Cincinnati Riots of 1884 / Sheriff Morton Lytle Hawkins

In March 1884, public confidence in Cincinnati law enforcement was extremely low because many believed murderers and other serious offenders were not brought to justice promptly or received little punishment. Civil unrest reached a crisis 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, and riots lasted three days before forces from the Sheriff's Office, city police, and local and state militia restored order. Fifty-four people were killed, more than 200 were wounded, the courthouse and jail suffered enormous damage, and valuable records were destroyed in the assault and fire. The riot gained international notoriety and helped pave the way for the removal of political favoritism and a larger police force. During March 28-30, 1884, a small group of Hamilton County deputies led by Sheriff Morton Lytle Hawkins saved the jail from a complete takeover and protected the lives of all the inmates. Hawkins' planning and foresight were largely responsible for this success, and he also called upon the Ohio National Guard to help quell the riots and assisted in deploying the troops. He earned the respect of Cincinnati's citizens for his calm and skillful demeanor throughout the riots, and he also served Ohio as adjutant general, the nation as a volunteer in the Ohio Infantry during the Civil War, and worked as a noted newspaperman throughout Ohio.

Cincinnati, Ohio · United States