The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-04
VOIIey Poured Into n Crowd of One
Thousand People by Company
of State Militia.
TWO MEN INSTANTLY KILLED
AND SEVEN WOUNDED, ONE FATAL.
LY AND OTHERS SERIOUSLY.
Desperate Attempt to Hang "Click"
Mitchell, IA Negro Rapist. Who Had
Been Sentenced to Prison.
Special to The indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
URBANA, o., June 1. a. ma terrible
tragedy was enacted here about 2:S0 o clock
this morning. A company of militiamen
fired into a mob of would-be lynchers,
killed two and wounded at least six or
seven. The mob was attempting to take
"Clck" Mitchell a negro rapist, from jail
and hang him. Yesterday evening Mitchell
was secretly brought into court where he
pleaded guilty and was sentenced to twen-
ty years in the pententary at Columbus.
The sheriff was instructed to take him to
prison at once and endeayored to do so,
but mob began to gather and the officers
placed their prisoner in Jail. The crowd
grew in strength as the night advanced,
and the local militia company which had
been on duty all day, was ordered into the
Jail yard.
Several attempts were made by the mob
to get the prisoner, and this morning at
2:SO the jail was attacked in force. The
mob was repeatedly warned, but no atten-
tion was paid. Finally the militia opened
fire on the crowd and shot twenty rounds,
with the following result:
HARRY BELL of Urbana, shot through
the head and killed instantly
- HAGINS, a young man, shot
through the body and killed instantly.
DENNIS CRANCY, of Urbana, shot in
right foot.
DIR. CHARLES THOMPSON, of North
Lewisburg. slight wound forehead.
WESLEY BOWEN, of Gable, shot in hip
and wounded seriously.
RAY DICKSON living near the city,
shot in shoulder
RAY MCCLURE, of Urbana, shot through
the muscle of the right arm.
GUS WEISER, who was standing on the
street, slight wound on face.
JOHN WANS, shot in foot.
Another dispatch says; When the snoot-
ing occurred a crowd of a thousand people
stood congregated around the jail 1t had
been rumored that an attempt would be
made 10 take Mitchell from the Jail and
hang him. The crowd was more bolster
Gus than at any time since the prisoner
had been confined in the jail. The crowd
termined to secure Mitchell. 1t had crowded
into the Jail yard and was crowdlng to-
wards the jail. Captain Leonard, in COM
mand of the militia, addressed the crowd
and gave them three minutes to dispense.
There was a general rush from the Jail
yard, but the crowd again returned. The
baH et1hc ba ion,
less pronounced, fully half an hour had
elapsed from the time the order was given,
when the rattle of musketry was heard, as
many as twenty shots being fired into the
crowd. There was a general panic for
while and the dead and wounded were car
ried in every direction in search of doctors
offices. Dr. Robert Henderson, DR.. II. M.
Pearce, DR.. ]. C. Burcher and DIR. Havens
were all called into service and their offices
looked like regular hospitals.
Trouble had been looked for during the
night and it was feared that the militia
would go too far and fire into the crowd.
The affair is horrible and has embittered
the feeling to intensity. The streets are
crowded and the most intense excitement
prevails. The people are wonderfully
worked up and there may be more trouble.
Another victim of the shooting has just
been reported Ralph McComb, of this city,
was shot in the arm.
The sheriff has wired Governor Bushnell
for assistanca