Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 April 1884 — CINCINNATI’S HORROR. [ARTICLE]

CINCINNATI’S HORROR.

Three Days of Terrible Mob j Yiolence. Repeated Assaults Upon the City Jail. Burning of the Court House—Scores of Men Killed. - - ————— Borne months ago William H. Kirk, a re- j spected citizen of Cincinnati, was killed in | his stable by the blow of a hammer and I robbed of $lO3 in money, put into a wagon, j hauled off toward Cumminsville, and dumped 1 into Mill Creek, where His body was found two days later. Joe Palmer and William Berner confessed that they did the murder and robbery. On trial, a few days ago, Berner testified that Palmer did the actual killing, while he only looked on and got his share of the money. Much to the surprise and indignation of the community, the jury rendered a verdict of manslaughter against Berner, and assessed bis punishment at twenty years in tho penitentiary. The verdict was dcolared privately, by the Judge who tried the case, to be an outrage, and the jury, after leaving tbe court room, were hooted at by the crowd, with suggestions that they should be hanged. There was furious indignation among all classes in Cincinnati. One of the Jury was driven from the city and another severely beaten. A call for a mass meeting of citizens, signed by prominent business men, brought out an immense crowd, who literally picked the large] Music Hall until there was not evon standing room. The meeting, held Friday ovening, the 28th ult., was presided over by Dr. A. C. Kemper, and speeches were made by two or three leading citizens donouncial ory of the prevalence of crime and the lax administration of Justice. After the adjournment of the meeting a surging, howling mob started at once for the Jail. The bloody and exciting scenes that followed are chronicled In tho telegrnphio reports herewith appended: The jews that a lynching party was assaulting thrjatl sprf ad like wild-tire, and soon tho entire neighborhood swarmed with thousands. The advance guard of the would-be-Iynoaers arrived with a piece of joist and rushed down the steps leading to the basement entrance of the jail oflice. These were backed up by the crushing ci owd behind. First, a window was smashed and a wild yell went np from the crowd. Another shattered window and a wilder yell. Then the thump, thump of the improved battering-ram, pounding against tho office door, began, and every thump awoke a responsive yell. Bricks and stones were hurled at tho jail windows, and the shouting mob grew wilder as success 'seemed nearer. Tho door at last gave way and the crowd ponied into the jail office. Sheriff Hawkins and the few deputies who were luside were powerless to stem the fierce human tide, besides the S eriff had given orders that his officers ah' uld not use their weapons on the mob, believing that such a proceeding would only make bad worse. Wild wtih excitement in finding themselves in possession of the jatloffioe, it was short work to force the door to the cell floor. Boon the stairs and corridors, indeed the entire Interior of the jail, was alive with the mob yelling and hunting for the murderers they came to hang. They soon found their work had been for naught so far as Beraer was concerned. Disappointed and disgusted, the ardor of some of them bivan to cool.

About this time a squad of fifteen policemen, who had been stationod in the tunnel that leads from the jail to the court-house, were brought into the jail oorridors and began to clear the mob from the second floor, or the rotunda. , At 9:55 the fire bells struck the ominous 621, the riot alarm, and followed by a regular alarm,, as for fire, giving the number of the box located at the court-house oorner, just back of the county jail. The alarm statted thousands of people all over the city, and from all directions they flocked by scores, by hundreds, toward the county jail. Police, too, to the number of thirty or forty were hurried to the scene in patrolwagons. Bricks and stones were hurled through the jail windows, and down at the jail door was a gang of men with axes or sledges,heavilv pounding on the jail door. The crowd in the meantime every few minutes broke out in bloodthirsty cheers, groans, hisses, and maledictions on the murderers and Hamilton County justice. There were no less than 600 men in the crowd for every officer, and the mob showed the most dogged determination and fierceness from the first. Onoe a light was struck in an up-stairs room of the Sheriff’s residence, and men were seen carrying pictures and furniture out of the room. One man attempted to close the inside Bhutters, but instantly the mob hooted at him and a shower of bricks and stones riddled the glass and broke the shutters to splinters, and effectually cleared the room. But for self-pro-tection the gmg of men with the axes, at the doors below these windows, called out to the mob behind them to oease throwing stones, as they accomplished nothing except to scatter the broken glass down on the heads of those at work at the doors. At 11:30 o'clock the sound, of axes at tho Oonrt street entrance announced that a fresh attack was Ivelng made from another direction, and cheer after cheer rent the air. When the wagon Btaried through tho crowd of people who were densely packed around it the greatest consternation and excitement was created. Col. Reilly arrived shortly after the riot alarm was sounded, and after taking in the situation entered the jail throuch the Court House and tunnel. At just about midnight the mob on Sycamore street succeeded in battering open the entrance a second time, and swelled into the ja 1-office. Here they were stopped by the heavy iron gate shutting off the office fr< m the jail pi oper. Behind this were the policemen awaiting the attack, which was not long in being made. The mob had a heavy piece of timber a foot square and eighteen feet long. Fi.ty men swung this back and forth against the iron gate, and in a very little time they broke it squarely in two in the middle. Then followed a hand-to-hand fight between the police under the leadership of Col. Reilly, the Chief of Polioe, and the mob. Tho first man to enter through the breach was a negro, who was instantly seized by half a dozen policemen, who hustled him up stairs and locked him up. Other rioters, to the number in all of twenty-five, were similarly treated, and were all locked up in nrper oells. Under strict orders from Chief Reilly, not a shot was fired du ing all this melee, although several of the fighters, both rioters and officers, were knocked down and more or less injured. All sorts of weapons, knives, and revolvers were captured with th? prisoners. It was impossible to ascertain any of the names of the rioters at the time of the arrest. The officers did not stop for that, but carried them off to the uppermost cells as rapidly as possible. The mob was too muoh for the offloers, however, and while a few hundred were left down stairs to fight the polioemen, hundreds of others carried the heavy battering-ram up-stairs to where the murderers’ cells were. The mob continued determined. At exactly 12 o'clock a heavy beam borne by strong men was applied to the south Sycamore entranoe, and after three or four vigorous blows the door gave way and the crowd poured in. Almost Immediately afterward th. y made their way into the corridor. “Where is Berner's cell?” was the cry. Some one'answered: ’’No. 13,” and that number was soon found and a vigorous battery began. At this time the military began firing from above, and the mob were at once arrested in their mad career, and forced to retreat, though very sullenly. It is charged that the militia shot reckkssl,. and some of their number were wounded. Corporal Cook, of Company I, was shot in the chest, and another private was shot through the ear, and another In the mouth. v

