Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-08-28
TWO DEAD, THREE WILL DIE
A TERRIFIC BATTLE RESULTS
FROM AN ATTEMPT TO AR
REST A WOMAN DOCTOR
Who is Charged With Numbering a
Young Woman Who Was a Pa
tient in Her IIospital-Mrs. Wright
and a Hired Man stood on
Mob of Two Hundred and Fifty
People Intent ON Taking Her
From Her Home.

GILMAN, ILL.,, August 27.-Two men
killed, three wounded, two of them per-
haps fatally one woman wounded, and
her residence burned, are the results OF
an all-night battle between a mob and
Mrs. DR.. C. w. Wright, who was &C
cused OF the murder OF Bessie Salter
the 16-year-old daughter Of citizen OF
Gilman.
The dead:
John Meyers. laborer, employed by
Mrs. Dr. Wright.
Michael Ryan, citizen, serving as
deputy constable.
Fatally wounded:
Lawrence Ryan, brother Of the dead
man, wounded in the abdomen.
George Willoughby, citizen, snot
through left lung.
Mrs. DR.. C. w. Wright, shot through
right shoulder, bullet taking downward
course.
Seriously wounded:
Peter Lauer, member of the citizens
attacking party; shot through. stom-
ach
Early in the evening the first act OF
the tragedy was enacted, when Con-
stable Nilstead went to the house on
the outskirts of the town, occupied by
Mrs. Wright, to serve on the occupant
a warrant sworn out after the coron-
er's jury had declared her guilty of
murder. a number of deputies gath
cred upon the street, accompanied Con-
stable Nllstead.
Jars. svriEat Dsrred the Door.
and In forcing an entrance, the con-
stable encountered unexpected oppo-
sition, They broke the outer door
open, and entered the darkened room.
Michael Ryan felt his way across the
first room, and was about to enter
ne docr OF the inner apartment when
a shot rang out and he fell dead. The
consta5les made hurried exit, and
formed a picket line around the build
ing. a. regular intervals they fired
into the building, in the hope that the
Occupants would surrender, but with
out success. Finally, it was determined
to set fire to the building. The recent
rain. lad so dampened its timbers that
the fire would not catch, and after
Lurning some outbuildlngs, Inc posse
gave ~ the attempt, and fell back to
LuNll Va soillul pidl Vi N1IINllA5 OuI -'ii
Wright.
About o'clock the family of Michael
Ryan arrived. The dead man had been
carried to the bushes near the house
where he met his death. A mob of
probably $50 people had gathered. Most
OF them were armed. The scenes of
grief which followed the arrival Of
Ryan's wife and children fired the
crowd with frenzy. They seized dozens
of bundles of straw, saturated them
with petroleum, piled them against
the front and sides of
rhe So-Cailed Hospital
and applied the torch. In a moment
the place was mass of flames. Shot
after shot rang from the upper win
dows, and George Willoughby, local
representative Of the Standard Oil
Company, fell with a bullet in the left
side, The next victim was Peter Hauer,
a member OF the attacking party.
These casualties so fingered the crowd
that they volleyed the house % fast
as they could load their arms
Contrary to expectations, no screams
followed the progress &C the flames and
the mob began to think that the in
mates Of the burning house had been
cremated.
Suddenly from a bunch. Of timber in
the rear, several shots came in the
direction of the mob. They were an
swered hundred to one, and the fire
was quickly silcnced. Members OF the
mob rushed to the timber, and in the
dim light of the coming dawn found
the body CT John Myers, a blacksmith,
who had been employed by Mrs.
Wright, stretched in the death agony.
He was shot in dozen places about
the head and shoulders, showing that
he had been lying on his face. firing at
his enemies, when he met death.
Nearby Lay Mrs. Wright,
O ragged hole in her right shoulder.
She had been wounded while lying
down in the same position as Myers.
The mob carried her down town, jeer-
ing as they went. She was taken to
the council chamber and physicians
set to work in an endeavor to bring her
to consciousness. Up to 8 a. IN. they
had been unsuccessful and 1t is prob
able that she will not recover.
The mob Immediately dispersed. II
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