Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-08-30
ALL-NIGHT BATTLE
FOUGHT BY A NOR
Bloodshed on the Outskirts OF
Gilman, Illinois.
TWO PEOPLE DEAD, FOUR HURT
Mrs. G. w. Wright's Hospital In
Ashes.


Gilman. ILL.,, Aug. 27,-.Two men
killed, three wounded, two of them pei-
haps fatally, one woman wounded and
her residence burned are the results OF
an all-night battle between mob and
Mrs. Q. W. Wright, WHO was accused
of the murder Of Bessie Salter, the l6.
years-old daughter of q citizen Of
Gilman. IA,
Dead John Myers, laborer, en-
ployed by Mrs. Wright; Michael sRyan,
citizen serving as deputy constable.
Fatally wounded = Lawrence Ryan,
brother of Michael Ryan, wounded ii
the abdomen; George Willoughby, oiti-
zen, shot through the left lung Mrs.
Q. W. Wright, shot through the right
shoulder, bullet taking a downward
course. va
Seriously wounded - Peter Lauer,
member of the citizens attacking
party, shot through the stomach. 81,
Early last evening, the first act of the
tragedy was enacted, when Constable
Nilstead went to the house, on. the
outskirts of the town, occupiedtby Mrs.
Wright, to serve on her a warrant
sworn out after the ooroner's jury had
declared her guilty of murder. A num-
ber of deputies gathered up In the
street accompanied Constable Nilstead.
Mrs. Wright barred the door, and, in
forcing an entrance, the constable en-
countered expected 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 a shot rang out, and
he fell dead. The oopstRbles made q
hurried exit, and formed picket line
around the building, Atregular inter-
walls, they fred into the building, in
the hope that the occupants would eur
render, hut without SUCCESS. Finally,
it was determined to- set fire to tho
building. The recent rain had SO
dampened its timbers that the fire
would not catch, and, after burning
some outbuildings, the posse gave ND
the attempt, and fell hack To their
original plan of driving out Mrs. Wright.
About B O'Clock this morning, ttr
family of Michael Ryan arrived. jTh4
dead man had been oarried tol fhi
bushes near the house where he moi
his death. A mob OF probably "a,
people had gathered, Most OF tte.a
were armed. The scenes Of grinf which
followed the arrival Of Ryan's wife and
children fired the crowd with frenzy.
They seized dozens of bundles ai
straw, saturated them with 9petrolsun,
piled them against the front and sitlcs
Of the so-called hospital and applied
the torch. In moment, the p.aco
was mass of flames. Shot after sho.
rang from the upper Windows, aud
George Williams, local reprpseatatiyn
of the Standard Oil Co, fell with
bullet in his left side. The next yictim
was Peter Hauer, member of the at
tacking party. These casualties so
angered the crowd that they yolleyed
the house as fast as they could load
their firearms. Contrary to expacta-
tions, 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 a bunch of timber in the rear,
several shots came in the dirscticn OF
the mob. They were answered 100 to
one, and the fire was quickly siIenced.
Members of the mob rushed to the
timber, and, iE the dim light OF the
coming dawn, found the body Of John
Myers, a blacksmith, who had been
employed by Mrs. Wright, stretched in
the death agony. Hs was shot in
dozen places about the head and
showing that be had boon
lying on his face, firing at his enemies
when he met death. Nearby lay Mrs.
Wright, 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. and
physicians set 10 work in an endeavor
TO hring her to consciousness. Up to
9 a. m they had beep unsuccessful,
and it is probable that she will not
The mob Immediately dispersed. It
had been reported that there were three
in the house besides Mrs.
Wright, but no signs Of them have
been found. The house was destroyed,
with its contents. -
Mrs. Wright is about 80 years old. It
s stated that she was formerly an
actress. For some tins, she has been
lying in hospital on the
outskirts of Gilman. The death of
Bessie Salter in the house last Friday
and the verdict Of the coroner's jury
Saturday caused the issuance of war
ant for Mrs. Wright's arrest, which
resulted in the Wholesale shooting and
5he probable death of the principal.