Central Business District in Cincinnati in Hamilton County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Cincinnati Riots of 1884 / Sheriff Morton Lytle Hawkins
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009
1. Cincinnati Riots of 1884 Marker (Side A)
Inscription.
Cincinnati Riots of 1884, also, Sheriff Morton Lytle Hawkins. .
Cincinnati Riots of 1884 . In March 1884, public confidence of Cincinnati law enforcement was extremely low. The public believed that murderers and other serious offenders were not brought to justice promptly or received little punishment. Civil unrest was brought to a boil when a seventeen-year-old was sentenced to only twenty years for manslaughter after brutally murdering his employer. On March 28, 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.,
Sheriff Morton Lytle Hawkins.. On March 28-30, 1884, the Courthouse Riots of 1884 raged in the streets of Cincinnati resulting in death and injury to more than 250 Cincinnatians. A small group of Hamilton County Deputies, led by Sheriff Morton Lytle Hawkins, saved the jail from a complete takeover and successfully protected the lives of all the inmates. Sheriff Hawkins' planning and foresight was largely responsible for this success. Sheriff Hawkins also called upon the Ohio National Guard to help quell the Riots and assisted in deploying the troops. Sheriff Hawkins earned the respect of the citizens for his calm and skillful demeanor throughout the Riots. He also served his state as Ohio Adjutant General and the nation as a volunteer in the Ohio Infantry during the Civil War. He was also a noted newspaperman throughout Ohio.
Cincinnati Riots of 1884
In March 1884, public confidence of Cincinnati law enforcement was extremely low. The public believed that murderers and other serious offenders were not brought to justice promptly or received little punishment. Civil unrest was brought to a boil when a seventeen-year-old was sentenced to only twenty years for manslaughter after brutally murdering his employer. On March 28, 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.
Sheriff Morton Lytle Hawkins.
On March 28-30, 1884, the Courthouse Riots of 1884 raged in the streets of Cincinnati resulting in death and injury to more than 250 Cincinnatians. A small group of Hamilton County Deputies, led by Sheriff Morton Lytle Hawkins, saved the jail from a complete takeover and successfully protected the lives of all the inmates. Sheriff Hawkins' planning and foresight was largely
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responsible for this success. Sheriff Hawkins also called upon the Ohio National Guard to help quell the Riots and assisted in deploying the troops. Sheriff Hawkins earned the respect of the citizens for his calm and skillful demeanor throughout the Riots. He also served his state as Ohio Adjutant General and the nation as a volunteer in the Ohio Infantry during the Civil War. He was also a noted newspaperman throughout Ohio.
Erected 1999 by Ohio Bicentenninal Commission, The Longaberger Company, James Krouse, dba Color Products, Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 19-31.)
Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 39° 6.415′ N, 84° 30.554′ W. Marker was in Cincinnati, Ohio, in Hamilton County. It was in the Central Business District. Marker was at the intersection of Sycamore Street and Court Street, on the left when traveling south on Sycamore Street. Located next to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office and
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009
2. Sheriff Morton Lytle Hawkins Marker (Side B)
Jail. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 1000 Sycamore St, Cincinnati OH 45202, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Grant & Mary Ann Fish, March 7, 2021
5. Marker broken off and missing
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 31, 2009
6. Deputy Phillip J. Pence Memorial
In memory of
Deputy Sheriff Phillip J. Pence
Hamilton County Sheriff's Office
Corrections Division
Died in the line of duty
June 10, 1984
Credits. This page was last revised on February 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 15, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,667 times since then and 46 times this year. Last updated on March 9, 2021, by Grant & Mary Ann Fish of Galloway, Ohio. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 15, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 5. submitted on March 9, 2021, by Grant & Mary Ann Fish of Galloway, Ohio. 6. submitted on November 15, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
