Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-06-05

more troops UUIluS the ulSul, anu De-
fore : a. IN. a company from Spring
field arrived. Just thea the local COM
pany was withdrawn from the Jail.
Mayor Cannon met the Springfield COM
pauy en- route from the depot and sent
these troops back, saying they were
not wanted. The mob, seeing the way
open. then secured a large sledge ham
mer and broke for the Jail. The ham
mer was not needed. rs Sheriff McLain
delivered the keys and the crowd soon
found Nitcheu's cell Throwing rope
over Mitchell's head he was dragged
out. receiving some kicks and bows.
When the outer door was reached, the
Moose slipped and Sylvester thinner
man tied it so securely as 10 receive the
cheers of the crowd.
The rope was thrown over one OF the
limbs of a tree in the court house yard,
Mitchell was jerked up until his head
struck the limb and his neck was bro
ken and his body dangled above the
ground. The crowd repeated the jerk
ing several times until they were sure
he was dead.
While the body of Mitchell was lying
on the ground hundreds crowded about
10 see it, Colored people were greatly
excited. They had previously met and
adopted resolutions for the punishment
of Mitchell, hut many of them talked
about him not being guilty
Women and children. as well as
multitude Of men, witnessed the lynch
ing.
WAS AN OPEN MEETING.
There was no attempt at disguise or
secrecy. The assemblage in the pub
lie square was as open as any public
meeting that had ever been held IN that
place The local militia company
seeing the overwhelming public feeling
against them. offered no resistance when
the mob broke into the Jail or when the
lynching was going on and the Spring
field company had been marched TO the
depot
An hour or more after the lynchi1g
Mitchell'S body was picked mp and
placed in a rough coffin. but still left
under the tree where hundreds OF peo-
ple continued to view it.
The wretch died without struggle,
as his neck was evidently broken by
the first Jerk. Later in the day the
body of Mitchell was removed by the
coroner. and other traces of the Nio-
lence we're removed as fast as possible.
Meantime. crowds of people poured
into the city from all surrounding towns
and viewed the bl0odstained steps Of the
Jail and the marks Of the bullets on the
surrounding houses.
Among the sights shown visitors was
a tree I'm the same court house yard
where a man named Ullerv was lyuched
2g wears ago for a similar crime upon
the seven-vear-old daughter cf J. b
Morgan. Then the Jail door was bur-,
open with a log and the sheriff surren-
dered the keys and no lives We're lost
except that of the culprit. The tree IS
still standing. but the limb on which
I-Ilerv was hung is dead and stands out
as a CHASTITY reminder of violence.
All the visitors to-day wanted 10 see
the limb on which Mitchell had been
hung. and the remark was made that it
would last long enough for future ged-
erations 10 see it.
GOV. BUSHNELL ARRIVES.
Governor Bushnell arrived here to-
night t0 investigate the trouble, and
especially the action cf the troops.
While the Urbana company is over
whelmed with local sentiment against
their action. they are also liable for
abandoning their post of duty. Captain
Leonard withdrew the guards about Z
M and the Springfield company took
orders from the mayor instead of the
- o1 hafl- from
the court house Governor Bushnell
was attending an enCampment at Woos-
ter last night and was met by delega-
tion from here on his return 10 COlum-
bus this afternoon. These citizens from
IrbaTa asked for protection by troops
Of Sheriff McTain against whose life
threats have been freely made during
the afternoon and if he was here to-
night it is believed there would be
trouble again.
Sheriff McLain left here at > p. m..
and arrived al Springfield at p. m. en-
route for DAYTON. He escaped by the
back door of the Jail a2d claims that
dynamite was being prepared to blow
him mp. I'm the excitement and bitter
ness that prevails tonight, it is almost
Impossible TO -''l at lll' Ati' - 40 N' '''N
responsibility for the loss of life. but it
is generally claimed that Sheriff Nc
Lain ordered the troops to fire last
night
While such dreadful scenes were oh
served outside of the Jail. there is much
dispute as TO what occurred inside Of
the Jail from midnight 20 the time Of
he Enching. When The first attack
was made on the Jail at 100 a. m. Q
dozen men mounted the rear step of the
iail and two of them used sledge ham,
mers on the doors The local militia
company were under arms on the in
SIDE with Sheriff NcLain and his depu-
ties
THE LAST WARNING.
Captain George W. Leonard then
stepped out and said;
II viii give YOU three minutes to dis