The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-26
Christmas Tragedy at Pitts
burg Ends in Lynching.
Negro Strung Up to a Telephone
Pole by Mob.
POLICEMAN MURDERED
Montgomery Cooley Shot an Of
ficer From Behind.
Vengeance Melted Out Within
Hour of the Crime.

Pittsburg, Kas., Dec. 26.-Between Il
and L o'clock Thursday morning, Po-
liceman Milt Hinkle was shot down by
a negro named Mont Cooley, and within
an hour the latter was hanged by an in
furiated mob of citizens. Joe ana Mont
Cooley and five or six others of their
race were drinking and carOuSlng about
town and had raised two or three dis
turbances before meeting officer Hlnkles
who requested them to behave them
selves. Joe Cooley answered the officer
in an inSOlent manner and the officer
proceeded to arrest him. Cooley resist~
ed and was assisted by the others and
hard fight took place, with Officer Hin~
kle pitted against and holding his own
with the negroes
When the fight started, Hinkle blew
his whistle for help. but before any of
the other officers arrived, Mont Cooley
grabbed the officers revolver from its
scabbard and, placing the muzzle
against the back of its owners head,
below the right ear, pulled the trigger.
The bullet crashed through the officers
brain and came out on the left side,
near the eye. fdinl5le sank to the side
walk, while the negroes ran away pur.
sued by the other officers, who had by
this time arrived upon the scene. Mont
Cooley fired two or three shots at his
pursuers before he was captured. along
with his brother joe and locked up in
Jail
OFFICER Hinlde was carried to the city
hall where he expired about o'clock. The
news OF the killing Travelled rapidly and
soon crowd was gathered ut the city
hall and the sight Of the dying officer,
with the blood and brains oozing from
the ragged hole in the head, fired a desire
for vengeance and cries of Hang him!"
Bur, hBuIn him n, , and Get r ISpe We're
mined leaders came forward and led a
bowling mob TO the jail doors. AT FIRST
it was proposed to rob City Marshal Hig-
gins of his keys, but he convinced the
mob that he cid not have them. Then a
sledgehammer and crowbar were brought
and the cell lock battered off: The door
swurS open and the mob rushed in and
dragged the terrified negro from the jail
and hurried him outside, where he was
given an opportrrity to talk Re denied
that he had killed the officer, but his
stories were conflicting. He was taken
about three blocks from the jail, where
he was strung up to a step rung on q tele-
phone pole.
to the place of the 1ynching Cooley cursed
and raved at his prosecutors and the bal
ance of the time pleaded for mercy. zoe
and Charlie Cooley and Ed Richardson are
in Jail as accomplices to the murder OF
Hinkle and were saved from the mob only
BY the ne giieers fnrTSl e t Grard put oi tue
Reports came in from the mining camps
this afternoon that the colored people
were organizing and afmng themselves
for the purpose OF coming in at late
hour tonight to avenge the lynchins o.
to arrive in parties of two and three ana
were well armed with revolverS and ra-
zors but they were placed under arrest
and locked up before they were in town
an hour Excitement is high and TING
/ least thing irregular on the part of the col
| ored men would result in race war
| Hundreds of whites are armed and pre-
pared for trouble
OFFICER Hinkle was popular and one OF
leaves a wife and child. The Godleys came
from Pierce City atthe time of the drive
4 other Of the Cooley. brothers was burned
at the stake.