Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 November 1882 — LACERATED LYNCHERS. [ARTICLE]

LACERATED LYNCHERS.

Dreadful Affair at Ashland, Ky., Over Possession of Two Murderers. The Troops Open Fire on the Mob with Fatal Effect. [Telegram from Ashland, Ky.l Wm. Neal and Ellis Craft were convicted some months ago at the | Catlettsburg (Boyd county, Ky.) Circuit Court of the murder of Robert and Fannie Gibbons and Emma Carrier. They were granted a new trial by the Supreme Court George Ellis, an accomplice, who confessed and was sentenced to imprisonment for life, was hanged by a mob at Ashland, last summer. On Monday last Neal and Craft, guarded by 220 State troops, with one section of artillery, arrived at Catlettsburg from Lexington, where they have been held for safekeeping, to stand trial. Yesterday Judge Brown granted a change of venue to Carter county. Last night a mob at Ashland stopped a train on the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad, and searched it for the prisonera This afternoon at 2:30 Sheriff Kountz, with the State troops and prisoners, boarded the steamboat Granite State for Maysville, intending to go thence by rail ‘to Lexington to the jail to confine the prisoners unt 1 trial The mob at Ashland, which is five miles down the river to Catlettsburg, seized a ferryboat and stood out to intercept them. The Granite State, under full headway, steamed around the ferryboat, when, seeing they w<re about to lose their prey.the mob opened fire, which was returned by the troops with fatal effect. The ferryboat party, finding the troops were in earnest, withdrew, with one killed and several wounded. The battle was for several minutes pretty hot, but the steamboat rapidly got away and out of range of the shore in front of the Aldine Hotel. The fire of the troops was severe, the shots passing over the ferryboat and killing five spectators and wounding twenty-one others. Among those ki led was a woman an i an infant in her arms, whose brains were dashed out bv a stray shot. In the m dst of the excitement a runaway team and wagon dashed into the struggling mass of citizens as they fled from the murderous bullets, altogether making a frightful scene. The community is very much excited and threats are made to go to Lexington in force and execute vengeance upon the prisoners. None of the passengers were hurt by the fire of the mob. The following is a partial list of the killed and wounded: Killed—Col. Rippart, George Kener, a child of Henry Dunlap, James McDonald, John Baugh. Seriously wounded Charles Bolinger, Will Charles Bolinger, Wi lies Serrey, Will Springer, Moses Serrey, Gerham Randall and Robert 1 'ritchard. Slightly wounded Mart Dunlap, Alex. Harris, John Gallagher, Julius Sommers, Thomas Bird, Mrs. B. Butler,. A H. Dickson, Thomas Demerera. N. E. B 11, Dr. Gills, Martin Gear, Robert Lowther and J. W. House. CoL Rippart, numbered monr t';e kU ed, was an old and h g ly respected citiz n ot 70-odd years, un verbally lov< d and a favorite of both old and y< ung. He was fntiier-in-law of CoL Douglass Putnam, Jr., Superintendent of the Ashland Coal and Iron Railway Company, and well-known m Marietta circles. Mrs. Butler, numbered among the wounded, was attending a meeting held by the ladies of the town for the purpose of organizing a public reading-room in a room donated for the purpose in the Union depot, which is situated on the river front at least a quarter of a mile below the scene of the shooting. Mrs. Butler is the wife of the Auditor of the Chattaro I railway. Other bullets striking the depot and penetrating the walls caused its occupants to seek healthier quarters. The list of wounded includes all ages and both sexes, and amputations in several cases will be necessary. “How now!” said the Judge to the prisoner, “do you pretend that the witness lies in saying that he knows you intimately?” “Yes, lam net acquainted with him.” “Not acquainted with him?” exclaimed the Judge. “No, lam willing to swear to it. Just ask me his name and see if I am.”