The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-11
Five Thousand People Gather
and Threaten Vengeance.
MURDERER ESCAPES.
Assault Takes Place Near ''The
Bloody Corner.
The Manila Celebration Came
Near Ending in More "Manila."
This Quarrel Has Gone Far
Enough, Topeka People Say.

Private Frank E. Morgan was cut in
the throat with a razor at o'clock last
evening by an unknown negro. That
he will recover is no fault of his as
sailant for the keen blade was aimed
at the jugular vein and only missed it
by hairs breadth.
The assault was provoked by the ne
gro according to the story told by the
witnesses. Frank Morgan, with his
brother Ed and his cousin James Nor
gan, were walking west on Seventh
street when they noticed that a heavy
set colored man was following them.
Ed Morgan turned around and asked
the negro to keep away. In return the
man, who was evidently on the look
out for soldiers called the man who ad-
dressed him vile name. Ed Morgan
struck the negro who returned the
blow. Then Frank Morgan stepped for
ward with the intention. he says, of
separating the men but he had hardly
taken step when the blade of a razor
flashed in the negro's hand and it de-
scended on Frank Morgan'S neck. A
second time the murderous black slash
ed with the razor and this blow severed
the lower part of the ear and laid open
the cheek. Frank Morgan put his hand
to his neck and the blood spurted be-
tween his fingers. 81 am cut" said he,
in a faint voice. FI am hurt bad, take
me away He staggered into Stans-
fields drug store with the assistance of
his brother and cousin and Patrolman
Jenkins, who came up ran for a doc
tor and DR.. Long came instantly and
stopped the flow of blood.
AS soon as the negro was satisfied
that he had done his work we'll he
turned and ran east on Seventh street
to the first alley where he turned north,
closely followed by Robert Hitchcock
and two other men. Patrolman Close
was attracted by the noise and saw the
men running and he Joined in the
chase. The negro turned east on Sixth
street and the patter of his feet could
be heard on the pavement but he dis
tanced his pursuers and ran under the
'viaduct and disappeared.
In the meantime all was excitement
near the scene of the assault. Hun
dredS of excited men and many women,
strangely enough, gathered around the
drug store vowing vengeance. Hang
him, hang him." shouted some one and
the cry was taken up by the crowd and
the street echoed with the ominous
here and there on the look out for the
negro.
4 half hour after the cutting, when
the wounded man had been taken to
Christ hospital in an ambulance, a
squad of soldiers with fixed bayOnets
marched up Seventh street on double
quick time. They were in command of
Lieutenant Huddleston.
'They are after them, they are after
them,'' was the cry heard on all sides.
The soldiers were really after strag-
front of Stansffeld's drug store and pre-
sented arms while an officer entered the
store to inquire if any soldiers We're in
there. Then they went on down KAN
sas avenue, stopping now and then to
take a volunteer with them, followed
everywhere by the widest demonstra-
tions. The cheering was tremendous
and continuous. Three thousand peo-
pie shouted at the sight of the men as
if they had just returned from some
victory.
Thousands came running from all the
nearer parts of the city and the throng
extended for two blocks. Mixed with
the moving thousands were scores of
buggieS and carriages, the occupants
ond story windows were filled with
heads and the shout was redoubfed.
Clean 'em out, clean 'em out" 1t was
about that Smoky Row was
to be burned and it needed only some
serious incident to turn the masses of
whites into a bloodthirsty power wredk-
ing vengeance.
The provost guard finally collected
all the stragglers it could and returned
to the camp and hundreds of men were
standing around on the street corners
discussing the events of the evening
when the patrol wagon was seen to
cross Kansas avenue going toward the
police station.
There he goes, the police have got
him" was the cry of the excited peo-
pie and soon Kansas avenue was again
filled with men, young and old, all
rushing excitedly toward the police
station.
In less. time than it can be told a
crowd of thousands had blocked the
street around the police station and in
a few minutes the mum berS were aug
nented until the streets adjacent to tie
police HEADQUARTERS were a mass of