Louisville (Kentucky) Democrat: John Haskell arrested for “forcible sodomy”, February 28, 1860
The New York Times of March 2, 1860, reprints a story from the Louisville [Kentucky] Democrat dated February 28, 1860. The Times headline referring to this story is: "The Louisville Riot. A MOB REPELLED BY COLD WATER--GREAT EXCITEMENT.”
From the Louisville Democrat, Feb. 28 [1860].
On Saturday the perpetrator of forcible sodomy on three little boys, sons of respectable citizens, was arrested. His name is JOHN HASKELL. He is an Englishman, about 42 years of age. He has been a sailor, lived at on time in Massachusetts, but recently came here from New-Orleans.
[Space added by OutHistory editor.]
About the time the City Court convened an excited crowd gathered at the Court-house, and threats were freely made that HASKELL should be strung up on one of the neighboring trees. But he was kept in jail. The crowd augmented, and Jefferson-street in front of the jail was lifted with people who only waited for a leader to commence the assault and wreak summary vengeance upon the beastly HASKELL.
[Space added by OutHistory editor.]
The Mayor ordered out the stream engine, deposited next door to the jail, and the stream thrown from it drove back the crowd. The people took it all in good part, but as soon as the engine ceased working, again closed in around the jail inclosure.
[Space added by OutHistory editor.]
Two cannon were taken Into the jail and loaded with grape to defend the door in case of an assault. The conduct of the officers was firm, and at the same time cool and considerate. Their boldness and preparations in a degree awed the multitude, which, however, gradually increased as the afternoon wore away.
[Space added by OutHistory editor.]
Judge BULLOCK, one of the prosecuting attorneys, addressed the mob, advising moderation and quiet. He appealed to the crowd to let the law take its course, and stated that the penalty was certain to be inflicted to the extreme of the law. He was listened to without demonstration, and his remarks evidently had a salutary effect. But the feeling was still one of indignation against HASKELL, and, in some degree, against the authorities for shielding the criminal. "But this feeling was obtained only among the more turbulent and hot-headed.
[Space added by OutHistory editor.]
The Citizen Guards, National Blues, and a few volunteers were early in readiness tor duty. As night fell, the crowd, seeing that an attempt at rescue would be ineffectual, gradually dispersed, and, at the present writing, 11 o'clock very few remain of the thousands who had thronged the vicinity of the jail.[1]
Notes
- ↑ “The Reported Robbery in a Public Store; A Card. The Louisville Riot. A MOB REPELLED BY COLD WATER--GREAT EXCITEMENT.” New York Times, March 2, 1860.
<comments />
