The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-07-13
Kansas City in State of Terror
From a Mob
Owing to an Attempt to Lynch
Negro Suspects.
INNOCENT PERSONS
We're Chased and Assaulted
Without Reason.
Another Attempt Is Expected
Today or Tonight.

Kansas City. Mo. July IA mob
made a demonstration last night
against the county jail where Frank
Holland and Joe Robertson, negroes
charged with an assault upon Miss
Grace Davis, are confined. 1t broke up
at o'clock this morning into disorder
" groups, which chased and assaulted
dozens of negroes who had given
no offense At an early nour today
gangs of men were still hanging about
the north end of town, talking of the
Davis outrage and threatening the
negroes. An attack on the jail If at
tempted would have been repulsed. the
police say.
The crime which has incensed the
citizens of this city is one of the most
daring outrages ever perpetrated here.
MISS Davis and her escort, Wernie New
ton, We're walking home after having
spent the evening at TrOOst park. At
Nineteenth street and Woodland ave-
nue. three negroes sprang upon them
from behind. Newton was knocked
senseless and Miss Davis was dragged
four hundred feet into a private park
and assaulted. When she recovered
consciousness her escort was still in
sensible They are both in a critical
condition.
Roberts and Holland were "sweated"
early this morning, but neither ad-
Enltted completely in the crime. 1t Is be-
Heved that an attempt more deter
mined than that of last night will be
1Iade, probably today but If not late
tonight, to mob the county jail ana
lynch the men, Deputy marshals this
morning changed their feeling toward
the negroes when their guilt became
more certain and one or two officers at
the jail were heard to express the senti-
ment that all three negroes richly de-
served lynching. Marshal Maxwell has
taken every precaution. to protect the
men and says he can successfully COM
bat any attack on the Jail.
Both the police and the county off,
Gals are endeayoring to keep the where
abouts of the negroes secret, but 1t Is
known that all three are in the county
jail. Roberts and Holland were sup
posed to have been spirited away from
the city last night, but it developed this
morning that they had simply been
taken into tunnel running from the
jail to the court house across the street
and kept there until the excitement
died down. The mob dispersed before
! daylight and the men We're returned 70
their cells.
Maupin, il is believed. viii be ar
aligned during the day. when trouble
may result If possible he viii be taken
before Miss Davis today to see if she
can identify him. She has already par
tally identified Roberts and Holland.
who, she says held her while the third
man committed the assault.
Maupin has served time IN the county
jail and once was "trusty." Roberts
has served time in the penitentiary.
Governor Dockery has offered a re-
ward of 5000 each for the arrest of the
assailants of Miss Davis.
The thirteen men arrested last night
for melting riot were fined IS each In
police court this morning and released.
The charges against them were disorder
ly conduct, carrying concealed weapons
and destroying personal property. Rob
erts and Holland were arraigned late
yesterday and their preliminary trial
has been set for July p.
At 10 O'Clock all was quiet at the
county ajil.
Half a hundred Ioungers ioitered
about the entrance. but they We're the
usual court room habitues who ara
there daily.
Roberts and Holland, the negroes uu-
der arrest at the county jail. have been
positively identified as two OF the as
sailants of Miss Davis. There are doubts
now whether Maupin, who was at first
believed to be the leader of the gang.
had anything to do with the crime. He
was made to undergo a severe sweat
ing" at noon and at its conclusion.
Chief Hayes said he thought the man
was innocent. Another suspect was ar
rested during the morning Miss Davis
is bordering on nervous prOstration and
neither Maupin nor the fourth man viii
be taken before her for Identification
until her condition improves.
At I o'clock there was no sign OF a
crowd IN the vicinity of the Jail and
Marshal Maxwell stated that he believ-
ed there would be no further trouble