The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-06-05

Oul Whch the lynChlng occurred ana IN
the bright daylight no masks were worn.
The local MALTA had been on duty two
nights and they did the shooting. Gov
ernor Bushnell had been asked for more
troops during the night and before u.
m, a company from Springfield arrived
Just then the lnCAl company was with
drawn from the jail. Mayor Cannon
met the Springfield company en- route
from the depot and sent these troops
back, saying they were not wanted. The
mob, seeing the way open, then secured
4 large sledge hammer and broke for the
jail. The hammer was not needed as
Sheriff McLain delivered the keys and
the crowd soon found Mltchelrs cell.
Throwing a rope over Mitchell's head,
he was dragged out, receiving some
kicks and blows when the outer DIOR
was reached. the moose slipped and Syl-
! vester Zimmerman tied II 50 securely as
10 receive the cheers OF the crowd.
The rope was thrown over one OF the
limbs OF tree In the court house yard.
Mitchell was jerked up until his head
struck the limb and his neck was broken
and his body dropped 10 the ground. The
crowd repeated the Jerking several
times, until they were sure he was dead.
| While the body al Mitchell was lying on
| the ground hundreds crowded about TO
/ 1fF IL NhNNINh PfhRlE NNAN hAV1kly "a
| cited They had previously met and
/ adopted resolutions for the punishment
| of Mitchell, but many uf them talked
about him not being guilty.
Women and ChildTSn Present.
women and children. as well as a null
titude OF men, witnessed the lynchinE.
There was no attempt at disguise or Sc
crecy. The aSsemblage In the public
| square was aS open as any public meet
| ing that had ever been held In that place.
The local militia company, feeling the
| overwhelming public feeling against
them, offered no further resistance when
the mob broke into the Jail. or when the
lynchIng was going on and the Spring.
| field company had been counterrnarched
to the depot.
Later In the day the body OF Mitchell
| was removed by the coroner and other
traces OF the violence were removed as
fast as possible.
The Governor Arrives.
Governor Bushnell arrived here to-
night to Investigate the trouble and es-
peclalIy the action OF the troops. While
the Urbana company ia overwhelmed
with local sentiment against their ac-
| tlon, they are also liable FOR abandoning
| their post OF duty. Captain Leonard
| withdrew the guards about a. IN, and
the Springfield company took orders
| from the mayor Instead OF the sherih.
/ when Ihey turned back from the court
/ house. Governor Bushnell was attend
| Ing an encampmcnt at Wooster ] aSt
| night and was met by delegation from
here on his return 10 Columbus this af-
| ternoon. These citizens from Urbnna
| asked for protection by troops Of Sheriff
| McLaln against whuse life threatS have
| been freely made during Che afternoon,
| and II he was here tonight II ig believed
that there would be trouble again.
| Sheriff McI.ain left here at p. IN. and
| arrived in Springfield at 3 p. m. en- route
TO Dayton, He escaped by the back door
| OF the pail. and claims that dynamite
was being prepared TO blow him up: In
| the excitement and bitterness Tonight,
| It Is almost Impossible TO get at the facts
as to the responsibility for the loss OF
| life. but II Is generally claimed that
Sheriff McI1aln ordered the troops to flre
last night.
inside the jail.
While such dreadful scenes were OBJ
served outside of the jail. there IS much
dispute as to what occurred inside OF the
jail from midnight to the time of the
| lynching. When the first attack was
/ made on the jail at l:3O n. m, dozen
men mounted the rear step OF the jail
and two OF them used sledge hammers
on the doors. The local militia company
| were under armB on the inside with
Sheriff McLaIn and his deputies. Cap
4 tain George W. Leonard then stepped
/ out and said:
Il will give you three minutes to dis
| persc. II YOU do not do so, must FIRE"
The crowd generally believed that
| Sheriff McLain had then already order
/ ed the troops TO fire and they dispersed.
/ But when the attack was renewed on the
rear door Of The Jail with sledge ham
mers. the firing took place and the crowd
dispersed, leaving their dead and
wounded.
It was after o'clock when Sheriff Nc
! Lain teiegraphed Givern0r Bushnell at
Wooster, Ohio, that mob had attacked
the jail. that he had opened fire. that his
| force was inadequate and shat assist
ance was needed ut once. Governor
Bushnell mad the Springfield company
here early.
/, is believed there will be n thorough
investigation Into the action OF the
mayor, as well % into the action af the
sheriff and the military uiIiccr5
Mrs. Gaumer is the widow of 4 well
known newspaper publisher Her
| brdthers-in-law are d. II. Gaumer, pub
Usher Of the HanesZille Signal, and an
ex-stnte senator. and G. n. Gaumer. for;
mcrly publisher OF the Mansfield Shield
and an ex-statc representative. Mitchell
was twcnty-threc years old and hotel
| porter. He bought milk at the dairy OF
| Mrs. Gaumer and knew she was alone
while her children We're NJ school. and
| deliberately studied his opportunity FOR
nHsnultIng hrr
II IS learned tonight that Sheriff
/ McLaln and Captain Leonard left this
| Afternoon at the request OF the citizens,
| who feared they were IN danger OF vio-
! lencr tonight They took supper ct
Springfield and lett at 1850 ON the Big
| -Four express for Cincinnati, but weuld
| NOT tell where they were going. After
| the fatalities OF the night, It Is known
Chat Sheriff McLnin and Captain Leo
/ nard decided before daylight that there
| would be no more shooting, The
| guards were removed and the militia
/ vent from tho jail to their homes In cit
iacng cloth. Before this evacuation, the
keys OF the jall were thrown from a
| window 20 thc mob Mayor Cannon
ordered Mtchelrs body removed Inn
! medlntcly after the lynChlnu. but 50
strong WaE the feeling that the crowd
\ would not allow the police to touch the
4 cofiln until after dark tonight, when
| Mltrhall's body was removed to some
unknown place,
Marrow Escape.
Prosecuting Attorney s. s. Deaton
had narrow escape last night from one
OF the nnlIunmcn'E rifles, the bullet
striking him on the hip. II 1t had not
been Tor the bunch NJ keys In his pocket.