In 400, or thereabouts, in St. Augustine's see of Hippo, a 'miles', a soldier, probably a kind of police officer, did something very bad. He probably killed someone. The town went nuts and rioted and they lynched him. The mob is still howling for more vengeance. It is, apparently, ongoing. One of the things that Augustine reaffirms is that mobs do not have authority and that every is going to render an account of their part in the riots. He gives concrete advise about how to shut down the violence, keep it from erupting again.
Fr. Z’s Blog HERE