Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1897-06-11
> Leading NewsPaper O. Il

liSlI SSiFlCGS "tIe not "GIlCl, ,
that the people were law abiding
and would assist him III preser
wing order; thai the company
could leave the court house yard,
and when their services were
needed he would send for them.
The Springfield company, with
out waiting for further orders,
marched down the street to the
depot without SO much as the
Sheriff seeing them.
The local military company
had previously refused to serve
longer, and went to the second
story of the Sheriff residence TO
attempt to sleep.
With no resistance offered
the crowd at once made a rush
for the side door. Two strong
and determined men kicked it
down in short order and gained
admission to the Jail, the crowd
following. There were plcnty
of sledge hammers, chisels and
other tools among the crowd
and the men went to work.
Part of the crowd had pre-
viously forced themselves ups
stairs into the private apart
ments of the sheriff, and found
the keys to the Jail, which had
been hidden. The crowd did
not wait to unlock the door to
Mitchell's cell. but burst the lock
with a sledge hammer, and the
door soon few open.
Mitchell was standing i'll his
cell. He offered 10 resistance,
and did not utter a word. Some
one i'll the crowd had a rope
1t was placed over the neck of
the victim and the crowd made
for the door, Mitchell following
at the end.
In going down the steps on
the outside Of the Jail Mitchell
fell down and the rope slipped
off his neck. The crowd Sur,
rounded him, and he was kicked, !,
beaten and almost killed. The
rope was quickly slipped over
his head again, and a rush was
made for a tree in the south
western corner Of the yard, in
front of the Court House. The
end was thrown over a strong
limb, and willing hands pulled
him up. The end was tied to
the iron fence, and Mitchell was
left hanging there in full view
of several thousand people.
Sheriff McLain and Captain
Leonard left at the request Of
citizens, who feared they were
in danger Of violence.
The crime for which Mitchell
paid the penalty was a heinous
ons. He cr;minally assaulted
Mrs. Eliza Gaumer, widow of
the publisher of the Urbana
Democrat. He was arraigned,
but his victim was too i'll to ap-
pear in court. The man was
taken TO her home for identii~
cation. AS he entered the door
she r..ised herself OH her elbow
and exclaimed, IT h e brute!
Hang him! How dare you face
me, you brute?" That night the
Jail was surrounded by threat>
ening mob that was held back by
the Sheriff's posse and the local
company of the Ohio National
Guard. The Grand Jury was
impaneled next day and Mitch
ell was indicted for criminal as
sault. Then the crowd was
thrown off the trail by bringing
Mitchell into court in a SOL
dier's uniform. Mitchell was
scared pleading guilty, aud was
sentenced to the limit of twenty
years. The trial lasted only a
few moments, and Mitchell
wanted to get to the penitenti>
ary at Columbus quickly, but
when tie carriage drovc up to
the Jail the crowd ri led in,
trying to lynch him. Anoth T
crowd surrounded the depot.
The Sheriff remained fortified
i'll Jail with his prisoner, while
the militia patrolled the ground.
A healthy appetite, with perfect