The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-27
FOUGHT ALL NIGHT
Battle Between Officers and an
Accused Woman.
Grows Out of Attempt to Serve
Warrant.
CHARGE OF MURDER.
Mrs. G. w. Wright of Gilman,
ILL.,, Resists Arrest.
Two Persons Killed, Six Wound
ed and House Burnd.
REINFORCED BY MOB.
Large Number of Citizens Join
With the COnstables.
Accused and Her Friends Put
Tin StuhhOrn Defense.
Mrs. G. w. Wright of Gilman,
ILL.,, Resists Arrest.
Two Persons Killed, Six Wound
ed and House Burnd.
REINFORCED BY MOB.
Large Number of Citizens Join
With the COnstables.
Accused and Her Friends Put
Up Stubborn Defense.

Gilman, ILL.,, Aug. 27.-Two men killed.
three wounded-two of them perhaps f9s
tally, one woman wounded. and her res
idence burned, are the results of an all
night battle between a mob and Mrs DR.
c. w. Wright, who was accused of the
murder of Bessie Salter, the 16 year old
daughter of a citizen. of Gilman The
dead:
JOHN MYERS, laborer. employed by
Mrs. DR.. Wright.
MICHAEL RYAN, citizen, serving as
deputy constable.
Fatally wounded:
Lawrence Ryan, brother of the dead
man, wounded in abdomen.
George Willoughby, citizen. shot
through left lung.
Mrs. DR.. c. w. Wright, shot through
right shoulder, bullet taking downward
course.
Seriously wounded:
Peter Laurer, member of citizens at
tacHing party; shot through stomach.
Early in the evening the first act OF
the tragedy was performed, when Con-
stable Nilestead 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 coroner )
jury had declared her guilty of murder
street accompanied Observation-Disclosures
Mrs. Wright barred the door, and in
forcing an entrance, the constable en-
countered unexpected opposition They
broke the outer door open and entered
the darkened rooms Michael Ryan felt
his way across the first room, and was
about to enter the door of the inner
apartment, when shot rang out and he
fell dead. The constables made hur-
ried exit and formed q picket line
around the building. At regular inter-
walls they fired into the building in the
hope that the occupants would Surreu-
der but without success. Finally, it was
determined to set fire to the building
The recent rains had SO dampened its
and after burning some OutbuildingS the
posse gave up the experiment and fell
back to their original plan of driving out
Mrs. 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 pro-
bably $50 people had gathered, most Of
them were armed. The scenes of grief
which followed the arrival of Ryans
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 the so-called hospital and applied the
torch In a moment the place was a
mass of flames. Shot after shot rang
from the upper window, and George VIII
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 angered the
crowd that they vollied the house as fast
as they could load their firearms.
Contrary to expectations no screams
followed the progress of the flames and
the mob began to think that the inmates
of the burning house had been cremated.
Suddenly. from bunch of timber in the
rear, several shots came in the direction
of the mob. These We're answered a
hundred to one and the fire was quickly
silenced- Members of the mob rushed to
the timber, and in the dim light of the
coming dawn, found the body of John
Myers, a blacksmith who had been en-
pioyed by Mrs. Wright, stretched in the
death agony. He was shot in a dozen
places about the head and shoulders.
showing that he had been lying on his
face, firing at his enemies. Nearby lay
Mrs. Wright, ragged hole in her
shoulder.
The mob carried her down town, deer-
ing as they went. She was taken to the
council chamber and physicians endeav-
ored to resuscitate her. Up to a. M
they had been unsuccessful and il IS
probable she will die. The mob fmme-
diately dispersed. It had been reported
that there were three women in the
house besides Mrs Wright, but they
were not found The house was destroy
ed with its contents.
Mrs. DR.. Wright was about so years
eriy an actress For some time she has
been conducting a lying-in- hospital on
the outskirts of Gilman The death of
Bessie Salter in the house last Friday
and the verdict of the coronerss jury Sat
urday caused the issuance of warrant
FOR her arrest, which resulted in the
wholesale shooting and probable death
of the principal.
Madam Wright was brought to the
city hall and a strong guard placed over
her crowd soon assembled at the
city hall and threats of lynching We're
uttered. Every effort was made to
quiet and disperse the mob but at $50
O'Clock this forenoon the mob made an
other demonstration, smashing in the
windows with stones and clubs. This
eliminated in a shot being fired through
the window by one of the mob, barely
missing the woman. The officers finally
restored order, but it seemed probable
that there would be further trouble. The
coroner's jury adjourned till / o'clock
The prisoner Mrs. Wright, was taken
by Sheriff Martin to Paxton at noon by
rail, and will be taken to the Watseka
Jail The mob became more quiet this
afternoon and no further demonstratt tton
is feared in Gilman. 1t is rumored the
mob Will attack the Watseka Jail 9'he
coroner's jury Immediately took up the
case of John Meyers. but no evidence
has been given to disclose who fred the