Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-05
HlLITIAhEK FIRE ON The HOB.
ROUND AFTER ROUND POURED IN
TO THE RANKS OF CITIZENS.
TWO MEN INSTANTLY KILLED.
Ten Others More or Less Seriously
urouuded-Indignati Among the
uoo,c Intcnsc-Ncgroes Also
Greatly ENcited-Govern"r Present

al 2.20 o'clock this h'oiN'"s
o,ers were attempting to save Charies
>,,oh,u the colored assaiant Of Mrs.
10, coumer. from the hands OF an
,ofuria,ed mob. but their efforts were
,,,ava,ire. Mitchell was taken from the
s.n.,7 7.eo this morning and hanged to a
tree IN the courtyard.
--,rf---- 60 l.lzGas killed were as follows:
HARVEY BELL. Of Urbana; shot in
,po head and instantly killed.
Upton BAKER, farmer, north OF
Urbaua.
Fatally wounded;
WESLEY BOWEN. Of Gable; shot in
the hip.
ZACH. wANK. Of Urbana; shot in the
groin and leg.
Less seriously wounded:
Dennis Graney. Urbana; right foot;
slight
Dr. Charles Thompson. North Lewis
burg: head; slight.
S S. Deaton. Urbana; prosecuting al
ioruey; lcs. slight.
Gus. weiser. Urbana; in the face;
painful.
Ray Dickerson. Urbana; shoulder Sc
Tious.
John McKeeyer Urbana; right arm;
painful.
RAY Mcclure. Urbana; right arm;
painful
The two previous nights and yester-
day portended the gravest danger. but
no such results were anticipated as those
which occurred within the FIVE hours
from 2.3) to 7.3O A. NJ. to-day. Those
killed by the militia were spectators at
tho scene Of the excitement. In addition
IN This list. II is feared that Mrs. Eliza
Gaumer. who was assaulted by the ne
gro. will not recover. and several of the
injured are in a serious condition. There
is intense feeling against some of the
officials. and further complications are
apprehended
While the past two nights and days
witnessed scenes of lawlessness and
bloodshed yet the feeling at no time
has been intense as it is here tonight
The body Of Mitchell was exposed all
day in a rough coffin. and it intensified
the feeling among the masses. The citi-
zens who were killed will be buried Sun
day. and their funeral will tend to keep
alive the bitter feeling. Several Of the
wounded are crippled for life
one week ago to-day Mrs. Gaumer was
felonicusly assaulted I'm daylight at her
home in this city, near the courthouse.
She was prostrated. She felt the dis
grace. and requested her son TO announce
that she was assaulted for robbery. 1t
was given out that Mitchell attempted
10 force her 10 sign a check for 500
But as Mrs. Gaumer's condition became
more serious. the facts became known.
Mitchell was first held for robbery. but
on last Wednesday ne was arraigned for
criminal assault Mrs. Gaumcr was un-
able 20 appear in court, and the hearing
was held at her home. As Mitchell en-
tered her room she raised herself uD in
bed and exclaimed: "The brute. hang
him, How dare you face me again, you
brute?"
SPEEDY TRIAL.
Soon after the identification, on We'd
nesday, there was talk OF lynching.
Crowds surrounded the jail that night.
and the Sheriff and local militia had
trouble in protecting the prisoner Yes
terday, a grand jury was impanelled,
and II soon returned an indictment for
q soldiers uniform. was brought last
night from Jail into court. lie waived
The reading of the Indictment. pleaded
guilty, and was promptly sentenced to
twenty years in the penitentiary, the
limit for criminal assault.
The trial was over last night. when an
attempt was made TO take Mitchell to
Columbus on the train at 10 L. NJ. But
The crowds were about the courthouse
and Jail, and when the carriage drove up
the crowd made a rush for the jail The
military drove the people back. but the
crowd soon increased in fury. as well
ass in numbers. so that Sheriff Mclean
ana the troops had all they could do to
hold the jail aad the trip TO Columbus
was given up before the departure Of the
last train.
II was 80 a. NJ. when the first attack
was made on the Jail. The soldiers
opened fire on the mob. and twenty vol
leys were poured into the advancing
crowd. Two were killed and ten wound
cd The attacking party retired. but
the sight OF the dead and injured infu-
riated them. and the crowd soon rallied.
The final attack on the Jail was made
at o'clock this morning. The local
company. which did the shooting had
been on duty for two nights, and a re-
quest was sent TO Governor Bushnell for
reinforcements He ordered a company
from Springfield. and they arrived before
O'Clock Mayor Ganson met the SOL
diers and sent them back 10 the depot,
saying that they were not wanted. The
local company was also withdrawn from
the JAIN. by this time the crowd. which
had grown In numbers al the break Of
day. seeing the way open, secured a
large sledge-hammer and started for the
fail. The hammer was not needed a :
Sheriff Mclean delivered up the keys.
and the crowd soon found Mitchelrs
cell.
THE LYNCHING.
A rope was thrown around the negro's
neck. and he was dragged out. When
the outer door was reached the moose
slipped. but il was soon replaced and |
the condemned man was hurried into |
the yard. The rope was then thrown |
over one Of the limbs OF a tree and |
Mitchell was jerked up until his head |
struck the limb. His neck was broken. |
and his body dropped 10 the ground. |
The crowd repeated the jerking several |
times. until they were sure he was dead. |
There Is some doubt as TO what occur
red inside the Jail from midnight until |
the time OF the lynching. The facts |
as nearly as they can be arrived at, are |
as follows: When the first attack was |
made on the Jail. at 1:3o a. NJ. a dozen |
men mounted the rear steps. and two |
OF them used sledge-hammers on the |
doors The LEGAL militia company was
under arms ON the inside. with Sheriff |
Mclean and his deputies. Captain |
George W. Leonard stepped out and |
said: II will give you three minutes 10 /
dispense. II you do not do so. l must |
FIRE" The crowd generally believed that