Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 December 1888 — A MOB REPULSED. [ARTICLE]

A MOB REPULSED.

But Only After Many People ace, .. Killed and Injured. A T-rrlble Affair at Blrminghom, Alabama- -Nine M-a Killed and Score* lo-jurert.--A teo.pt t<» Xynch an Alleged Murderer Result* in a Terrible Conflict. A mob at Birmingham, Ala., at midnight on the Bth attempted to take Henry Hawes from the jail to lynch him. The crime of Henry Hawes was the supposed murder of his wife and twenty-year-pld daughter. The body of the daughter was found about a week ago in a pond with the throat cut and weights*-attached to the limbs. Suspicion at*first attached to a negro, but he proved his innocence. Later it was discovered that the wife of Hawes was also missing and search failed to reveal her whereabouts. A few days ago it was said that Hawes was about to leave the country with another woman, with whom he had been accused of being on intimate terms, and he was arrested and placed in jail. From this time suspicion was directed toward Hawes, and threats of lynching him on slightest proof of his guilt had been freely made. The finding of the body of his wife on the Bth inflamed'the people and the attack of the mob on the jail, was the result. Although nothing but circumstantial, all evidence against him, so far, points strongly to his guilt. It is said, that another child of his has disapeared, and it is feared has been murdered. The feeling against Hawes became intensely bitter, and the jail in which he was secured was surrounded by a strong guard. A mob advanced on the jail at midnight on the Bth. As they aporoached the alley way leading to the jail the officers inside called on them to halt, which they did not do. The officers then fired with Winchesters and pistols, and the firing was terrine,,, for fifteen minutes on both sides. None of the officers were injured, but over forty of the mob were killed and wounded. Of these eight died within a few hours, i. e. M. B. Throckmorton, postmaster and a prominent and popular citizen; an unknown negro; J. R. McCoy; A. B. Tarrant was shot in the back. After the first volley he laid down on the ground with the hope of avoiding the flying balls. Fat/would not have it so, however, and a ball struck him as he lay On his face, and ranged up the back. After a few minutes suffering he died. A. D. Bryant was shot through the heart. He was standing rather near the front, and was doing his best to retain the crowd from going any nearer. He fell at the first volley and died instantly. C. U. Pate; Culbert Smith, Lawrence Bitybugh and several who are undoubtedly fatally hurt. Mr. Throckmorton, was 'endeavoring to persuade the mob to disperse. Adolph Shiebe, of the Louisville A Nashville railroad, was also fatally wounded in the neck. The patrol wagon carted off the dead and wounded to the hospital The firing was commenced by the police, but equally as many shots were fired by the mob. Over five hundred rounds were fired. Inside the jail the bullets fired by the mob whistled around those confined there. No doctors could be found and the suffering of the wounded was terrible. Hawes was indifferent throughout the riot and claims to know nothing of the crime. The sheriff thought it would be best to remove Hawes to Montgomery, and tie was asked if he would be willing to don the uniform of a policeman and walk through the streets to the depot. He studied amoment, and then asked if the jail was guarded. When told that it was, he replied that he would prefer to remain in his cell rather than take the risk- of showing his face on the street. The citizens are utterly dumbfounded at the terrible outcome of the affair, and Sheriff Smith is strongly cenl- - for his hasty action. The prisoner, Hawes, said: “Yes, I know what the shooting meant. That crowd wan ted my life, and they can have it.” There were fully 15,0 0 people congregated on the streets and a report that Postmaster Throckmorton was dead increased the excitement of the crowd to almost frenzy. AFTER THE STORM. Great excitement was caused by the funeral cortege, which passed though a principal highway on the 9th, of the victims of the affray. The lengthy pr 'cession was headed Cy a brass band playing solemn dirges. The postoffice building was draped in mourning and makes mute appeal to every passer. The military were called upon to arrest Sheriff Smith and others implicated, but this was refused, and finallv a citizen went before a justice of the peace and swore out a warrant for the arrest of Smith and his deputies on the charge of muder. This was served by the coroner t who found Smith in jail, and tne coroner himself took charge of the jail, and in his custody that institution is at present. During the dayXOt Peyton Bibb, who is in i hicago, fdvfted that the military take Smith and Hawes out of jail and carry them to Montgomery, away from tne scenes of the riot, and for their sate keeping. This was not acceded to by the officer in charge, there being no civil steps to that end advised. The jail was guarded on the 9th and 10th by fifteen military com nan if*s. AH saloons and drug stores were ordered dosed until further nbtice. An address to the people signed by many prominent citizens called upon the people to maintain law. The address says: “We do not propose to discuss, now or here, the question as to whether the officers erred in the manner of discharging their duty or as to whether they were hasty. We do know that they h d no sympathy for the men they were defending, but acte i as vindicators of the law. We address ourselves to the future, not the past, and we appeal to every good citizen to commend law, order ami peace, to repress all attempts to excite popular indignation, and to refrain from assembling ofi the streets. The good name of our city,your own security, and that of your wives and children, counsel most strongly the strict observance of law.” SHERIFF SMITH. .. In an interview Sheriff Smith said: “We begged and pleaded with the crowd to keep back, and they fired the first shots. Several shots were fired bv the crowd before I gave orders to fire." We begged them to halt at the mouth Of the alley, and still they kept coming on. We begged them to go back, and time and again warned them that we would shoot, but they would not listen to us. They came half way up the alley close to the jail door and were shouting,

