Pike County Press

JUDGE LYNCH IN OHIO
TWO OF THE MOB KILLED AND SEVERAL INJURED BY MILITIAMEN.
After a Desperate Struggle Indignant Citizens Succeed In Lynching Mitchell, Who Assaulted Mrs. Gaumer—The Sheriff Stealthily Leaves the Town.

Urbana, O., June 5.—Fifteen persons have been made the victims of a colored brute's heinous crime. Two were killed and 11 wounded by militiamen. Charles alias Click Mitchell, the cause of it all, was lynched and nearly torn to pieces by a mob, and Mrs. Elizabeth Gaumer, whom the negro assaulted is in a serious condition and may die.
The killed are:
Harry Bell of Urbana, shot through the head.
Upton Baker of Salem township, a farmer, shot through the body.

The Story of the Crime
One week ago Mrs. Eliza Gaumer was assaulted by Mitchell at her home in this city, near the courthouse.
The negro was first held for robbery, but on last Wednesday was arraigned for criminal assault. Mrs. Gaumer was unable to appear in court, and the hearing was held at her home. As Mitchell entered her room she exclaimed: "The brute! Hang him! How dare you face me again, you brute!"
Soon after the identification Wednesday at Mrs. Gaumer's home there was talk of lynching. Crowds surrounded the jail that night, and the sheriff and the local militia had trouble in protecting the prisoner. Thursday a grand jury was impaneled, and it soon returned an indictment for criminal assault. Mitchell, disguised in a soldier's uniform, was brought from jail into court. He waived the reading of the indictment, pleaded guilty and was promptly sentenced to 20 years in the penitentiary, the maximum punishment for his crime. An attempt was made to take Mitchell to Columbus, but the crowds which had gathered about the courthouse made a rush for the jail when the wagon drew up. The militia drove them back, but the mob increased in numbers and grew more threatening. Sheriff McLean and the troops had all they could do to hold the jail, and the trip to Columbus was given up before the departure of the last train.

The Attack on the Jail.
Early yesterday morning an attack was made on the jail, and the military began firing. Over 20 volleys were poured into the crowd. The mob was repulsed, leaving four killed and 10 wounded. The range was close, but the soldiers fired wildly. Of the killed and wounded, nearly all were on the outskirts of the mass of men. Those immediately in a direct line of fire escaped. The volley drove the crowd back a little way, and it was found that two men, named Higgins and Bell, had been instantly killed. When their bodies were picked up in the courthouse square, it made the crowd furious.
After the dead and wounded were cared for the crowd rallied and made a second and this time successful attempt to capture the prisoner. The local militia had been on duty two nights, and they did no more shooting. The mob then broke for the jail. No force was needed, as Sheriff McLean delivered the keys, and the crowd soon found Mitchell's cell. Throwing a rope over the trembling wretch's head, he was dragged out, receiving some kicks and blows. When the outer door was reached, the noose slipped off, and Sylvester Zimmerman tied it so securely as to receive the cheers of the crowd.
The rope was thrown over one of the limbs of a tree in the courthouse yard, Mitchell was jerked up until his head struck the limb and his neck was broken, and then his body dropped to the ground. The crowd repeated the jerking several times until they were sure he was dead. While the body of Mitchell was lying on the ground hundreds crowded about to see it. The colored people were greatly excited. They had previously met and adopted resolutions for the punishment of Mitchell, but many of them offered the opinion that he was not guilty. Women and children, as well as a multitude of men, witnessed the lynching, which occurred in broad daylight. There was no attempt at disguise or secrecy.