New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-05
A DISGRACEFCL OUTBREAK.

One lynching mob in measure received its
deserts yesterday in Urbanl. Ohio. but the in
conceivable stupidity Of the Mayor Of the city.
or his criminal completely in lawlesSnesS per-
mitted IL In the end to wreak vengeance on
the wretch who was the object Of its anger.
This outbreak of violence Is a disgrace to the
community where it occurred, and no sympathy
need be wasted on the rioters who fell victims
to the bullets of the militia. On the contrary. if
the State Of OHIO wishes to preserve It's good
take rank with Texas and Soath Carolina as a
scene of bloodthirsty negro hunting some
searching Investigations will be in order into
the conduct Of the Urbana miltlamen. who.
after defending the jail for time. refused 70
do duty. and into the conduct of the Mayor, who,
when the Springfield militia arrived to take the
place of the mutineers. ordered them away and
left the prisoner at the mercy Of the mob.
The whole proceeding has an appearance of de-
lbcrate surrender on the part Of authOr-
ties sworn to enforce the law. The prisoner
under sentence TO the extreme penalty for his
crime was with difficulty taken to Jail. and the
Sheriff at once called out the local militia.
Meanwhile the mob grew in strength and more
troops were asked from the Governor but TO no
purpose. The rioters. making an attack on the
JAIL were repulsed with the loss Of two killed
and seven badly wounded The serious aspect
of affairs finally induced the Governor to re-
spond to the Sheriffs renewed request for more
troops. They arrived to find the local militia
refusing duty. and were about to 90 on guard
when deputy-shcriff and the Mayor joined in
warning them off. Then the crowd had its own
way. and with the usual accompaniment of kick
ing and beating hanged the negro. 1t is hardly
conceivable that the officials should have re-
fused to let the militia guard the jail after one
fight while the crowd was yet assembled, and
should not even have made an attempt to re-
move the prisoner to safer place under mill
tary guard, unless they deliberately planned for
his murder
The people of Urbana cannot excuse them
selves by pleading the negro's Ill deeds. He
was bad enough. Perhaps he deserved death.
But the fact remains that death was not the
punishment for his crime determined by the
people of Ohio. He had been sentenced prompt
ly to twenty years Imprisonment, the full pen
atty which the people had fixed for his offence
He had pleaded guilty. He was on his way to
prison. There had been no miscarriage Of
Justice and none of the delay which is so often
urged as excuse for lynching. The riot was an
outbreak Of barbarsm without excuse. 1t was
not an impatient attempt TO do justice but
a bloodthirsty attempt to thwart it, If the laws
of Ohio are not severe enough the people can
change them. If they want to extend the appli.
cation of the death penalty 1t Is their privilege,
but when they make one law and then prevent
its enforcement by violence they only feed the
flame Of savage passion which they profess to
curb No republican government can command
respect when its citizens refuse to obey the
Laws of their own making.