Birmingham state herald., 1897-06-05
vas inadequate and that assistance was

was inadequate and that assistance was needed at once.
 over the affair. They had previously adopted resolutions for the punishment of Mitchell, but mary of them talked about him not being guilty. Women and children, as we'll as a multitude CT men, witnessed the lynehing. There was no attempt at disguise CT secrecy. About an hour or more after the lynching Mich ellis body was picked up and placed in a rough coffin, but stfll left under the tree where hundreds of people continued to review it. At 10:30 the body was re- moved by the coroner and other traces of violence were removed as fast as possible. In the meantime crowds of people poured into the city from surrounding towns and reviewed the bloodstained steps of the jail and the bullet marks on the sur rounding houses. Among the sights shown the visitors was a tree in the same court yard where man named Ullery was lynched twentyIthree years ago VT a similar crime upon the seven-yeaT old daughter of J. B. Morgan. Then the jail door was burst open with log and the jailer surrendered the keys and no lives were lost except that of the culprit. The tree is still standing, but the limb upon which Ullery was hung is dead.
 GOV. BUSHNTLL ARRIVED
 here tonight to investigate the trouble and especially the action of the troops. w nllc the OrDdnd company IS over whelmed with local sentiment against their action they are also liable for aban- doning their post of duty Capt. Leon withdrew the guards about a., m. and the Springfield company took orders from the mayor instead of the sheriff, when they turned back from the court house. Gov. Bushnell was attending an encampment at Wooster last night and was met by a delegation from here on his return to Columbus this afternoon. Those citizens asked for protection by troops of Sheriff McLain against whose life threats had been freely made during the afternoon and if he was here tonight 1t Is believed there would be trouble again. Sheriff McLain left at D. m. and arrived at Springfield at 2:30 en route for Dayton. He escaped by the back E door of the jail and claims that dyna- mite was being prepared to blow him up. In the excitement and bitterness that prevails tonight it is almost impossible to get at the facts as to the responsibil- ity for the loss of Hfe, but 1t is generally claimed that Sheriff McLain ordered the troops to fire.
 It is believed there will be a thorough investigation as to the action of the mayor as well as into the conduct of the sheriff and military officers.
 Mrs. Gaumer is the widow of a we'll known newspaper publisher. Her rela- tives are D. H. Gaumer, of the Zanesville Signal and an ex-state senator and c. N. Gaumer, formerly publisher of the Mansfield Shield and an ex-state repre- sentative.
 Mitchell was 23 years old and a ho1el porter. He bought milk at the dairy of Mrs. Gaumer and knew she was alone while her children were at school. He deliberately studied his opportunity for assaulting her.
 It is learned tonight that Sheriff Mo Lain and Capt. Leonard left this after noon at the request of citizens who feared they were in danger of violence tonight. They took supper at Springfield and left at 7:30 on the Big Four express for Gin cinnah. but would net tell where they were going.
 After the fatalities of the night 1t is known that Sheriff McLain and Carr. Leonard fecidsd before daylight that there would be no more shooting. The guards were removed and the militia went from the jail to their homes in cit izenis clothes. Before this evacuation the keys of the jail were thrown from win dow to the mob. Mayor Ganson ordered M5tchells body removed immediately after the lynching, but so strong was the feeling tha,. the crowd would not allow the police to touch the coffin .ill after dark tonight when the body was re- moved to some unknown place.