The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-08
Door OF Jail Battered in and Rich
ard Dixon Dragged from
His Cell.
KNOCKED TO THE GROUND
And Nine Bullets Fired Into His
Body While He Was Lying
PROSTATE.
ROPE PUT AROUND NECK
Corpse Dragged to a Pole, Drawn
Up and Used by the Mob
as Target.

SPRINGFIELD, o.. March Richard
Dixon. desperate negro. who fatally shot
Policeman Charles Coils Sunday morning.
was taken from the county jail tonight
by an infuriated mob and shot to death in
the jailyard and few moments later the
body was taken to the corner of Main street
and Fountain avenue. where the mob spent
half an hour riddling the body with bullets
from several hundred revolvers.
Dixon shot Policeman Coils Sunday
morning in the formers room in the Jones
Hotel and Coils died at noon to-day. Col
lis had served for twelve years on the force
and was regarded as one of the most reli-
able and efficient men in the police depart
ment. He had gone to Dixon's room on
the negros request. Dixon said a woman
had his clothes in her possession and had
got the consent of Jones, the colored pro-
prietor. to keep Dixon away from his
house. Coils accompanied Dixon to the
room and in a short time the man and
woman engaged in a quarrel which result
ed in Dixon shooting the woman, who is
variously known as Anna or Matte Cor
bin. in the left breast. just over the heart
She fell unconscious at the first shot and
Coils jumped toward the negro to prevent
his escaping from the room. Dixon then
fired four balls into Collis the last Of which
penetrated his abdomen.
GAVE HIMSELF UP.
Dixon then fed from the room. and, as he
started TO go down the stairs the dying
policeman sent two bullets through the
glass door, neither of which struck the
mark. Coils then staggered down the stairs
and, on reaching the street, emptied the
remaining chambers of his gun at the flee
ing negro. He was not hit. however. and
went Immediately to police headquarters
and gave himself NJ. He was taken to
Jail and Coils and the wounded negrcss
were taken to the hospital
All afternoon the killing of Coils was the
topic of conversation and both Police Judge
Miller and Common Pleas Judge Mower
freely censured, They both had sentenced
Dixon at various times to the jail and the
workhouse for from two to six months. but
he was always released before the expira-
ton of his sentence. 1t was the general
feeling that a trial would only result in an
insufficient sentence and talk of mob
frequently heard before supper. Nothing
about 7:3O O'Clock this evening. when a
mob of boys gathered in front of the Jail.
This group was augmented by few men
and by O'Clock 900 had congregated
about the jailyard and steps 1t was
known that only leader was wanted to
start the assault, but no one assumed the
responsibility. At one time the iron bar
at the east entrance was removed and the
door partly opened. The policemen on the
inside promptly opened the door and pulled
the two nearest men inside This ended
all active attempts to break the door until
nearly II o'clock.
RAILROAD IRON USED.
The mob forced an entrance to the jail
by butting in the east door with railroad
iron At 1880 the mob melted rapidly. and
it was the general opinion that no more
attempts would be made 10 force an en-
trance Small groups of men. however.
could be seen i'm the shadows of the court
house, two adjacent livery stables and sew
eral dwelling houses. At 1O:45 the police
were satisfied that there was nothing more
to fear and they, with other officials and
newspaper men, passed freely in and out OF
the Jail.
Shortly before IL O'Clock diversion was
made by a small crowd moving from the
east doors around TO the south entrance.
The police followed, and bluff was made
at jostling them of the steps leading up TO
the south entrance. The crowd at this
point kept growing. while yells Of Hold
the police" Smash the doors," Lynch
the nigger," were made. interspersed with
revolver shots. All this time the party
with the heavy railroad iron was beating
at the east door. which shortly yielded to
the battering ram, did the inner lattice
iron doors.
The mob then surged through the east
door, 'overpowered the sheriff, turnkey and
handful of deputies and began the assault
on the iron turnstile leading TO the cells.
The police from the south door were called
inside TO help keep the mob from the cells
and in five minutes the south door had
shared the fate Of the east one.
In an incredibly short time the Jail was
filled by a mad mob of $50 men with all
the entrances and yard gates blocked by
fully l.5C0 men, thus making IL impossible
for the militia TO have prevented access TO
the negro had IL been on the scene. The
heavy iron partition leading 10 the cells
resisted the mob effectually until cold
chisels and sledge hammers arrived. which
were only two or three minutes later in
arriving The paddock TO the turnstile was
broken and the mob soon filed the corri-
doris leading 10 the cells
AUTHORITIES GAVE IN.
and TO avoid the killing of innocent per-
sons the authorities consented 10 the de-
mand of the mob for the right man. lie
was dragged from his cell 10 the Jail door
and thence down the stone steps 10 a paved
court in the jailyard. Fearing an attempt
on the part OF the police 10 rescue him the
leaders formed a hollow square. Some one
knocked the negro 10 the ground and those
near TO him fell back four or five feet
Nine shots werc fired into his prOstrate
body and. satisfied that ne was dead a
dozen men grabbed the lifeless body and
with a triumphant cheer the mob surged
into Columbia street and marched 10 Foun-
tain avenue, one OF the principal thorough
fares OF the town. From here they marched
south 10 the intersection OF Main street
and a rope was tied around DixOn's neck.
Two men climbed a telegraph pole and
threw the rope over the topmost crossarm
and drew the body about eighteen feet
above the street. They then descended, and
their work was greeted with a cheer The
fusillade then began, and for thirty min
utes the body was kept swaying back and