The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1903-10-08
RIOTER Is RESCUED.
MOB AT OXFORD. O.. COWEO BY
BRAVE OFFICER.
Joseph Spivey, kentuckian, Strung
Up to "a Tree-Rope Twice Loosed and
Sheriff Arrives at Last Moment
Trouble at Street Fair.

A serious riot during the progress of
the street fair at Oxford. Ohio, in which
Louis Spivey. a Kentuckian. was fatally
and several citizens seriously wounded
was followed by a half-lynching at the
county Jail at night. the brother of the
fatally wounded Kentuckian being taken
from the Jail and strung up twice TO a
tree, being rescued by deputy sheriff
at the nick of time.
The riot was started by Louis and Jo-
seph Spivey, two Kentuckians from near
Maysville, who We're visiting Mr.. Rob-
erts ut Billinssvilie, Ind. across the
State line, and who went to Oxford ia
see the fair They began drinking heav-
lily and decided to 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. Immedi-
ately his brother, Joseph Spivey. shot
the marshal in the breast. infiicting
wound which may prove fatal
Han Hunt Through Town.
The two Spivey brothers then started
running. Citizens formed posse and,
grabbing shotguns, revolvers. etc. from
a nearby hardware store started in pur-
suit. Deputy Marshal Jacob Manrod,
although unarnied. headed the chase and
the kentuckians turned and fred at him.
Both bullets took effect and it is feared
he cannot recover. The Spivey brothers
continued their flight constantly firing on
the pursuing citizens, and on bullet
struck E. V. letter. a teacher in district
school No. 8. injuring him fatally also
The Spivey brothers then took shelter
behind tree and defied the mob. but
the posse soon dislodged them and they
ran to the next alley. where they sep
arated. Louis Spivey had not run over
100 feet when he was struck by bullet
anG received wounds which may prove
mortal. Joseph Spivey turned at the next
square, the posse close behind him. with
a negro in the lead. Spivey turned and
shot three times at the negro. emptying
his revolver, but the shots went wide and
the negro overtaking him felled him with
4 stone. He was seized and carried to
Jail.
Marsha1's Father Leads Mob.
large crowd followed and soon sur.
rounded the Jail They had secured =
rope and endeavored to take both Louis
Spivey and Joseph Spivey out of the
officers hands, but having 10 leader fail
ed to gain entrance to the Jail. Finally
Everett Woodruff, the father of the
wounded marshal, saying ne 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-
yey and he was led forth.
Take him to the tree where we lynch
ed the niger" somebody shouted, and
the mob made for it. The old tree where
Harry Corbin was lynched in 1892 stands
at the cornt- of East Village park. in
the heart of town. On the way Spivey
walled and cried: Give ME a show. men.
Let me just write a word TO my wife and
baby before you kill me. Let me pray a
little, for Gods sake. men,
Prisoner Is Twice Hung.
No heed was paid to his cries and he
was hurried to the tree and 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 he
was dropped and the third time he was
being swung when suddenly Deputy
Sheriff Luke Brannon. ex-Mayor Flana-
gan and number of citizens arrived and
Brannon dashed through the crowd and
cut Spivey down.
Rev. L. j. Porter, Mayor Muddell and
others delivered impassioned speeches,
appealing for order The father of Wood
ruff still urged the mob and swore that
If it did not exact vengeance he would
get a shotgun and kill the men himself.
Samuel Woodruff. brother of the mar
shal, then rising. said: Men, l am John
Woodruff's brother and l love him. For
his sake and for mine l ask you to go
home and let the law take its course"
The mob, moved by this. grudgingly al
lowed the prisoner to be taken to Jail.
As soon as he reached there the two
Spivey brothers We're secretly removed
by n rear window and turned over to
Sheriff Bisdorf and Prosecutor Gard
who We're waiting in buggies. BY mid
night the prisoners were safely lodged
in the county Jail at Hamilton, Ohio, and |
Oxford was quiet again.