The record-union., 1897-06-05


The Coroner returned a verdict that
Mitchell came to his death by hanging
in the Courthouse yard at the hands of
an Infatuated mob, whose names are to
me unknown. AT 3 p. m. the body OF
the negro was removed from the Court
house yard and viii be taken to Co
lumbus medical college.
LATER PARTICULARS
Besides the list OF casualties there is
such intense feeling against some of
the officials that it win not be wiped
out in the present generation, and fur
Their complications are apprehended in
the near future. While the past two
nights and days We're the scenes of law
lessness and bloodshed, yet the feeling
at no time has been SO 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 who witnessed it. The
bodies of the citizens who were killed
were tenderly cared for, and their flu
nerals on Sunday will tend to keep
alive the bitter feeling. While the
wounded are being tenderly cared for
at their homes, several of them are
crippled for life and will be reminders
of the trouble.
One week ago to-day Mrs. Gaumer
was criminally assaulted in daylight at
her home in this city, near the Court
house The brute accomplished his
fiendish purpose, and Mrs. Gaumer was
Frustrated. She felt that it was a dis
grace, and requested her son to an
nounce that she was assaulted for rob
hprU cyiN that Mitchell
attempted to force her to sign a check
for $500. But as Mrs. Gaumers con-
dition became more serious the facts
became known and also that the negro
was afflicted with the worst diseases
The negro was first held for robbery,
but on last Wednesday he was arraign-
ed for criminal assault. Mrs. Gaumer
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" And Mitchell was hanged to-
day in full view of Mrs. Gaumer's resi-
dence, which overlooks the Courthouse
and jail yards
Soon after the identification on Wed
nesday at Mrs. Gaumer's home there
was talk Of daylight lynching
Crowds surrounded the jail that night,
and the Sheriff and the local militia
had trouble in protecting the prisoner.
Yesterday a Grand Jury was impan-
elled and it soon returned an indict-
ment for criminal assault. Mitchell,
disguised in a soldiers uniform, was
brought last night from jail into court
He waived the hearing Of the indict-
ment, pleading guilty, and was prompt
ly sentenced to twenty years in the
penitentiary, the limit for criminal as
sault. The trial was over before 9
o'clock last night, when an attempt
was made to take Mitchell to Columbus
on the 10 O'Clock train. But the crowds
We're about the Courthouse and jail,
and when the carriage drove I'D the
crowd made a rush for the Jail. The
military drove them back, but the
crowd increased in fury as we'll as in
numbers, so that Sheriff McLain and
the troops had all they could do to hold
the fort at the Jail, and the trip to CO.
lumbus was given up. Large crowds
had also surrounded the depot so as to
make sure that Mitchell would no. be
taken away alive.
With threatening scenes on the public
square all night, it was 80 o'clock
when the first attack of the citizens
was made on the Jail and the military
began firing. Over twenty volleys were
poured into the crowd, and the mob
was repulsed with deadly results, leav-
ing four killed and ten wounded Most
of the wounded persons were innocent
spectators, beyond the lines of the mob.
Bell and Higgins We're killed instantly.
and when their bodies were picked up
in the Courthouse square it made the
crowd furious.
After the dead and wounded were
cared for, the crowd rallied. 1t was day
light soon after D. M, and the streets
We're crowded with workingmen and
others long before a. M Everybody
in the city was out when the lynching
occurred and in the bright daylight no
masks were worn. The local militia had
been on duty two nights and they did
the shooting. Governor Bushnell had
been asked for more troops during the
night and before a. m. company from
Springfield had arrived Just then the
local company was withdrawn from the
Jail Mayor Ganson met the Spring
field company en- route from the depot
and sent the troops back, saying they
We're not wanted.
The mob, seeing the way open, then
secured a large sledge hammer and
broke for the pail. The hammer was
not needed, as Sheriff McLain delivered
the keys and the crowd soon found Nit
chelrs cell. Throwing a rope over
Mitchell's head, he was dragged out. re-
ceiving some kicks and blows. When the
outer door was reached the moose slipped
off and Sylvester Zimmerman tied it so
securely as to receive the cheers of the
crowd.
The rope was then drawn over one of
the limbs of a tree in the Courthouse
yard Mitchell was jerlled up until his
head struck limb and his neck was
broken and then his body dropped to the
ground. The crowd repeated the jerk
ing several times, until they We're sure
he was dead. While the body of Mitch
ell was lying on the ground hundreds
crowded about the place. Colored peo-
pie were greatly excited. They had pre-
viously made resolutions for the pun
ishment of Mitchell, but many of them
talked about him not being guilty
Governor Bushnell arrived here to-
night to investigate the trouble, and es-
pecially the action of the troops While
the Urbana company is overwhelmed
with local sentiment against their ac-
ton, they are also liable for abandoning
their post of duty. Captain Leonard
withdrew the guards about Z a. M, and
the Springfield company took orders
from the Mayor. instead of the Sheriff.
when they turned back from the Court
house. Governor Bushnell was attend