Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-06-10
FOUR LIVES FOR ONE.
URBANA, O., MOB PAY DEAR
LY TO LYNCH A NEGRO.
Three Citizens Killed and Ten wounded
by the NIlIltla-sherIR Forced to Flee
-CulprIt Hanged In the jail Yard
Before q Great Crowd.

| OhbANhg OIllOt OunO LUG FlOl
here at 2:3O yesterday morning, four
lives were lost and ten citizens were
wounded. At 1870 a. m, Charles
Mitchell, colored, the cause of oil the
trouble, was taken from the jail by
infuriated citizens and lynched.
Including the brutal Mitchell, there
are three men now dead, two others
dying, and ten wounded All but
Mitchell were innocent citizens who
were spectators on the scene Of ex-
element In addition to this list, it is
feared that Mrs. Eliza Gaumer, who
was criminally assaulted by the negro,
will not recover, and several of the
injured are in serious condition.
Beside the list of casualties, there is
such intense feeling against some of
the officials, that it will not be wiped
out in the present generation and
further complications are apprehended
in the future. The body OF Mitchell
was exposed all day in rough coffin,
and it intensified the resentment
among the masses who witnessed 1T.
One week ago Mrs. Gaumer was
criminally assaulted in daylight at her
home in this city, near the court house.
The brute accomplished his fendish
purpose, and Mrs. Gaumer was pros
trated. She felt that it was disgrace,
and requested her son to announce
that she was assaulted for robbery. 1t
was given out that Mitchell attempted
to force her to sign check for $500.
But as Mrs. Gaumer's condition be-
came more serious, the facts became
known. The negro was first held for
robbery, but on last Wednesday he
was arraigned for criminal assault.
Mrs. GARNER was unable to appear in
court, and the hearing was held at her
home. AS Mitchell entered her room,
she raised up and exclaimed "The
brute Hang him! How dare you
face me again, you brute"
Mitchell pleaded guilty and was
promptly sentenced to twenty years in
the senitentiary, the limit for criminal
assault. When the trial was over an
attempt was made to take Mitchell to
Columbus on the night train, but
crowds were about the crourt house
and Jail Sheriff McLain and the
troops had all they could do to hold
the fort at the jail, so the trip to CO.
lumbus was given up.
Mitchell was hanged in full view Of
Mrs Gaumers residence, which over
looks the court house and jail yards.
1t was 1870 a. m. when the first at
tack of the citizens was made on the
jail and the military began firing.
Most of the wounded persons were i'm
nocent spectators, beyond the lines of
the mob Bell and Higgins were killed
instantly, and when their bodies were
picked up in the court house square it
made the crowd furious. After the
dead and wounded were cared for, the
crowd rallied. 1t was daylight soon
after a. m, and the streets were
crowded with workingmen and others.
Long before a. m. everybody in the
city was out Governor Bushnell had
been asked for more troops during the
night, and before a. m. a company
from Springfield arrived. Just then
the local company was Withdrawn
from the Jail. Mayor Ganson met the
Springfield company en- route from the
depot and sent them back, saying they
were not wanted The mob, seeing
the way open, then secured large
sledge-hammer and broke for the Jail.
The hammer was not needed, as
Sheriff McLain delivered the keys and
the crowd soon found Mitchells cell.
Throwing rope over Mitchell's head,
he was dragged out, receiving some
kicks and blows. When the outer door
was reached the moose slipped off, and
Sylvester Zimmerman tied it so Sc
curely as to receive the cheers of the
crowd.
The rope was thrown over one Of
the limbs of tree in the court house
yard. Mitchell was jerled mp 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.
Women and children, as we'll as a
multitude of men, witnessed the lynch
ing. There was no attempt at dis
guise or secrecy. The assemblage in
the public square was as open as any
public meeting that had ever been
held in that place. The local militia
company, feeling the overwhelming
public feeling against it, offered no re-
sistance when the mob broke into the
Jail or when the lynching was going
on, and the Springfield company had
been countermarched to the depot
Sheriff McLain left here yesterday
afternoon for Dayton. He escaped by
the back door of the Jail, and claims
that dynamite was being prepared to
blow him up
In the excitement and bitterness
that prevails, it is almost impossible
to get at the facts as to the RESPONSE
bility for the loss of life, but it is gen.
orally claimed that Sheriff McLaiu
ordered the troops to fire.
Mrs. Gaumer is the widow of we'll
known newspaper publisher.
Deputies Fight a Duel.