Officer Adam Mechley was struck on the head with a brick and knocked senseless. He was taken off in a patrol wagon. Officer Von Seggcrn was shot In the heal near the ear, but not fatally. The shot came from s:>me one on the Inside. The crowd had forced its way into the jail yard and soon learned the way jo the underground passage. Some of these started Into the tunnel while the few police at that time at hand attempted to stay them. Another man, a citizen, was shot in the arm above the elbow. All the windowp of the basement and first and second stories of 'the jail residence are broken in, toe sash torn out, the doors broken down, iron gratings torn out or bent into nil sorts of strange shapes lrom the force of bowlde s and heavy beams applied to them, and there is general destruction. The stair-ways, some of them, are considerably demolished, even though of iron, and inside doors are battered and broken. At 12 o’closk the people were in full possession of the lower reception-room of the jail for the second time. A brawny fellow, a blacksmith, they said—was at work with a sledge-hammer upon the iron barred gate leadlug to the cell room. It gave gradually but surely before what seemed herculean strength. As bar by bar was shattered, cheers arose from the crowd back in the reception-room and jail-yard and were taken np by the crowds out*lde. Slowly but surely the 'iron gate gave way, and

finally went dowm far enough to admit of two or three men entering abreast Just before this Sheriff Hawkim, perhaps because he found the resistance of the police almost passive, sent for the party of about forty citizen soldiers, who were under arms in their a-m----ory hard by. These men were ma> ched over and were taken into the Jail through tbe tunnel tom Main street Just as the p-rty working at the gates were about to take possession of the cell-room the order was given to tire, or at least firing commenced. Tne result was, beside the distressing casualties, to give the police, for the moment at least, moral control, 'i hey took advantageof this and cleared the jail tlirongh the Sycamore street entrances, while the wounded were taken out by the Main street way. A portion of the mob broke into the armory of the State Guard and captured all the guns and ammunition of tbe troors, and thus armed, returned and confronted tbe militia. The miliary again fired on the mob, killing four and wound ng fifteen. The mob returned the fire but did no damage. The heavy firing drove the crowd away, but the mob worked with fiercer de ermination than ever. The jail was fired by rolling coal-oil barrels into the base- ! merit and tiring them. At the same time a cannon was brought up by a crowd of about fifty i men, the leader of whom said they were thirsting for revenge. The cannon was fired a number of times, but produced no effect. The police by this time (4 am.) had gained full control of the jail, and the greater part of the mob had dispersed. A summing of th- casualties of this night of horror snowed eight persons either dead or dying, and seventeen wounded, some of them dangerously. It now appears that Berner, after his sentence, was disguised and placed in a buggy with Deputy Sheriff Dominick Devoto and driven to Linwood, where they got aboard the Morrow accommodation, and went to Loveland to await the arrival of Criminal Deputy Joe Moses with the necessary papers for his committal to the penitentiary. It became known that Berner was at Loveland and a crowd gathered. V. hen the train with Moses aboard came in, and Devoto and Berner went to board it, the crowd made a rush for Berner. He ran through i the car and escaped, and is still at large. Quiet reigned throughout the early part of the day, but, in anticipation of arenewa of trouble. Gov. Hoadly ordered three regiments of State troops and two batteries to the city. Thi apprehensions of the Governor and of the city authorities were fully realized. Early In the day anonymous circulars were distributed through the city,calling for the organization of a vigilance committee of 300 in ea<h ward. A Gatling gun was taken to the jail, and the streets were barricaded by polioe and soldiers for 100 yards. A militia regiment was plaeed inside the jail, and seven-ty-five policemen were stationed outside. About 8 o’clock stones were thrown through the jail windows, and povftid dynamite cartridges were displayed by rioters. At 10 o'clock the treasurer's office in the court house was set on fire. The troops fired on tbe mob from the windows, with deadly effect. Captain Desmond, ot the militia, endeavored to suppress the flames and was shot dea iby the rioters. The fire-engines were not allowed to work. The yells of the mob could be beard for six blocks, and they appeared to be thoroughly organized. The Dayton militia arrived at the depot, but found it impossible to reach the battle-ground. The flames consumed the court house, with the county records and one of the most valuable law libraries in the United States. The 14th regiment marched to the jail at midnight, but the 4th regiment turned back to the dope t after hearing of the atrocities being perpetrated. About 10 o’clock a. m. the Gatling cun was turned upon the rioters wlih deadly effect. The mob broke Into the Armoiyof Battery B, took three cannon, and dragged them several miles, creating intense consternation. A polioe squad fired on them, aud recovered the pieces, but not before the mob had broken seveial stores open to search for

