The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-12-05
ST. LOUIS NEGROES WOULD
wREAK VENGEANCE ON ONE
OF THEIR RACE.
DECISIVE POLICE ACTION SAVED HIM
A Mob of 500 Negro Men and Women
Gathered at the Four Courts to
Lynch Negro Who Murdered
His Mistress.

st. Louis, Nov. 30.-Right under the
shadow of the four courts, within a
stones throw of police headquarters, AL
exander Royal, the colored man who bru-
tally murdered his mistress, Jessie Sims,
on the morning of Thanksgiving day,
narrowly escaped being lynched today by
mob of about 500 men and women of
his own race.
Richard Thomas, the murdered wom-
ms uncle, led the mob, and but for the
prompt and decisive action of the police
he would have suffered death. Royal
Was captured in East st. Louis Friday
night and was brought here and lodged
in Jail. M Hrs c
The inquest on the body of his victim
was set for IL o'clock this forenoon.
About an hour prior to that time Deputy
Coroner Lloyd started with the prisoner,
witnesses and jury for the morgue,
which is another corner of the four
courts, diagonally across from the coro-
ner's office, to swear them over the body
of the murdered woman. .a i}as
Royal led the procession in the custody
of Officers Corrigan and Callihan.) A
crowd of negroes of both sexes, many of
whom knew the prisoner and his victim
during her life, had congregated in the
street in front of the coroner's Office to
get look at the murderer when ne was
brought back. AS Royal and his escorts
emerged from the Office an ominous
growl went up from the crowd which
caused the prisoner to edge closer to his
blue-coated guardians. He had proceed
ed about 200 feet ON his journey to the
morgue when the pent up fury of the me-
groes broke forth. Yelling at the top of
fhnir GILL ha MI " al,
him." "shoot him." the mob surged
around the murderer. The officers drew
their clubs and ordered the mob back
but the enraged men and women pressed
closer to the prisoner, demanding that he
be turned over to them. Those of the
crowd who could not get close to the
prisoner contented themselves by throw.
ing sticks and stones at him. Royal, who
was helpless from fright, begged piteous.
ly for protection.
The officers then drew their revolvers
which they pointed at the leaders of the
crowd, causing them to halt. With Their
pistols still levelled, the officers held the
mob at bay, and dragging their prisoner
succeeded in landing him safely in the
morgue. -s#sa5
When the morgue closed behind him
the fury of the mob again broke loose
They stormed the building and, pounding
and kicking at the door, loudly demanded
admittance. Superintendent of tn.
MOrgue Mack telephoned around the
corner to police headquarters for as
sistance. Chief of Detectives Desmond
and about dozen of his men and Cap
tain O'Mailey with about 20 officers ar
, arrived on the scene almost instantly
The rioters saw the reinforcements ant
| fell back. With muttered curses ant
threats against the murderer they slowly
walked up the street and again took theil
stand in front of the coroner's office
| When the prisoner was taken back NJ
! hostile demonstration was made, as h,
was escorted by a strong guard of pc
lice.
| After the inquest, which resulted il
holding Royal responsible for the won
ans death, was concluded and the pris
Oner again turned over the mob disap
| peared.