The Bourbon news., 1904-03-11
\ LYNCHING IN OHIO.
Slayer Of a Policeman Put to
Death by a Mob.
SpringfieId's Negro Quarters Fired and
Twenty Houses Destroyed
Ten Companies of Militia
Guard the City.

Springfield, O., March S.-Richard
Dixon, a desperate Negro, was taken
from the county jail Monday night by
an infuriated mob and shot to death
in the jail yard, and a few moments
later the body was taken to the cor
ner of Main street and Fountain ave
nue., where the mob spent half 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
Monday. Coils had served for II
years on the force and was regarded
as one of the most reliable and eff
cient men in the police department.
He had gone to Dixons room on the
Negroes request. Dixon said his mis-
tress had his clothes in her posses
sion. Coils accompanied Dixon to the
room and in short time the men and
woman engaged in a quarrel which re-
suited in Dixon shooting the woman,
who is variously known as Anna or
Mamie Corbin, in the left breast just
over the heart. She fell unconscious
at the first shot and Coils jumped tC-
ward the Negro to prevent his escape
from the room. Dixon then fired four
balls into Coils, the last of which pen
etrated his abdomen.
Dixon Immediately went to police
headquarters and gave himself up. He
was taken to Jail and Coils and the
wounded Negress were taken to the
hospital
At 7:30 o'clock Monday evening
mob of boys gathered in front of the
Jail. This group was augmented by
few men and by o'clock 300 men
had congregated about the Jail yard
and steps. At one time the iron bar
at the east entrance was removed and
the door partly opened. The police
men On the inside promptly opened
the door and pulled the two nearest
men inside. This ended all active
moves to break the door until nearly
II o'clock
Upon the request of Mayor Bowlus.
Maj. T. J. Kirkpatrick, of the Third o.
V. l., had Companies B and E in readi-
ness to aid in defending the jail. Be
fore either company was ready. now
ever, an entrance into the jail had
been forced.
When Dixon had been secured it re-
quired only a few minutes to push
back the small Gordon of policersen.
who made their last stand at the east
entrance in an Intellectual attempt to
keep Dixon inside. The Negros face
was liVid and when he appeared at the
top of the. main steps he would have
fallen from sheer terror had he not
been suspended in the grasp of a doZ-
en- men. The police again rallied to
his aid and when the mob saw this the
leaders hurriedly decided to kill their
victim before the arrival of the militia.
There have been II murders in
Clark county in the last two years and
in no instance has there been a con
victiOn for first degree murder. Sew
eral of these murders have been of the
cold-blooded type and eXasperating and
this fact, more than any other. is re-
spOnsible for the first Iynching in the
history of the county. There has new
er yet been a case of capital punish
ment from this, Clark county.
Springfield o., March 9.-Threats
throughout the day and Tuesday even
ing to burn the levee, the Negro dis
trict of the city confirmed Mayor c. ].
Bowlus in his belief that more trouble
was brewing Tuesday night and ne
has asked Gov. Herrick for troops.
During the afternoon threats were
heard that the levee would be burned.
At 11:20 the threat of the moo, fre-
quently made through the day and ev-
ening, was finally made good and
volume Of flame was seen to saoot up
from the rear Of place occupied By
Les" Thomas, a saloonkeeper.
Preceding the firing of the building
the mob, at a distance of hundred
feet, shot at the front Of the building
for half hour, but it is not known
whether any of the occupants had re-
mained in the building. and if they did
whether any fatalities resulted from
the shooting.
The fire in East Washington street
has burned out exactly the district the
mob said should go.
At 2:30 Wednesday morning the fire
had burned itself out and both mob
and spectators have for the most part
dispersed. Quiet prevails throughout
the city and the mob is good natured
and orderly, evidently we'll satisfied
with its nights work. 1t is hardly
probable that an attempt will be made
by the whites to burn the West Wash
ington street resorts out as this sec
tion is closely guarded by Dayton and
Miamfsburg troops. Probably 20 small
buildings were destroyed, entailing a
loss of not to exceed $4,000.
Springfield, o.. March 1O.-Thte sit
uation early Wednesday evening was
considered by the authorities to he
more threatening than at any time
Famous Sculptor Expires.
Albany, N Y, March 1O.AErastus