ammuni.ion. The artillery was turned over to the Sheriff. Firing between the mob and the militia stationed about/ the jail was kept up at Intervals through the night. Twenty-eight persons were killed, and sixty or more severely wounded. The police were entire masters of the situation shortly after midnight, and the Sabba r h broke on a quit t but very fever sh city. Smoldering ruins, pools of blood, and pickets -of militia marked the secthn about the Court House and jail. The monetary loss was fully fl 000,00 >. All the criminal indictments were destroyed, and now the e is nothing to show against the prisoners in the jail. '1 he county records are safe. Five r ead bodies lay on Sycamore street. 'J he wounded had sought shelter behind protecting buildings on Walnut street, and pool after pool of blood spotted the ground, while in the hallways the floors were smeared with blood. The troops were lying on their arms, taking such rest as they could get when not called for specif duty. The polios, worn out, were also lounging about in such manner as was most comfortable. The prisoners in the jail were looked in the r cells, tre i.bling with fear. Not one slept through the night. One of the saddest episodes of Saturday night was the killing of Capt. John Desmond. He had been apprised of the purpose to bum the Court house, and was Bent with a squad of militia to try to put out the fire. The mob fired on him and the ball crashed through his head. At the same time Private McGuire was shot through the breast and fatally hurt. Capt. Desmond was a young lawyer of much promise, a fine-looking soldier, the pride of his regiment, and one whose loss is on every account deeply deplored. The fire engines were powerless; first, because the firemen ret used to go out without an escort of t oops, and second, because the ciowd could easily have cut the hose and prevented the use of the engines. Bo the lire had its way. Mayor Stephens on Sunday morning ordered all saloons closed for twenty-Tour hours, and it was fairly complied with, He then asked Governor Hoadly to send on all the available militia, and special trains were soon set in motion, the Sixth Regiment, from Chillicothe, being the first to arrive. All persons were warned to keep off the streets after dark. At 8:30 last evening the rattle of the Gatling gun showed that the conflict with the mob had recommenced. Biiggs Swift, a prominent packer, while conversing with a friend on Seventh street, was seriously wounded by a volley fired by the militia. The tioters broke into Music Hall, whence they were ejected by two companies of the 6th regiment. After this the mob dispersed, and quiet was restored. The casualties of Sunday night’s fighting include eight men killed and fitteen wounded. The total killed for three days was seventy-five; wounded, lou. It appears that Berner, one of the murderers of Kirk, who escaped at Loveland, ran several miles up the track, spent some hours in an empty freight ear, and ttien took to the woods. He was found by two bailiffs, who were driving along in search of him. He gave way to tears like a child. The officers drove to Fosier’s Crossing, remaining until dark, when they proceeded to Columbus, and placed the prisoner in the penitentiary, notwithstanding aetermined attempts to lynch him T. C. Campbell, the Cincinnati lawyer, who was Berner’s chief counsel, has been warned away from the city. Following is a partial list of the killed and mortally wounded: James Condon, ■ carriage blacksmith; John Havenkamp, ccal-cart driver; Fritz Havemyer, hodcarrier; Fiank Hettusheimer, employed in furniture factory; Ben Fink, shoemaker; John Sagger; Joseph Bcsold, cigarmaker; Mike O’Day, driver; Anton Fohler, John Dickey, Frank Bergman. Thomas A. Green, colored; Anton Singer, shoemaker; John Goebie, bartender; Sam B-enan, Jacob Metzer, stonecutter: Fred Sleus-er, bartender; four bodies unidentified; John J. Heanessy, Henry J. Reiser, an unknown man, Walter Fay, Peter Koell, brewer; C. Breslau, Capt. J. J. Desmond, of the Lytle Greys; Police Officer Joseph Stern, Polioe Officer Pnilip Nunn, Henry Kates, cabinet-maker; C. T. MetMaxy Smith, Will Batts, P.Raabe. John Hetten. calf, Jesse Bright, John Griffith, Martin Rafferty, shelm, Alfred Hopkins, Charles Bloom, J. Camper.