The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-29
SPENT AWFUL NIGHT.
Sheriff and Deputies Brought Prisoner
to Wichita

Sheriff Patterson, Undersheriff Bartlett
and County Attorney Florence arrived III
Wichita yesterday morning with John
, Woods the negro who criminally assault
ed Mrs. John Lind, at Yates Center Tues
day evening. The prisOne. was brought
here after a very exciting night spent
in defending him from d mob Of 800 PEG
PIE, and then driving across the cOun-
try eighteen miles TO a station to catch
the train.
Tuesday night the assault was made
in grove just north of the town. and
the negro was captured few hours later
81 woodshed, and locked in Jail We'd
nesday morning there was considerable
bitter talk against the man, but during
the day the excitement died down until
evening.
As it began to grow dark. the eldest
son Of the assaulted woman began agitat-
ing the Iynchiag of the negro and mob
was soon formed. The sheriff had re-
ceivcd wind OF the mob and collected all
of his deputies and the city marshals
forces TO guard the jail. A number Of
business men also volunteered their ser
vices. All were armed to the teeth and
determined to defend the man whom they
had deprived of his liberty and were
duty bound 10 protect.
The mob went up to the jail carrying
q heavy timber from the railroad yards
Ing ram They were met at the door by
the sheriff and county attorney, who he
ga ntalking TO the crowd and begging
them TO let the law take its course. The
mob was poorly organized and the talk
OF the sheriff and prominent citizens had
the desired effect in that the mob dis
banded and went away. They were gone
but short time when the active spirits
reorganized the mob and "A second at
tempt was made on the jail. but the
guards succeeded in keeping the crowd
away and finally diso~sanizinS them for
6 thine. The sheriff stated yesterday that
he did not intend using force to drive the
men away unles sabSolutely compelled to
do So but he was determined that they
would not take the prisoner except they
reached him by climbing over his body.
and the men behind him were just as de-
termined.
The men came back the third time
fully determined TO lynch John Wood.
and again they were persuaded that il
would be better for the law 10 take its
course The men We're fewer In numbers.
but more determined than ever and
things began TO look dark for the sheriff
and his prisoner For three hours they
had guarded the jail yard and a number
of the men had spent a sleepleSS night
Tuesday in the search for the assailant.
Close 10 l o'clock and while the mob
was reorganizing for fourth attempt
carriage was procured and the pris
oner. heavily shaCkled. was slipped into
st. Sheriff Patterson. Deputy Bartlett
end the county attorney climbed in, and
taking a roundabout course. got their
man safely cut Of town. and then drove
eighteen miles TO Toronto. where they
caught the Missouri Pacific train at 5
o'clock which brought them TO this city.
They did not feel safe until the- had
their prisoner behind the bars IF the
Sedgwick county jail. All We're worn out
and Immediately went 70 a hotel where
they rested a few hours. The officers re-
turned 10 Yates Center yesterday after
noon.
It was , most terrible experience for
the officers and they do not want il To
occur again When they left here all
fully believed that the excitement had
died down and within a few DAYS would
die out entirely. They viii leave their
man here until the excitement completely
subsidies and he may not be taken hack TO
Yates Center until the trial comes mp
IN the district court 10 which he was
hound in the preliminary hearing We'd
xiesday.
John Wood is a Eight colored negro
eoout 81 or g years old. with a fun face
His forehead slopes backward and the
top OF his head = almost "a point he
( r. rather a vicious looking citizen. He