up be-
fore the departure Of the last train.
Large crowds had also surrounded the
stations SO as to make sure of Mitchell
rot being taken away alive. With
threatening scenes on the streets and
bout the public square all night it was
leo a. m. when the first attack Of the
mob was made on the Jail and the MILF
tary began firing. The mob was re-
pulsed with deadly results, leaving four
killed and ten wounded. 4