OTD in 1894, a company from the Ohio National Guard killed five would-be lynchers who were attacking accused rapist William Jasper Dolby - a 19yo African American man - in Fayette County, Ohio. Dolby had allegedly confessed to the crime & was being held for sentencing.
When Dolby was arrested, a mob had gathered to lynch Dolby, so the Fayette County Sheriff called up the local National Guard company. They were joined that night by more troops sent by Governor William McKinley, intent on ensuring that law was upheld & Dolby kept alive.
On October 17, Dolby was held inside the Fayette County courthouse. Colonel Coit of the OHARNG asked the mob outside the courthouse to disperse, warning that if they breached the doors of the courthouse, he would order his men to fire. His words went unheeded and the mob attacked
The mob engaged in scuffles with Guardsmen then surged through the doors, whereupon Col Coit gave the order & "Immediately there was a deafening & continuous volley from two score of muskets. A pandemonium of yells and curses and a dense smoke filled the corridors"
Five were killed, 20 wounded, & the mob turned their fury on Coit & his troops. But McKinley arrived from Columbus with more troops & restored order. Dolby was put on a train to the state penitentiary in Columbus. He was sentenced to 20 years but was released after 13.
COL Coit was accused of manslaughter & brought to trial, but the jury dismissed it. Governor McKinley said that Coit had done much to get rid of mob rule in Ohio & stated simply: "Lynching cannot be tolerated in Ohio."
