The Minneapolis journal., 1902-05-17
A NEGRO RIOT
NEAR ATLANTA
A Number ofPoIicemen and Negroes
Nlled-,-Houses Burned Down
Over Desperadoes' Heads.

Atlanta, Ga. May 17-While returning
to his home on, the Mcpherson road late
yesterday, former Policeman S. A. Kerlin
was waylaid by five negroes with whom he
had had trouble while a member Of the
force A sergeant stationed at Fort Nc
Pherson, who heard his cries for help,
ran to the place. found Kerlin uncon-
scious. At midnight. County Policeman
Golden heard that Kerlin's five assailants
were locat ed In house on Mcdaniel
street. He was Joined by Officers Dunbar
and. Cheshire and. accompanied by num-
Der Of Kerlin's neighbors, including Owen
Heard, the party started for the hiding
place Of the negroes, arriving at 1870
o'clock this morning.
First Victim of the Negroes.
The house was dark. but as the officers
approa ched the inmates opened fire and
Owen Heard fell to the ground. He was
horne out Of range by his companions.
The house was at once surrounded and
daylight. was awaited The house in which
Richardson was located belonged to Annie
Wilburn, also colored. Richardson. who
Is. also Sdlu " US oil OWuCu CuS
store adjoining the house. Here he kept
ammunition and guns and was therefore
we'll prepared.
S7=' County Ohtcer Shot Dead.
!. At 6, o'clock this morning the little
group of officers who had been watching
the house all night. approached the place
and called upon those within to surrender.
The reply was volley of shots, one of
which killed County Officer Battle. The
attacking party retreated some distance
and from behind trees and telegraph and
trolley, poles commenced firing into the
store. In a. few minutes the door of the
house was thrown open, and Will, King, a
| negro, ran out and gave himself up to the
officers. 49, s..s >-- =.
Three Other White Men Killed.
Inside the house Richardson had an un-
| obstructed view In three directions. One
Block away Policeman Tom Grant. of the
Atlanta force stepped from his shelter te
fire into the house. "A shot rang out from
the beseiged house and Grant fell dead.
| The attacking party hastily sent word
to police headquarters and Chief of Police
| Ball dispatched the reserves to the scene
in several patrol wagons.
| The officers to whom King had giver
himself up determined to make use of the
negro and at the point Of a Winchester
they forced him to walk up to the rear O.
the house and fire it. The officers, eagel
| to get the inmates of the house, advanced
from their shelter, and again: there wa
a shot from the house. This time it wa
Officer Edward era btree who met death
An instant later there was third sho
and County Policeman Robert Osbur1
! fell dead. " 80
| Fifth Regiment Ordered Out.
The shooting he'd by this time attracte,
hundreds of people and nearly every mai
who came to the scene, carried rifle Tn
shooting into the house became general
citizens and officers firing together.
Governor Gambler advised by telephon
of the rioting, hastily ordered out tn
militia. Captain w. w. Barker, of tn
Fifth regiment, was ordered to procee
with fifty men and platoon gun to tn
scene Of the shooting and cooperate wit
the city authorities and the sheriff Of Full
ton county. Chief of Police Ball hurrie
to the scene on horseback and was joine
few minutes later by Sheriff J. w
Nelms.
/ The desperate Richardson had been los
sight OF. The house burned rapidly and
number of inmates were seen to run t
the store, to woodshed and to a barn i
the next lot. $50