Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-10-07
RIOTER Is RESCUED.
MOB AT OXFORD, O., coWED BY
CRAVE OFFICER.
Joseph spivey, "a Kentuekian, Strung
Up TO Tree-Rope Twice Loosed and
Sheriff Arrives at Last Moment
Trouble at Street Fair.

A serious riot during the pro;,ress of
the street fair at Oxford, Ohio, ia which
Louis Spiyey, a Kentuckian, was fatally
and several citizens seriously wounded,
was followed by half-Iynching at the
county jail At night the brother of the
fatally wounded kentuckian being taken
from the Jail and strung up twice to
tree. being rescued BY deputy sheriff
at the nick Of tine.
The riot was started by Louis and Jo-
seph Spiyey, two KentuckianS from near
MaysYille, who were visiting Mr.. Rob
erts at Billiugsville, Ind. across the
State line, and who went TO oxford 10
see the fair They began drinking heav-
lily and decided 10 inject some excite
ment into the fair by shooting up the
town" Marshal John Woodruff hurried
TO the scene, approached Louis Spivey
and placed him under arrest. Iinmedi-
ately his brother. Joseph Spivey, shot
the marshal in the breast, nilicting
wound which may prove fatal.
Man Hunt Through Town.
The two Spivey brothers then started
running. Citizens formed posse and,
grabbing shotguns, reviewers, etc, from
a nearby hardware store. started in pur-
SUR. Deputy Marshal Jacob Manrod,
although unaIlned. headed the chase and
the Kentuckians turned and fred At him.
Both bullets took effect and 1t is feared
he canno3 recover The Spivey brothers
continued their flight constantly firing on
the pursuing citizens, and one ballet
struck f. " letter, teacher III district
school No. 3, injuring him fatally also.
behind a tree and defed the mob, but
the posse soon dislodged them and they
ran to the next alley. where they sep
arated. Louis Spiyey had not run over
100 feet when he was struck by a bullet
and received wounds which may prove
mortal. Joseph Spivey turned AT the next
square. tn posse close behind him, with
a negro in the lead. Spiyey turned and
shot three times at the negro, emptying
his revolver, but the shots went wide and
the negro overtaking him feIled him with
a stone. He was seized and carried to
Jail.
Marshars Father Leads Mob.
A large crowd followed and soon sur
rounded the Jail They had secured a
rope and endeayored to take both Louis
Spiyey and Joseph Spivey out of the
officers hands, but having no leader fail
ed to gain entrance to the Jail. Finally
Everett Woodruff the father of the
wounded marshal, saying he expected the
mob to avenge the murder Of his son, led
the lynchers against the Jail. The door
was battered down and long rope was
fastened around the neck of Joseph Spi-
vey and he was led forth.
s.TaL-o him r., tho +rea 3X-h ORC Nyp lynch
ed the niger" somebody shouted, and
the mob made for it. The old tree where
Harry C0rbin was lynched in 1892 stands
at the corner of East Village park. in
the heart Of town. On the way Spiyey
walled aud cried: Give me show, men.
let me just write word 10 my wife and
baby before you kill me. Let me pray
little, for Gods sake, men,"
Prisoner Is Twice Hung.
No heed was paid to his cries and he
was hurried to the tree aud the rope
thrown over limb. He was then pulled
up with jerk. His hands were not tied,
however, and he grasped the rope with
both hands and relieved the strain on
his neck. He then begged to be heard.
The mob allowed him to be dropped to-
the ground long enough to tie his hands,
when he was again strung up. Again ne
was dropped and the third time he was
being swung when suddenly Deputy
Sheriff Luke Brannon, ex-Mayor Flana-
gan and q number of citizens arrived and
Brannon dashed through the crowd and
cut Spivey down.
Rev r. j. Porter, Mayor Muddell and
Others delivered imprisoned speeches,
appeaaIg for order The father of Wood
ruff still urged the mob and swore that
If it did not exact vengeance he would
get shotgun and kill the men himself.
Samuel WoodrHT. brother of the mar
shall, then rising. said: Men, | am John
Wosdruffs brother and | love him. For
his sake and for mine l ask you to 90
home and let the law take its course
The mob moved by this, grudgingly al
lowed the prisoner TO he taken to jail.
AS soon rs he reached there the two
Spivey brothers were secretly removed
by a rear window and turned over to
Sheriff Bisdorf and Prosecutor Gard,
who were waiting in huggies. BY mid
3ight the prisoners ,rt safely lodged
in the county jail at Hamilton, Ohio, and
Dvforyl WAS uuiet again