This Day in History: A mob in Cincinnati, Ohio, attacked members of a jury which had returned a verdict of manslaughter on this day in 1884. Over the next few days the mob would riot and eventually destroy the courthouse.
The Cincinnati riots of 1884, also known as the Cincinnati Courthouse riots, were caused by public outrage over the decision of a jury to return a verdict of manslaughter in what was seen as a clear case of murder. A mob in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, attempted to find and lynch the perpetrator. In the violence that followed over the next few days, more than 50 people died and the courthouse was destroyed. It was one of the most destructive riots in American history.
"The event that precipitated the riot was the murder trial of William Berner. In a high profile case, Berner stood accused of beating his employer to death in the act of stealing $285. When the jury convicted him of manslaughter, instead of murder, the judge called the decision 'a damned outrage' and the irate crowd packing the courtroom threatened to lynch the jury." Source
"...thousands of citizens stormed the county jail and courthouse. The riots lasted three days requiring forces from the Sheriff's Office, city police, and local and state militia to restore order. Fifty-four people were killed and more than 200 wounded. The courthouse and jail suffered enormous damage, and valuable records were destroyed from the assault and fire. The riot gained international notoriety and helped pave the way for removal of political favoritism and a larger police force." Source
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