The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-08-28
SERIOUS RI0TING IN OHIO
DETERMINED ATTEMPTS OF A NOR
TO LYNCH A NEGRO.
They Break Into the City and County
Jafls-A Fight Between Officers and
the Mob-Two Persons Killed and
Many Wounded-The Negro Spirited
Away by Omcers-The Mob Resorts
to the Torch.

Akron, o., August 2.-Between 1
and 2 O'Clock this morning officer John
Duny arrested a colored man, who
during the day confessed to Prison
Keeper Washer of having attempted
to assault Christina, the daughter of
Mr.. n Mrs. Theodore Mas, indus
trious and respectable people who live
on Perkins Hill. The prisoner has
given his name as Louis Peck He is
about forty years old, married and re-
Gently moved here.
The story of his confession spread
Lii wild fire throughout city and Off
GERS learned that an attempt would be
made tonight to lynch him. In police
court today Peck pleaded guilty and
was bound over to the common tpleas
court. His bail was placed at 5000.
Several thousand people are ready
tonight to lynch Louis Peck. a large
crowd gathered about the city prison
Al 1870 O'Clock and forced in the doors.
The prison was soon packed with the
MOB and the officers offered no reSis-
lance as Peck, earlier in the evening,
mad been quietly taken away TO Cleve-
and.
To satisfy the mob, the officers sug-
igested that a committee of six be ap-
pointed to seach all the cells and go
through every part OF the building.
This was done and as negro was not
found, a 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 60 batter dOwn the big iron doors.
deputy Sheriff Stone stood in front
of the prison doors and made a speech.
He informed the crowd that Peck
could nOt be found in there and he told
the people in the mob to select a COM
mIttee and he would ALLOW the COM
mittee to search the Jail from top to
bottom. A committee was quickly Sc
looted and the jail was searched, every
cell being examined. Satisfied that
the negro was not there the mob then
rushed across the street and forced
open the DORIS of the county court
house. The old court house was soon
packed and all rooms searched ex-
cept the rooms in the treasury depart
ment.
The city prison was again surround
ed and hundreds of people forced their
way into the prison for the second
time. insisting that Peck was here.
Mayor w. E. Young at this time, ap-
peared at m of the windows in the
upper par of the building. ad-
dressed the mob as best he could, say
ing hat Peck had been taken out of
the prison at 4 O'Clock by Sheriff Kelly
and driven out of the city in a closed
Carriage. The people in the mob
would not believe the mayor and con-
'tinue 20 yell and demand III Peck
ba 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 follow
ed by several more shots. The Off
GERS in the building appeared at the
windows and began to shoot over the
heads o. the people. a man with a
shotgun then fired at the officers. 1t
is said several officers were und
The crowd then began to smash in
the windows of the city building and
the firing became general. Hundreds
OF shots were exchanged n 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 a call for the militia.
All ambulances of the city have been
called out and the excitement has be-
come intense. The front of the city
building is a total wreck, and the fire
bells are ringing.
At 1915 o'clock p. m. Prisonkeeper
John E. Washer came from the city
building and h was knocked down by
a brick. He was badly injured about
the head and had to receive medical
attendance.
1t is known that 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
four year old child, shot dead in a
baby cab. Fred V. Orwick, agent, %
years, is badly wounded with buck
shot. He is now dying at the hospi-
tai. A man named Null was shot in
the head and also in one of h legs.
Another man whose name could not De
learned, but who is a driver for the
American Express Company, was shot
in the leg.
At IL D. m. the crowds are beginning
to leave for home and the indications
are that no more trouble will take
place.
Shortly after midnight the mob broke
into a hardwar store and stole all the
FIRE arms and ammunition they coulC
find. including guns, rifles and revol'
yers and proceeded to the city bulldln
and opened fire on the defenders. anC
finally set fire to the Column nal
which adjoins the city building. IneS
will no doubt set fire to the city build
ing before morning as the flames are
spreading rapidly.