Escape from a mob in Columbus Ohio

In the Akron daily Democrat, September 16, 1901, Page 8, an article appeared, entitled Gone West:

Editor of the Press-Post in Full Flight

Columbus O., Sept. 16 [1901] -(Spl.)-

Clarence Jones, formerly editor of the Press-Post, who said things editorially about McKinley and escaped a mob Saturday night is now speeding West, destination unknown. His brother, Ellis Jones, says Clarence has retired and he (Ellis) will now do the editing for the paper.

You can see this page in Chronicling America at http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84028140/1901-09-16/ed-1/seq-8/

What caused all this fuss you may ask? "Intemperate utterances" in the aftermath of the Assassination of William McKinley. The Washington Times, September 15, 1901 has the story:

MOB THREATENS EDITOR

Police Needed to Escort a Columbus Newspaper Man

COLUMBUS Ohio Sept. 14 [1901]

The police rescued Clarence M. Jones editor and proprietor of the “Press Post”, a Democratic paper of the city from a mob which besieged his office at 6 o’clock this evening and took him to the home of his mother In East Broad Street

Because of intemperate utterances which appeared in three editions of his paper today, and which are insults to the memory of the dead President a mob of several thousand began to assemble In front of the “Press Post” office soon after the third edition appeared on the streets at 4 o clock. Members of the mob grabbed papers from the newsboys and bought as many as they could from newsstands heaped them up in front of the office and made a fire.

While the mob was shouting and threatening outside, the proprietor who was almost alone in the building sat at his desk In fear. Finally he telephoned for police protection and a carriage. Both arrived at about the same time Chief Tyler with thirty policemen forced his way to the building. Between two rows of stalwart policemen, Jones was brought out and while the crowd hooted cursed and hissed he, was put Into the cab and hurriedly driven away.

Jones utterances today were the most inexplicable of his erratic course as editor of what he himself has called “that queer paper”.

Today the principal headline of the noon edition was a vicious paraphrase of the President’s last words. It reads:

“His last words to his loving wife are said to have been these to wit” ‘lt’s the devil’s own way of trying to circumvent God, amen.’”

On the editorial page in bold faced type was this:

“The spirit of William McKinley, twenty-fifth President of the United States of America has flown to Its white house in the the skies. Requiescat in pace. May it never be impelled to wage merciless war on the spirits of innocent Filipino patriots.”

These and more rabid expressions excited comment following the appearance of the noon edition and on their repetition in subsequent editions indignation became widespread with the above result. Before leaving the scene of the disturbance Chief Tyler locked the doors of the “Press Post” building and said to the mob:

“As you can see the building is dark. No one is inside. I give you my word of honor the “Press Post” will not resume publication. It is understood he was authorized to make this promise by Jones.

 I wonder how often newspapers are threatened by mobs any more. "Intemperate utterances" seem pretty common

[With thanks for research assistance to EOJ]