The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-05
who Dragged "C1iclH" Mitchell to the
Courthouse Yard and Hanged Him
to the Limb of a. Tree.
NO ATTEMPT At DISGUISE
WOMEN AND CHILDREN PERMITTED
TO WITNESS THE LYNCHING.
Extra Company of Militia Ordered
Back by the Mayor, PeIted with Mud
Balls, Cursed and Jeered.

URBANA, O., June Ain a riot here at
2:30 this morning two lives were lost and
ten citizens were wounded. At 1880 a. m.
Charles Mitchell (coloredD, the cause of all
the trouble was taken from the jail by in
furiated citizens and lynched. The victims
of the soldiers, who shot into the mob, are:
HARVEY BELL. Urbana, shot in the
head; instantly killed.
UPTON BAKER, farmer, north of Ur-
bana, killed.
WESLEY BOWEN, of Gable, shot in the
hip, fatally.
ZACH WANK, Urbana, shot in the groin
and leg fatally.
DENNIS GRANEY, Urbana, right foot,
slight wound.
DIR. CHARLES THOMPSON, North
Lewisburg, head, slight.
S. S. DEATON, Urbana, prosecuting at
torney, leg, slight
GUS WEISER, Urbana in the face, pain
RAY DICKERSON, Urbana, shoulder, Sc
rious.
JOHN MKEEvER. Urbana, right arm,
painful.
ROY MCCLURE, Urbana, right arm,
painful
The two previous nights and yesterday
portended the gravest danger, but no such
results were anticipated as those within
the five hours from 2:30 to 1880 a. m. to-
day. Including Mitchell, thereare three dead
and ten wounded. All of the victims were
innocent citizens, who were spectators on
the scene Of excitement, except Mitchell.
In addition to this list it is feared that Mrs.
Eliza Gaumer, who was cr1minally as
saulted by the negro, will not recover, and
several of the injured are in a serious con-
dition. Besides the list of casualties there
is such intense feeling against some Of the
officials that It will not be wiped out in
the present generation and further COM
plications are apprehended in the future
While the past two nights and the past
two days witnessed scenes of lawlessness
and bloodshed, the feeling at no time has
been as intense as it is here tonight. The
body of Mitchell was exposed all day in
rough coffin and it intensified the feeling
among the masses who witnessed 1t. The
bodies of the citizens who were killed were
taken to their late residences, and their
funerals on Sunday will tend to keep alive
the bitter feeling. The wounded are being
tenderly cared for at their homes. Several
of them are crippled for life, and will be
living reminders of the trouble.
One week ago to-day Mrs. Gaumer was
criminally assaulted in daylight at her
home in this city, near the courthouse She
felt that it was a disgrace, and requested
her son to announce that she was assaulted
for robbery. 1t was given out that Mitchell
attempted to force her to sign a check for
$780, But as Mrs. Gaumers condition be-
came more serious the facts became known,
and also that the negro was afflicted with
disease. The negro was first held for rob-
berry, but on last Wednesday he was ar
raigned for criminal assault. Mrs. Gaumer
was unable to appear III court, and the
hearing was held at her home. AS Mitchell
entered her room she raised up and ex-
claimed: "The brute! Hang him! How
dare you face me again, you bruter' And
Mitchell was lynched to-day in full view
of Mrs Gaumer's residence which over
looks the courthouse and jail yards.
THE ATTACK ON THE JAIL.
Soon after the identification on Wednes-
day at Mrs. Gaumer's home there was talk
of daylight lynching. Crowds surrounded
the Jail that night and the sheriff and the
local militia had trouble all night in pro-
tecting the prisoner. Yesterday a grand
jury was impaneIed and it soon returned
an indictment for criminal assault. Mitch
ell, disguised in a soldiers uniform, was
brought last night from Jail into court.
He waived the reading of the indictment
pleaded guilty, and was promptly SEN
fenced to twenty years in the penitentiary
the limit for criminal assault. The trial
was over before 8 o'clock last night, when
an attempt was made to take Mitchell to
Columbus on the train at 10 p. m But
there was a mob about the courthouse and
jail and when the carriage drove up the
crowd made a rush for the jail. The mil
itary drove the mob back, but the crowd
H.. 4 fsrvr
ber5, so that Sheriff McLain and the
troops had all they could do to hold the
fort at the Jail, and the trip was given up
before the departure of the last train.
Large crowds had also surrounded the rail
way station, so as to make sure OF Mitchell
not being taken away alive.
Although there were threatening scenes
on the streets and about the public square
all night, it was 2:30 a. m. when the first
attack of the citizens was rcade on the
jail and the militia began firing Over
twenty volleys were poured into the crowd,
and the mob was repulsed with deadly re-
suits, leaving two killed and ten wounded.
Most OF the wounded We're innocent spec
tators. beyond the lines of the mob Bell
and Higgins were killed instantly, and
when their bodies were picked up in the
courthouse square it made the crowd fu-
rious.
After the dead and wounded were cared
for the crowd rallied. 1t was daylight soon
after 4 a. m, and the streets were crowded
with workingmen and others long before
a. m Everybody in the city was out when
the lynching occurred and in the broad
daylight no masks were worn. The local
militiamen had been on duty two nights,
and they did the shooting. Governor Bush
nell had been asked for more troops during
the night and tefore a. IA. a company
from Springfield arrived. Just then the