People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 October 1894 — AT FRIGHTFUL COST. [ARTICLE]

AT FRIGHTFUL COST.

/. Mob Repulsed and the Law Vindicated in Bloodshed. Would-Be Lyncher* Attempt to Secure V Possession of a Colored Brute—--1 Three Are Killed and Twelve Wounded. Washington Court House, 0., Oct. 16. —Three men were killed and almost B dozen injured, some fatally, by the ' militia here Wednesday evening in the endeavor to keep mobs from lynching William Dolby, colored. Dolby was brought here on Tuesday, and Tuesday night the first mob rumors took shape. The local militia was ordered out. and later two companies from Columbus reached here. Much indignation was manifested at the aetiua of the officials in thus putting a b:.r between the mob and their prey, and on all sides denunciations were frequent. All classes were represented among those who took this view of the situation, though many deplored the lawless spirit manifested. Later in the day a special grand jury was impannelled and the negro was indicted. The militia companies formed at the west side of the court house while the sheriff and Deputy James Busick went to the jail for the prisoner. Struck Down by a Soldier. The sheriff and his deputies had hardly emerged from the jail door

when the acknowledged leader of the crowd, Henry Kirk, who married Mrs. Boyd 6 sister, rushed toward the trembling wretch, protected by the sworn officers of the law, and breaking the thin ranks of the stalwart guard seized the culprit -with a hand of iron. Quick as a flash the musket of a soldier was swung with great, force and Mr. Kirk was dealt a blow in the face. The angry crowd rushed madly forward and in the rush swept one gallant boy around the corner and away from his company but he quickly returned to his post. The curses and imprecations of the thoroughly maddened crowd grew in volume and the wretched prisoner trembled like an aspen. His saddle color became purple and he had to be supported. Col. Coit rallied his men for a supreme effort and the prisoner was almost carried up the steps and into the courthouse. There was then a scene of intense excitement, men armed with staves and any form of weapon rushed blindly almost onto the bayonets of the soldiery and some so far forgot themselves as to rush almost on the troops. Warned the Mob. Col. Coit, commanding the troops, stopped on the steps of the courthouse to warn the excited people to disperse, and after his earnest warning had fallen ondeaf ears,he shouted: “Load,” and there was a uniform clicking of hammers and every soldier prepared his piece for trouble, if trouble must come. Pleaded Guilty. Once up to the third floor of the courthouse and into the room where the trial is held, Dolby was soon legally declared a criminal. At exactly’ 3:52 he was led into the courtroom, pleaded guilty, and in three minutes he was sentenced to twenty years’ imprisonment, ten days in each year in solitary confinement. Meanwhile the mob was clamoring for admission. The crowd grew in numbers and the accessions proved an inspiration to the tired leaders, who bad exhausted themselves. Called for Reinforcements. Col. Coit at this juncture telephoned the adjutant general at Columbus for 200 additional troops. “If you want me to bring the 'man to Columbus,” said Col. Coit, with characteristic emphasis, “I will do it, but it will cost blood.” Col. Coit then made a speech to the crowd. “It looks very much,” said hie, “as if you intend to make an attack on the legal authorities. There will be trouble if you do. I call on law-abid-ing citizens to disperse and go to tlieir homes.” Attached the Courthouse. Thia was received as other warnings had been. The prisoner had b»><*u laxcti to a brek room in the sheriff's vf.kc :: ; third floor. At 6:10 the

crowd, largely augmented, surrounded the building and with huge improvised battering rams battered the doors in rapid succession. The troops were hastened together in the courthouse at all entrances. The doors were barri- ■ caded from within and furniture piled | against them. The soldiers stood with pieces cocked and bayonets fixed and waited till the doors would yield. Huge stones were thrown against the doors and the noise was deafening. : All the time loud and angry yells came from the crowd. Col. Coit went into the crowd and said: “If any man of you hit one of my men I will direct him to aim directly at that man’s heart.” Fired on the Mob. At 7:55 the south doors were broken and immediately there was a deafening and continuous volley from two score of muskets. A pandemonium of yells and curses and a dense smoke liiled the corridors. The law had been vindicated at frightful cost, for this was the list of dead and of wounded: The Victims. JIH.r.ED- James Judy, aged 25; Smith Welch, . ged It*. and Mack Johnson, of Williamsburg, Clermont county. Wounded- Hugh Ammerman, shot through the hips, dangerous; F. L. Nitterhouse. shot through both ankles, one foot almost severed, since amputated; Rial Parrott, shot in foot: John McCune, shot in leg; John Korn, shot in foot: Emert Ellis, thumb shot off; George Keating, 14 years old. shot in both legs and groin: William Sams, fatally shot through the bowels: Frank Smith, flesh wound in face; DeWitt Dale, shot in arm; William Laum. shot in abdomen: Ellis Webster, shot in body. It was reported at midnight that three attempts had been made to place dynamite under the courthouse. It

was said that a large quantity of the explosive was wheeled to the building in a hand cart, and that the dynamiters were frustrated by the militia in each attempt. The leaders stated at midnight that the plan to lynch Dolby would probably be abandoned but that he would be riddled with bullets when led from the courthouse to the railroad train. Fully two-thirds of the active members of the crowd were armed with revolvers. Dolby Taken to the Penitentiary. Columbus, 0., Oct. 20.—Dolby, the assaulter of Mrs. Mary C. Boyd, was successfully taken from the *county jail at Washington Court House early Thursday morning and brought to the penitentiary under escort of four companies of the Fourteenth regiment. Two More Victims. William Sams and Hugh Ammerman, wounded in the riot, have since died. This increases the death list to five.