The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-12-13
MOB VIOLENCE.
The Birmingham Jail Attacked by
5000 Infatuated Citizens.
Shsrifrs Posse Opens a,Fusils de. KILL
ing Nine Persons.
The Chief of Police, Sheriff and Other
Arrested for Murder.
Two Companies Of Militia go to
BeVier to QueII the Riot.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Dec. 10.-The
situation is grave, and while all good
citizens hope for the best, the outlook
is not reassuring. The Halves murder
mystery is almost forgotten since the
greater horror of Saturday night, when
three thousand men gathered in the
: vicinity of the jail, intent on lgnchiBg
Dick Halves. The mob seemed with
out leader, but things looked very
squally. One hundred armed officers
were inside the jail, ready to make a
desperate resistance. The mob adj
vanced on the jail about u O'Clock and
the officers opened fire, with terrible
effect. Nine men were killed outright,
and large number were wounded.
Among the badly wounded were ID. N.
Childs. a prominent merchant. and NJ.
Il. Throckmorton, postmaster. Terri
BILE excitement prevailed, and he-miii-
tary were armed as fast as possible.
Colonel James, colonel commanding
the troops is reported TO have said that
he feared violence to Sheriff Smith
more than h6 did any further attempt
to lynch-Hawes. Sheriff Smith and
David Pruitt one of his chief deputies,
have been arrested on warrants in
charging them with murder. Warrants
for number of the other officers have
been sworn out, but have not yet been
served. The statements of the officers
and those men, who were in the crowd
are very conflicting. The people who
were in the crowd say the officers fired
first and that no one was making an
advance when the first volley WAS fired.
They claim also that the officers contin-
ued to shoot while the crowd was rum
ming away, and several men were hit in
the back, On the other hand the sher-
if says number4of shots were fired
from the crowd after the officers ceased
firing. Smith was arrested by Coroner
Babbitt on warrant issued by a JUS
tice of the peace. The affidavit was
made by J. M. McMasters, n we'll
known attorney. Col. Jones last even
ing received the following letter from
Governor Seay: Mote what you hear
about the arrest of the sheriff. Accord
ing to reports which have reached me
the sheriff performed his duty. Advise
me of the state of the proceedings
against him and ask him to send me
ma any report he may desire to make
by wire.
(Signed) THOMAS SEAY, Gov'r."
The chief of police was also arrested
last night on the charge of murder.
Coroner Babbitt made the arrest and
took charge of the sberiff's office. He
has placed Chief Deputy Truss in
charge of the Office for the present.
Yesterday afternoon the news spread
that 500 miners from the Pratt
mines, about five miles from city,
would after dask march to this city
armed with guns, pistols and dvna-
mite cartridges and with the increase
to their ranks that was expected as
sault the soldiers and with dynamite
blow to atoms the jail. That snch
will be attempted is expected even by
the military though II successful
finale is not anticipated. Colonel
Jones said at six o'clock that the sol
diers would be duly notified by scouts
of the approach of the mob. He
feared some disturbance but believed
that with the force at his command he
could make "A successful resistance.
The address issued this morning by a
meeting of citizens to the citizens of
Birmingham says. among other things:
There are some things as sacred as
life itself, and one of them is the main
tenance of the laws made to protect
life and honor and virtue. Without
orderly observance of the laws of the
land no man. no woman. no child is
safe. Public Indignation at outrageous
crimes is natural, but ut the same time
the law should visit the righteous pen
atty. 1t must not be said that in the
great city of Birmingham a criminal
cannot be arrested and have a fair
trial. We appeal to every good citizen
To commend law, order and peace; to
repress all attempts to excite popular
indignation, and to refrain from assem-
bling on the streets. The good name
of our city, your own security and that
of your wives and children. counsel
most strongly the strict observance of
law.f'