The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-09-12
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Two Killed in an Attempt to Arrest
a Woman,
GIRLS DEATH CAUSED THE RIOT
For Five Hours tho Woman, With Nife,
Held on Sheril's Posse at Gilman.
II.-Mob Tried to Lynch Her as She
Lay wounded in the City Hall - She
WaA Accused OF Murder.

IlI.-NIob Tried to Lynch Her as She
Lay wounded in the City Hall She
Was Accused OF Murder.
Gilman, III. (SpeciaD.-Two men
killed, three wounded, one woman
wounded and her home burned are the
results Of an all-night battle between
a mob and Mrs. DR.. G. w. Wright,
who was accused of the murder Of
bessie Salter. sixteen years old.
The dead are: John Myers, a Ia
borer, employed by Mrs. DR.. Wright,
and Michael Ryan, who was serving
as deputy constable.
Lawrence Ryan, George Willoughby
and Mrs. Wright, who was shot in
the right shoulder, were wounded
fatally.
About 10 p. m. the first act of the
tragedy was enacted. 1t was precip-
itated by the investigation Of the Cor
oner's jury into the death OF bessie
Salter, sixteen years old, Of Leonard,
ILL.,, who died in Mrs. Wright's retreat
for women, and was taken to her
home, in Leonard, under cover Of dark
ness the following morning.
After the jury had heard the evil
dence Of Clarence Salter, father of the
girl, the Coroner came to the con-
clusion that it was injudicious to wait
longer for Mrs. Wright's arrest, and
a warrant was procured and placed
in the hands of Constable Nilstead
for service. ..
Several deppfies gathered up in the
street aecompanied Nilstead. Mrs.
Wffght 3baffed the door and in fore.
ingI aRssSRffanee the constables en-
scolnt iexpected opposition.
G ssss M the outer door and
ent ter8d 3Ii8 afkened rooms. Michael
sRyHn ff5f Is way across the first
room and 9f66 about to enter the door
fnf The inner apartment when shot
srang out aDd he fell dead. H.
Fhe 5edlHk bies made a hurried exit
ffofp3ed a picket line around the
81 IA in regular intervals they
sdred 3t4 the building In the hope that
the sBecupa would surrender, but
sWith6ut success. E T.
n sEinally It was determined to set fire
tosthe building. The recent rains had
dampened its timbefs so,the fire would
not catch, and after burning some out
buildings the posse gave up the at
tempt and fell back to. their original
plan OF driving out Mrs. Wright.
II A mob Of $50 soon gathered. Most
Z Of them were armed. They seized
bundles of straw, saturated them with
petroleum, piled them against the front
and sides of the so-called hospital and
applied the torch. In moment the
place was a macs of flames. Shot af'
ter shot rang from the upper windows.
and George Willoughby, local rep.
resentative of the Standard Oil Com
Dany, fell with a bullet in the left
side. The next victim was Peter
Hauer. These casualties SO angered
the crowd that they fired into the
house as fast as they could load their
firearms.
Suddenly from O bunch Of timber in
the rear came several shots. They were
answered, q hundred to one, and the
fire was quickly siienced. The mob
rushed to the timber, and in the dim
light Of the coming dawn found the
body Of John Myers, blacksmith, who
had been employed by Mrs. Wright,
stretched in the death agony. He was
shot in a dozen places about the head
and shoulders. ...-.
Nearby lay Mrs. Wright, q 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, jeering as they
went She was taken to the council
chamber. The house was burned with
it's contents. :..a
Mrs. Wright was about fifty years
old. 1t is said she was formerly an
actress. For some time she has been
conducting lyirg-in hospital on the
outskirts of Gilman. Mrs. Wright
was taken to Paxton by the Sheriff.
She will be taken to the Watseka Jail.
A strong guard was placed around
the, City Hall. Before long the crowd
gathered again. and threats Of lynch
ing the wounded woman were freely
made.
At $50 the mob made united dem.
onstration, smashing in the City Hall
windows and throwing bricks aud
clubs at the prisoner.
A shot was fired through the win.
dow by one Of the mob, but missed its
intended mark. Finally the officers
got the mob quieted.