Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1892 — MOB LAW RULES AT EL RENO. [ARTICLE]

MOB LAW RULES AT EL RENO.

Oklahoma lot tfutnpers Overrun and Take Possession of the Town. According to a Guthrie, 0. T., dispatch, the last forty-eight hours have witnessed scenes of wild excitement at El Reno which outrival anything ever 6een in the Territory. That town is built upon the claim of Maj. Freeman, all the residents of the place having bought their lots of him; so when Secretary Noble decided that Freeman’s title to his claim was void it left every piece of property in town at the mercy of vandals, for nobody had any valid title to the property. When the news of the decision reached El Reno the town went wild. First the loafers began jumping lots, then others followed, and soon all business was suspended. The Court officers rushed from their offices and joined the mob, which by nightfall had become wild and unruly. Gov. Seay telegraphed to the Sheriff and other officers to disperse the crowds and protect the property, but they did nothing. The following day affairs took a more serious turn. Houses were broken into, people were driven from their homes, and everything possible was done by the excited mob to drive the orderly element out and give the jumpers possession of all the property in the town. Many citizens telegraphed Gov. Seay that their property was being destroyed and that their lives were endangered and demanding that troops be sent to protect them. The mob has taken forcible possession of over SIOO,OOO worth of property and already destroyed or damaged much of it. The latest news from there is that there is likely to be a conflict and bloodshod at any hour. The Governor has called for troops.