The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-05

Protect n Negro who had Assaulted One
OF the SIeat Rstimabie women In the city
An AI-NiEh Struggle with the Slob-Mii.
tiannen Cowed and Turned Away The
sheriff and Militia Captain Flee from the
Town-shnrp Criticism or Gov. Bushnell
URpANA, o., Juno 4.-Riot triumphed over
law in Urbana this morning, and a man who
had been tried, convicted, and sentenced TO i'm
p%risonment was taken from tho Jail and hanged
to n tree in the court yard: but victory did not
rest with the mob until after q battle with the
Crbana guards, in which two mon were killed
outright and a dozen others desperately
wounded. Tonight the city is In tremendous
excitement.
The Sheriff. who did his best to fulfil his duty,
and the Captain OF tho militiamen, who in striv.
ing to uphold the majesty OF the law fred point
blank at their fellow citizens, have fed tho town
to escape the rage Of hitherto law-abiding men,
which the knowledge Of their lnwlessness seems
to have increased. The ~lynching OF the negro
who assaulted one OF the most es.imable women
In Urbana Is openly acclaimed, and the widest
threats are made against all those who strove to
prevent 1t.
On the 27th OF May Mira. T. NJ. Gaumcr, the
widow Of an Urbana newspaper man well known
in Ohio. was assaulted at her home In this city
by Charles alias Click Mitchell. who had boon q
porter ut one OF the hotels here. Mitchell was
arrested and held to await developments, Mrs.
Gaumcr's condition being SO critical at tho
time that 1t was feared she would not
survive the shock. The real nature Of
his crime was not known at that time,
the impression having gone out that he had
been detected In an attempt at burglary and
had attacked Mrs. Gaumcr in his endeavor to
escape. She seemed to want to conceal the
facts. The feeling, however. was intense against
tho negro and ynstardny when Mrs (aumeP
told the real story OF the assault the Indignation
OF the populace knew no bounds. Excited
crowds gathered on the street corners, and
when Mitchell was taken to tho homo
of Mrs. Gaumer and was identified posi-
tivcly by her, the friends of his victim
became frenzied with anger. and the words
Lynch him." were upon the lips Of a thousand
mon. All that was needed was q leader. Great
crowds began to surround the county jail. where
Mitchell was held a prisoner. Sheriff McClain
became apprehcnsive and called upon the Ur-
bana Guards. composed Of forty men. a part Of
the State militia, to come TO his assistance. Tho
company responded and was on guard at the
jail during yesterday afternoon and last night.
1t became SO apparent to Sheriff McClain and
the other court officials that II action was do
layed mob violence would result that 1t was do
termined by Judge Heiserman to impanel q
special Grand Jury, place the prisoner on trial,
sentence, and have him removed to the peniten-
tiary in Columbus at once. Sheriff McClain
occupied Just twelve minutes in impanelling the
Grand Jury.
The jury were sworn Immediately and charged
by the court. An hour later 1t filed its report,
indicting Mitchell for criminal assault. Tho
prisoner was brought into court disguised in
soldier clothes, ard upon the advice of counsel
who had been appointed to defend him entered a
plea of guilty. Judge Heiserman then sentenced
him to twenty years in the penitentiary, at hard
labor. This is the full limit Of the law. Judge
Heiserman showed that he was In sympathy
with the mob which surrounded the Jail, as in
passing sentence he remarked that the crime
ought TO be one punishable by death.
1t was the intention to remove Mitchell i'm
mediately to the State prison in Columbus. but
the mob had 30 increased in numbers and be-
come SO menacing in manner that the Sheriff
changed his mind. He struggled Mitchell back
into the jail in his military uniform, and then in
the hope that the quick conviction and sentence
would appease the mob, he appeared on the jail
steps and shouted: Boys. go home. He has
been tried, convicted, and sentenced to twenty
years."
Cries of rage arose from the crowd when they
learned that they had been tricked. The Sheriff
retreated into the Jail and double barred all the
doors and windows. He placed the negro In the
most secure cell, on the second floor, and Or
dered the militia to remain on guard all night.
Tho guardsmen were stationed on the ground
floor. in the corridors.
The Sheriff had planned to spirit Mitchell
away In a carriage from the rear of the jail and
drive him to Hagenbaugh's Station, a few miles
of, and there board the cast bound Panhandle
train for Columbus. He was afraid to do this,
however. as the mob surrounded the jail on all
sides. Had he done SO 1t is likely that his effort
to save the negro would have failed, for when
the train reached the station 1t was boarded by
q number of men from Urbana, who forced the
conductor TO keep it waiting while they searched
every car to make sure that Mitchell was nou
there.
As the evening wore on the crowds about the
Jail thinned out and tho Sheriff began to feel
more secure. At midnight all was quiet. Half
an hour later men were scurrying through the
streets from every direction toward the Jail.
When about 500 men had gathered one OF them
went to the Jail door and pounding loudly.
"diye up your prisoner"
to fall in. The crowd outside heard the COM
mand and the rattle OF the muskets as the sol.
a 5ESs, Sss Si,ah a ahS ih slSg isl T Ssc not but Sss q sRt TO t tac
lied before long and returned to the attack.
1t was planned by the leaders OF the mob to
front OF the jail while an attack was made in
the rear. But the men in front carried out the
Capt. Leonard and the Sheriff thought that an
attack was imminent, Capt. Leonard threw
shouted:
81 will give you three minutes to ~disperss.
/, II you do not we will fire.
The crowd was a bit daunted by the deter
! mined bearing aUi fell back involuntarily. Just
at that moment OF silence the crash OF sledgs
!, hammers against the iron OF the rear door rang
out. Hoping perhaps that the attention of the
militia would DO diverted to the rear. and not
! believing in their hearts that the militia would
. fire upon their own friends, tho crowd in front
madea wild rush forward.
They were met by a volley from tho rifles OF
the militia, and n score OF men fell In their
tracks. The citizen soldiers stood firm. with
, guns TO shoulder, but there was no need. Dis
T mayed and panic.stricken. though infuriated
1 the crowds ran helter-skeltor. They were in nc
: mood just then to run up against another val
n sledge hammers and fed.
The crash OF the rifle yolley rang over the
town. and almost instantly men. women, and
. children came rushing from their homes
"Thcro's Il big battle between the militia anc
. citizens!' was the word on every ones lips. Tn,
entire community was wild with excitement
J The first ones who gained courage enough Z