Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-23
aIor,no OHIO.
SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO LYNCH
A NEGRO.
(By Telegraph to virginian-Pilot)

AhrOn, ONO, Aug. 22.-Between l
and O'Clock this morning Officer
John Duffy arrested a colored man,
who. during the day, confessed 20
Prison Keeper Washer OF having at
tempted to assault Christina, the six
year-old daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
Theodore Mas. Industrious and re-
respectable people living on Perkins
Hill. The prisoner has given his
name as Louis Peck. He is about 40
years old. married and recently moved
here.
The story of his confession spread
like wild-t fire through the city, and the
officers learned that an attempt would
be made tonight to lynch him. In
police court to-day Peck pleaded gull
mon Pleas Court. His bail was placed
at $4,000.
Several people are ready tonight to
lynch Louis Peck. ~ large crowd gath
cred about the city prison at 1880
o'clock and forced in the doors. The
prison was soon packed with the mob,
and the officers offered no resistance,
as Peck, earlier in the evening. had
been quietly taken away to Clevc-
land.
To satisfy the mob. the officers sug
gested that committee of six be APP
pointed to search all the cells and go
through every part of the building
This was done, and as the negro was
not found. n yell was made. Now for
the county jail; give us the niger, and
we will deal with him."
a mad rush followed for the JAIL and
soon the jail was in the hands OF the
mob. After going through the private
apartments OF the Jail the crowd start
ed to batter down the big iron doors.
Deputy Sheriff Stone stood In front of
the prison doors and made n speech.
He informed the crowd that Peck could
not be found In there, and he told the
| people In the mob to select commit
| tee and he would allow the committee
TO search the jail from top to bottom.
| a committee was quickly selected, and
| the Jail was searched. every cell be-
ing examined. Satisfied that the negro
| was not there. the mob then rushed
across the street and forced open the
| doors of the County Courthouse. The
County Courthouse was soon packed
and all rooms searched, except the
rooms in the Treasury Department.
The city prison was again surround
cd and hundreds OF people forced their
way into the prison for the second
time, insisting that Peck was there.
Mayor w. l.. Young at this time ap-
peared at one OF the windows in the
upper part of the building. He adj
dressed the mob as best he could, say
ing that Peck had been taken out Of
the prison at 4 O'Clock by Sheriff
Kelly and driven out OF the city in u
closed carriage.
The people in the mob would not
believe the Mayor and continued to yell
and demand that Peck be surrendered.
At 10 o'clock the mob began for the
third time to attack the city prison
Some one in the crowd Began shoot
ing at the building. This was followed
by several more shots. The officers in
the building appeared at Tie windows
and began to shoot over the heads of
the people. A man with 4 shot gun
thou fired at tho officers.
1t is said several others were wound
ed The crowd then began to smash
in the windows of the city building,
and the firing became general. Hun
dreds of shots We're exchanged and
one boy, name unknown. was carried
dead from the street. 1t Is certain
that dozens of men were wounded.
Mayor Young is yet In the building.
and Is directing n call for the militia.
All the ambulances of the city have
been called out. and the excitement
has become intense. The front OF the
city building is q total wreck, and the
fire bells are ringing. AT 10:45 p. IN.
Prison Keeper John f. Washer came
from the city building and he was
knocked down by brick. He was
badly injured about the head and had
TO receive medical attendance. 1t is
KNOWN tndC TWO people were instantly
killed and another person is dying at
the city hospital. The dead are:
Glen Wade. aged 10 years, shot
through the heart.
John NJ. Davidson's 4-year-old child
shot dead in a baby cab.
Fred. ". Orwick, aged % years, Is
badly wounded with buck shot. He
lives at No. 4S North street and is
now dying at the hospital
a man named Null was shot in the
head; also in one leg. Another man,
whose name could not be learned,
but who is a driver for the American
Express Company, was shot in the leg.
At II p. m. the crowds are beginning
to leave for home and the indications
are that no more trouble will take
place.
THE ATTACK RENEWED.
Shortly after midnight the mob broke
into n hardware store and stole all
the arms and ammunition they could
find. including guns. rifles and re-
volvers. and proceeded to the city
building and opened fire on the de-
tenders and finally set fire to the Co
lumbia Hall. which adjoins the city
building. They will no doubt set fire
to the city building before morning, as
the flames are spreading rapidly.