The Washington times., 1913-12-28


Estue may e''cur at ary moment While
the jail rs 4 substantial s.~Ucturc. and
the sheriff SAYS IL viii oe almost I'M
Nossibie foS IL mob to batter down the
doors leading into the pT.scn proper,
It Is admitted ;Nat ruucs destruction
viii fol ow q cOStinuous Hire from the
guns of the Sss3ilGnts.
Five ccloTed men have been arrested
in connection with the ugrder. Tne
mob wants only Mabel who is said to
have confessed TO faTrde-ing Coleman.
Break In Doors.
At midnight The moo succeeded in
breaking two or the doors of the Jail.
but bullets from the guns OF the Of
cials drove the invaders TO safety with
out. The mob was met inside the jail
py States Attorney II. W. Vickers,
Sheriff w. T. Brown. and his corps OF
fifteen special deputies.
The officers pleaded with the men to
leave the building. They refused. The
aherif ordered his deputies TO fire over
the heads of the mob. This proved ef-
fective. and The assaiiants rushed out
Iato the darkness. The crowd on the
outside became infuriated, and fired a
Few shots at the lS:i, none of which
struck the occupants.
The determined front Of the laws
Guardians held the mob at bay for a
time. The crowds refused to disperse,
and, walking up to the JAIL halted,
seeming to wait for one Of their number
70 make the first mcye.
Presently five men bolted into the cor
rioor, the leader bearing sledge ham,
Ter, with which the cell door was to be
broken. The others pressed around the
door, waiting to rush to the assistance
of the leaders
For a moment it looked as if the
guards would be overpowered. For
NOR Sheriff William H McKeen, who
Esould-be lynchers sipgle-handed,
wrenched the hammer from the lead
er's hand and forced him and his four
companions from the corridor.
Mob withdraws.
In sullen silence the mob withdrew
a short distance outside but only to
open fire upon the windows on the
second floor, where Mabel and the
other colored men under arrest in
connection with the crime are con-
lined
Voiley after, xoiiey from half a hun
dred pistols and shotguns were direct
ed at the second story, and scarcely a
pane of glass in the windows was left.
Sheriff Brown ordered the prisoners
20 lie down close under the windows
SO - to escape the flying shots.
avail, the mob desisted, but only to
crowd again close to the jail, waiting
for an opportunity to make another
rush. That it would be made seemed
certain and the officers waited, de-
.ermined to defend Mabel If it were
possible.
Sheriff Brown and Mr.. vickers in
structed the deputies as last resort
90 fire upon the mob and not over
their heads. The midnight attack
came after hours of suspense on the
cart of the officers.
A second, and Intellectual attempt
20 storm the Jail was made at 2
driven back.
Fearing meb violence, as the result
Of Mabel's confession that he killed
Coleman and robbed the body of $50,
che authorities Saturday morning
made prepare tions to remove the col
bred man to Baltimore for safekeep-
Eg.
out their plans. however, by the mob
Of between 500 and 1000 men who
surrounded the Jail.
Becoming uneasy over the threat
ening situation. Sheriff Brown made
secret prepars tons to take his pris-
c7ers out OF town in an automboile
The crowd vas warned, however, and
when the car appeared at the rear
entrance to the jail IL was surround
ed by infuriated men 81 such num-
herp that the officers who were
waiting to rush out with the prison
ers abandoned the idea and returned
the prisoners 10 their cells.
welve detectives and policemen, select
ed for the task by Marshal Farnan lef
from Union Station az 1:S5 O'Clock thi,
afternoon were sent to CharlestowI
from Baltimore.