Abilene weekly reflector., 1897-06-10
A MOB FIRED ON.
Gilitiamen Send Twenty Shots into
a Lynching Mob.
TWO KILLED and SEVEN WOUNDED.
The Angry Mob Thinks Negro Flend Gets
. Ridiculously Light Sentence for
His CrIme-The Community
Intensely Excited.

URBANA, O., June 4.-Two citizens
have been killed and seven wounded,
some fatally, in an attempt to lynch
"Click" Mitchell, the negro convicted
yesterday of criminal assault on Mrs.
Eliza Gaumer and sentenced to 20
years in state prison. For two hours
the militia fought off an angry mob,
which insists that Mitchell's sentence
is ridiculously light in view of his
crime. Finally the mob grew SO
strong and SO bold that the troops
were ordered to fire The sheriff wired
Gov. Bushnell for assistance.
There was general relief last night
because the lynching Of Click Mitch
ell had been prevented so far by the
prompt action of the court when the
grand jury was impaneled yesterday
and reported at $50 last night, after
the examining Of six witnesses, and
the indictment Of Charles Mitchell,
colored for the criminal assault of
Mrs. Eliza Gadmer, white. The court
thanked the jury for its good days
work" Then Sheriff Mclean and his
deputies brought Mitchell into court,
dressed in soldiers uniform As the
militia was on duty about the court
house and the Jail, this disguise Of the
prisoner worked perfectly. The crowds
that were about the grounds and in
the streets did not know what was GO
ing on, and those who saw Mitchell en-
route from the Jail to the courthouse
did not recognize him. The doors
TO the courthouse were all guarded by
the militia. Prosecuting Attorney
Waite represented the state and At
torney Flaugher the prisoner. With
the military about the building and
the crowds outside, Mitchell was bad
ly scared. He waived the reading of
the indictment, pleaded guilty and
was sentenced to the extreme limit for
criminal assaulted 20 years in the
penitentiary. The hearing occupied
only few moments. The court or
dered the sheriff to take the prisoner
TO Columbus last night at which place
he was expected to arrive before mid
night.
After Mitchell had been sentenced
by the court and the sheriff ordered to
take him to Columbus there was trou-
bic again. 1t was thought the officers
might get Mitchell through the crowd
as q soldier, but his color
this plan and carriage was
driven up to the Jail. Then the mob
broke in and demanded the prisoner.
The Jail was strongly guarded by
the militia and the sheriff felt secure
so long as he did not venture
out. The governor refused to
send more troops TO Urbana last
night, and the sheriff prepared to
stand u siege. Troops were stationed
about the Jail and none save officers
were allowed to pass The men were
ordered to load with ball cartridge and
the mob was warned that no license
would be tolerated. Capt George W.
Leonard, in command of the militia,
addressed the crowd and gave them
three minutes to disperse. Fully half
an hour had elapsed from the time the
order was given, when the roaring of
the musketry was heard.
Volley after volley was fired, until
as many as 20 shots had been fred into
the crowd. There vast general panic
for awhile, and the dead and wounded
were carried in every direction in
search Of doctors Offices The streets
were crowded and the most intense
excitement prevailed. Now that the
people have seen their neighbors shot
down the feeling Is getting intense.
The people are wonderfully worked
up and there may be more trouble.
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