The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-12-07
REIGN OF THE MOB.
Birmingham, Alabama, in the Hands
of an Angry Mob.
An Attempt to Lynch a Prisoner
Fooled by the OfTicers---TrOops
Called Out---The MOb's
Threats.


BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Dec. For three
days the streets of Birmingham have been
in charge of an angry mob, whose conduct
became so riotous that an appeal had to be
made to the governor for troops. Eight hun
dred men of the Second Alabama regi-
ment, under command of Col Jones, were
put in charge of the city, and
all day long details of. men
have been marching up and down the
streets to disperse the assembling crowds.
Two weeks ago Louis Houston, colored, was
lynched on the public square for an at
tempted outrage upon a white woman who
had recently arrived from the north This
action, incensed the negroes, who held that
the Identification of the prisoner was-not suf-
ficient; that courts had full power to punish
crime and that the color Of the victim was his
chief fault The Indignation became of such
a character as to arouse the hostility of the
whites. While this feeling of hostility was at
its higest point a rumor reached the city that
a crime of a similar character. but far more
revolving in its details, had been perpetrated
by Wesley Posey, colored, upon a year-old
daughter of James Boyle The rumor proved
to be true, and an alarm was given and
search began at once for the negro. Wesley
Posey has lived near Boyle's house for three
years, and the little girl knew him well He
is 40 years old and nearly blind
Late in the afternoon the streets began to
fill up with knots of men. many of the faces
being unfamiliar in the city. 1t was soon
discovered that the lynchingo of Wesley Posey
was the object of the gathering crowd. Just
at dark man stepped out in the middle of
Second avenue and the intersection of TWEEN
tieth street and began making speech. In
three minutes he was surrounded by a crowd
of 800 men. Thh Speaker told the crowd ii
was their duty to protect Innocent females
from the ffendish brutes that infest the coun-
try. The mob moved at once to the Jail,
where they were held at bay by the Bir1ning-
ham rifles for few moments.
The Rifles we're ordered into the Jail, and
as soon rs the jail doors were barred the mob
proceeded to break them down. After effect
ing an entrance search was made for Posey,
but he was nowhere to be found. The mob
next repaired to the court house and made
thorough search of the building. even to the
steeple. Failing to find P9sey there they
marched to the city prison and
searched it throughout, but with nc,
better result. The officers at the
Jail, hearing of the approach OF
the mob, slipped the prisoner out and con
cealed him effectually. All through the
night the mob held the city. When tine cir
cult court convened the mob gathered around
the court house to the number of 800 or 900
and swore they Would hang Posey or the
officers who had concealed him Judge Spratt
| on ascending the bench said the law must be
maintained and that the negro must have a
trial as the law directed. He suggested that
a citizens meeting be called and decide what
action should be taken.
I The court then took a recess and notice
| was given that citiZsns meeting was called.
| In twenty minutes fully 900 persons gath
cred in the court room, the majority being
from the mines in the surrounding country
/ and railroad men, When the meeting was
organized committee of ten was appointed
| to draw up resolutions Th9 committee re-
ported, saying that the crime with which the
| prisoner was charged must be punished by
death, but that he must be tried by due course
| of law, and that the grand jury must
| indict those who broke into the iail
with intent to lynch. The majority of the
meeting was composed of the men who>at-
tempted the lynching, and the report Ell.
ragged them. Excited shouts of Hang him
| Hang himl Burn him!" were heard through
out the hall. The resolutions were recon-
mitted, and new set offered, savf1nE that il
the judge would agree to give Posey's cas-
precedence over all others ON the docket. ant
that he should be tried this week, no further
. | oft xuNt,1I no r1aAo FOL x-,,nh
was adopted and the meeting adjourned witt
the understanding that Posey would be ar
raigned at o'clock.
During all this time great excitement pre-
vailed throughout the city. The Judge, see
ing that many of the mob were drunk ant
unreasonable, decided not to have the negr,
arraigned but telegraphed Gov O'Nei
for troops to quell the impending riot and t,
preserve the peace. The news that the iudg
had sent for troops infatuated the mob still
more, and at one time they had full sway bu
they failed to find the negro, who had beel
concealed several miles in the woods Tn
Birmingham rifles and the jefferson count
artillery were ordered out again, and at
o'clock were REINFORCED by two companie
sent on a special train from Montgomery I'LL
der command of Col Jones' Bodies O
rioters made night hideous with yells. Troop
arriving from Montgomery, Tu.
cumbia, Opelika, and other places during tn
night and were taken in command b
Col Jones. who at dayIph
had under orders 500 men, placed so as
command the town. Three companies WEI
sent out to Village Creek, where Posey we
secreted, and, forming hollow square aroun
him, marched him to the city at oclocl
when he was arranged in court and his tri,
set for Friday. The court appointed exc
Cobb, NJ. 7. Porter, and R. H. Pearson to d,
fend him. If convicted the military will tax
/, him to Montgomery for safe keeping until IL
day Of execution.
The grand jury found true bills against IL
men who led the lynching party. Rumol
! are rife that the mob enraged at Juds
!. Spratt and the sheriff for calling in the aid {
!. military, has expressed the intention {
= lynching them. A stranger calling himse
> the Carolina Rice Bird" has made himsc
! prominent by appeals to the mob on tt
u street-corners