‘Blow up the jail with dynamite.’ After all this, and they had opened Are, I §aye the ordei; to fire. They continued ring after we ceased. I feel that we could not have done anything else under the circumstancee, and I deeply regret the necessity.” Police Cbief Picard said: - “I don’t see how we could have done anything else under the circumstances, but I never regretted anything in my life so much as I -did the unfortunate necessity. We repeatedly warned them to keep back, and told them we would shoot if they continued to advance. I was inside the jail and heard a shot fired on the outside before Sheriff Smith gave the order to fire. I don’t know who fired this shot, whether some one in the crowd or one of the officers, as I was in a position Where 1 could not see the flash. l am not used to crying, but when the terrible affair was over I cried like a baby—l could not help it.” Tbe f officers who.took part in the affair stood in small groups and talked of it in subdr ed tones. It was a terrible exSierience, and one they will not soon orget. WASHINGTON NOTES Jehu Baker will contest the election of Congressman Foreman. The Republican National Committee will probably establish permanent headquarters at Washington City. Congressman Mi Is has been compelled to leave Washing on on account of bad health, the result of over-work. A bill was introduced in the house on the 11th granting pensions to soldiers apd sailors (or their *idows) over sixty years of age. The rate provided for is sl2 per month. The Bouse Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds has decided to report favorably a bill appropriating $60,000 for the erection of a public building at South Bend. The House Committee on Invalid Pensions has authorized a favorable report on the Senate bill granting a pension of $3,5i 0 per year to the widow of the late General Sheridan. There is unfriendly feeling between J. H. Walsh acting assistant Treasurer of the United States, and Secretary Fairchild. As a result Mr. Walsh is now not in the Treasury department. It is said that the Inter- ■ tate Commerce committee has already found evidence enough to convict every Western road of wholesale violation of the inter-state law in the matter of cutting rates. The Welsh choral societies of the anthracite coal region have decided to form one immense choir of 500 voices, to sing in Washington on the day of Harrison’s inauguration as President. Dakota Democrats are anxious that Dakota should be adn itted to Statehood by the present Congress. They have called a mass meeting for Dec. 20tn to advance this object. It is believed that all the prominent Democrats in the Territory -will join in the movement. Senator Farwell has introduced a bill providing that, instead of the amounts now paid, the salaries of the Chief Justice and Associate Justices of ,the Supreme Court of the United States shall be as follows: Chief Justice, $20,500; each Associate Justice, $20,0 rt). Judge Edgerton left Washington on the 1' th and it is rumored that previous to his departure he handed in his resignation, as a membor of the Civil Service Commission. He was not at all satisfied with the Civil Service law and attributes the defeat of Mr. Cleveland to its too strict enforcement. The railway mail clerks are interested in the recent order of the President placing that branch of the public service under the classified civil service regulations. It gives them some assurance of retention. There has not been a change in the Indianapolis division, composed of about 250 clerks, since the election. Rear Admiral Luce, commanding the North Atlanticsqadron,isto proceed at once to Hayti, and request the release of the American steamer Ha-tian Republic. If the authorities refuse to surrender her, he is to seize tLe vessel by force of arms. This means that someboily, either Hayti ori the United States, is liable to get whipped. Mr. of Indiana 1 introduced in the House, on the 10th a-iAsolut on to investigate the charges that large, sums of money had been contributed for the purpose of controlling the recentelection of President and VicePresident and asked for its immediate consideration. Wilkins, of- Ohio, and Weaver of lowa, objected, and the matter was referred under the rules. Matthew S. Quay, and Senators Cameron, Plumb, Perkins and Farwell made a call on ex-Senator Mahone at Petersburg, Va., on the 9th and remained until the If th. The conference was long and confidential but the real object has not as yet been made known. The general belief is that the gentlemen were desirous of getting information as to tne political outlook in Virginia and the South. - ’;■> Secretary Whitney, Friday, issued orders directing that the United States steamer Ri hmond, now at the Brooklyn Navy Yards be made ready for sea at one®.. Rear Admiral Gherardi will command the squadron, and as soon as ready will proceed to Hayti. He will be instructed to take no part in the trouble going on there between the followers of General Legitimer and those from the northern sections of that island, but will content himself with seeing that the American interests are protected. A bill introduced in the House on the Kth by Mr. Howard, of. Indiana, punching crime against the elective franchise, makes. it unlawful for any person to receive money or othe r valuable consideration for his vote at any election for representatives in Congress. The payment of money for the vote of any person at such election is also declared unlawful. Any person violating either of these provisions shall upon conviction, be disfranchised for a period of not less than six or more than ten years, and for such period shall be disqualified from holding any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States, provided that in all prosecutions under this act against the person having been bribed, t»e accused may, with the consent of the p osecuting attorney, be exempted from the prosecution by’ making known the person who gave or 1 promised the bribe. Since Anarchist Hronek’s conviction | at Chicago, Governor Oglesby has received threatening letters similar to those received after the conviction of Spies and the other anarchists.