Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1897-06-11
JUDGE LYNCH In OHIO
TWO OF THE MOB KILLED AND sEV-
ERAL INJURED BY MlLlTlAMEN.

4fter Desperate Struggle Indignant
Citizens Succeed In Lynchtng Mitchell,
Who Assaulted Mira. Gnumer-The sheriff
stoalthily Leaves the Town.
Urbana, o., June 5.-Fifteen persons
have been made the victims Of a colored
brute's heinous Jsime. Two were killed
and IL wounded by mllltiamen: Cherries.
alias Click Mitchell. the cause Of It all,
was lynched and nearly torn TO pieces
by a moh and Mrs. Elizabeth Gaumer.
whom the negro assaulted, Is in seri-
Gus condition and may die
The Killed are
Harry Bell Of Urbana, shot through
the head.
Upton Baker of Salem township. a
farmer, shot through the body
The story Of the Crime.
One week ago Mrs. Eliza Gaumer was
assaulted by Mitchell at her home In
this city, near the courthouse.
The negro was first held for robbery,
but on last Wednesday was arraigned
for criminal assault. Mrs. Gaumer vas
unable to appear In court and the hear
Ing was held at her home AS Mitchell
entered her room she exclaimed The
brute, hang him How dare you face
me again, you brute!"
Soon after the Identification Wednes
day at Mrs. Gaumers home there
was talk Of lynchlng. Crowds surround
ed the jail that night. and the sheriff
and the local militia had trouble in
protecting the prisoner. Thursday a
grand jury was impaneled, and 1t soon
returned an Indictment for criminal as
sault Mitchell, disguised In a soldieTa
uniform, wos brought from jail into
court. He waived the reading of the
Indictment pleaded guilty and was
promptly sentenced to 20 years In the
penltentiary, the maximum punishment
for his crime. An attempt was made
to take Mitchell to Columbus, but the
crowds which had gathered about the
courthouse made a rush for the jail
when the wagon drew up. The militia
drove them back, but the mob increased
In numbers and grew more threatening
Sheriff Mclean and the troops had all
they could do to hold the jail, and the
trip to Columbus was given up before
the departure Of the last train.
The Attack on the Jail.
Early yesterday morning an attack
was made on the jail, and the military
began firing. over 20 volleys were
poured into the crowd. The mob was
repulsed, leaving four killed and 10
wounded. The range was close, but
the soldiers fired wildly. OF the killed
and wounded, nearly all were on the
outskirts of the mass of men. Those
Immediately in direct line OF fire es-
capped. The volley drove the crowd
back little way, and 1t was found
that two men, named Higgins and Bell
had been instantly killed. When their
hnAfae v.fp IL,
house square. II made the crowd furl-
Gus.
After the dead and wounded were
cared for the crowd rallied and made a
second and this time successful attempt
to capture the prisoner. The local mil
itia had been on duty two nights, and
they did no more shooting. The mob
then broke for the jail. No force was
needed, as Sheriff Mclean delivered the
keys, and the crowd soon found Mitch
ellis cell. Throwing a rope over the
trembling wretch's head he was drag
ged out, receiving some kicks and
blows. When the outer door was
reached, the moose slipped off, and Syl-
Vester Zimmerman tied II so securely
as to receive the cheers Of the crowd
The rope was thrown over one of the
limbs of tree In the courthouse yard
Mitchell was jerked up until his head
struck the limb and his neck was
broken, and then his body dropped to
the ground. The crowd repeated the
Jerking several times until they were
sure he was dead. While the body Of
Mitchell was lying on the ground hun
dreds crowded about to see 1t. The col
ored people we're greatly excited They
had previously met and adopted reso-
lutions for the punishment Of Mitchell,
but many of them offered the opinion
that he was not guilty. Women and
children, as we'll as a multitude Of men,
witnessed the lynching. which occurred
In broad daylight There was no at
tempt at disguise or secrecy.