The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-06-05

1
himself into serious trouble.
This much 10 known, however, that they
did their work we'll and that is all the PEG
pie wish 10 know. II IL doubtful " Mitchell
died from the effects o. the hanging His
Imiseinble llfo had been almost kicked out
Of him when he fol- Down. II any life re-
manned in his carcass Ii was stranglod out.
1T IL the general opinion he was uucop-
scous when strung up. His body was left
hanging for an hour or more. and the pco-
pie of the city flocked to SEQ Il, All classes
OF people came to witness the spectacle. II
was finally cut down and placed In an I'M
lder,akors box and left lying In tho court
house yard open to public gase, The cxci,-
ing Incidents of the last two daya had an
unfortunate and dcplorablc culminatlon at
l2.SO this morning The dlsorganiEed mob
of 1900 stood on tho streets all night veil
ing and perfectly wild TO lynch brute in
human form guilty OF q fiondish crime.
The mob had been slowly advancing all
night rearer and nearer TO the Jail. The
guards were crowded closer to the building
as tho light advanced. Finally a dozen men
or more got onto some stairs leading to
tho back entrance 20 the jail.
A fellow with big sledeo hammer,
which he had teen carrying all night under
his coat. blazed away ct the door knock
Ing II In AT that instant the guards who
were stationed inside the building opened
AFRO and at least twenty shots were poured
promiscuously into tho crowd,
The man who carried the slodge ham
mer escaped without injury. but young
man named Higgins dropped dad. shot
through the body. The crowd scattered in
| stantly.
During the few seconds In which the
| firing took place, some deplorablo work
was done, Harry Bell, Ron OF Smith He'll
of this city and the man Higgins. died
almost instantly. Ten others were wounded.
Most OF these injured were standing In the
street and were spectators.
| The crowd was several times ordered TO
leave the Jail yard by the sherin aud Cap
tain Leonard of the guard.
| Crowds OF people from Belle Fontainc,
Springfield and other places arc here lcok-
| ing at the bullet holes in the court house,
the blood on the steps OF the iail and the
water pipe. where Harry Bell was Killed.
and at the body OF Mitchell. which was
| lying In its rude coffin IN the court house.
| About n week ago the people Of Urhana
were startled with the report that Mrs 7.
| NJ Gaumer. owner OF tho Champaign Dem
ocrat had been beaten by an unknown col
| orcd man because she refused to align
check for $500 with a lead pencil picked
up at the time for clcw. Officer Wootcn-
ham began TO hunt tho man aDd by noon
next day had "Click" Mitchell behind the
bars. Mrs. Gaumer was too Ill to appear at.
| the mayors Office and on Tuesday OF this
week the hearing was held by Mayor Gan
| son at Mrs. Gaumer's residence.
| she being very sick was compelled 10
g!yo her testimony from her bed and
| Mitchell was then charged with rape when
| 1t was learned TINT Mitchell was suffering
| from loathsone disease indignation know
no bounds. The colnrod people held an in
| dignauoh moessng and gave IL Us their
wish that II Mitchell was guilty OF the
ntrOcous crime with which ne was charged
| lt.a OH cttffa al =
| vidct by the law.
The excitement reached fever heat last
night when tho rush was made by the mob
to break the Jail door II IS sald sheriff
McLain gave the order TO fire at the same
| limo discharging his pistol into the crowd.
| The order was obeyed and four men are
do.-d and sovon others wounded, some seri-
curly, others slightly.
| Mrs, Gaumer, upon whom the negro com
| mitted the assault which led TO the lynch
| ing. is lying at her home In a woofu con-
| dtion, and is praying tor death TO re-
liove her from what she Considers Disgrace.
| There Is no doubt OF the negros success
in accomplishing his purpose, and 1t is
said today that she is afflicted with the
most dreaded form OF vsucrcal disease,
| which in,cnsiiios the horror OF The afatr
| Rape was he sole object Of The assault.
and there WAS no attempt al robbery, that
! story having boon circulated TO spare MIS-.
|
| truted from the nervous shock aud II In
historical condition. but IT is though,
! she will recn' err II II understood that
she was in The man's power for oyer half
| I'm hour and was prevented from crying
| out to the neighbors by n shawl which he
wrapped around her head when he first
! attacked her He tore her clothing of and
| III the strugglc scratched and bruised her
| badly He also bit her about thu mock
| and breast She IL said 10 be nbout ~
| years old somewhat handsome. and Is
well spoken Of by everybody here rs a
lady of culture and refinement,
The coroner returned verdict I'm tho
case OF Mitchell that he "came 10 his
death by hanging. in the court house yard.
at the honAs OF An intnriated mob whose
| names are not known"
Governor Bushnell arrived here tonight
to investigate the trouble and especially
the action Of his troops, While the Nr-
hnna company is overwhelmed with local
sentiment against their action. they are
also liable for abandoning their post Of
duty Captain Leonard withdrew the
guards about a M, and the Springfield
company took orders from the mayor in
stead Of tho sheriff when they turned back
from the court house
Governor Bushuell was attending an en-
cnmpment nj Wooster last night and WIS
met by n delegation from here this after
noon They asked for protection by
troops of Sheriff MoLain. against whose
life threats have hccn freely made. sheTIn
McIaln left here at p. m. and uriyed
at Springfield At p. NJ On route to Day
ton. He oscaped 10y the back door ~ the
Jail and Claims dynamite was being pre-
pared TO blow him up, In the excitement
and bitterness that prevails tonight II ir
almost impossible to get at the facts rs
to the responsibility fer the log Of NE.
but II is generally claimed sheriff hci.ain
ordered the troops to fire last night,
It Is believed there Will be thorough
investigation into the action OF he mayor
as well az into the action OF the sheriff
and tho militia,
Mrs. Gaumer Is the widow OF well
known newspaper publisher Her bro'hers-
in-law arr D. II, Gaumor. publisher OF
the Zanesyiiie Signal. and an ex State SEN
ator and c. ~ Caumer. formerly pub
Usher OF the Mansfield Shield and an OK
State representative
Mitchell was e years old and a hotel
porter He bought milk at the dairy OF
Mrs. Gaumer and knew she was alone while
"A a ~ 4. -.