The leader., 1903-07-08
CAUSE OF RIOT.
Shooting Of Policeman Massey by Lee
Brown, Led to Trouble.

Brown, Led to Trouble.
Evansville, Ind, July 5.-Tonight's
riot was the immediate outcome OF the
shooting of Patrolmaa Massey Friday
night by Lee Brown, a negro. Brown
and another negro had engaged in a
quarrel and Brown had sworn to kill
his antagonist. He ran toward his
home to secure revolver, and PATROL
man Massey, hearing of the trouble,
lay ii wait for Brown.
AS the negro came back armed,
hunting his enemy, Massey stepped
from a doorway and laid his hand on
his shoulder. Brown turned quickly,
a revolver in his hand, and shot the
policeman in the abdomen.
The officer as he lay on the side
walk fired at Brown and wounded him
dangerously. He fell and then the
two fired at each other as they lay on
the pavement, emptying their revolv-
ers.
Excitement has been intense and
after the arrest of Brown the Jail was
guarded night and day.
Last night a lynching was feared
and the mob that surrounded the Jail
during the night was held at bay only
by the ready weapons of dozens Of
deputies. Today an outbreak was
feared and the negro was secretly re-
moved from the jail and taken to Vim.
cennes, where he now lies in Jail at
the point of death from his wounds
Patrolman Massey died late last
night from his wounds.
1t took twenty-five policemen to pre-
vent the lynchi1g at the Jail Saturday
night, but their bravery was not sufi-
cient to avert the bitter race war.
The mobs smashed down iron gates
and were part of the way into the Jail
before they were repulsed by the po-
lcemen. Their efforts to lynch Brown
aroused the enmity of the negroes of
the city, who gathered about the jail
this afternoon and made threatening
demonstration. The negroes were
chased away by crowd of white men.
clash was feared.
Brown killed Massey in a street
battle Friday. All Saturday there was
talk of lynching ard about 10 o'clock
men and boys began to assemble in
the neighborhood of the Jail. Sheriff
Kratz had several deputies sworn in
TO protect the prisoner. Shortly be-
fore midnight Judge Louis o. Rasch
of .ue Circuit Court met the officers of
the court and ordered the grand jury
to convene Monday to look into the
brown case. 1t was announced to the
crowd that the negro would be ipdict-
ed Monday and his case be brought to
trial at once. This appeased the crowd
apparently and it dispersed.
About 2 o'clock Sunday morning,
however, crowds began to gather at
the Jail and near the courthouse.
4--out 2:30 o'clock a mob of 100 men
and boys made an attack ON the Jail
with the view of securing the negro.
They had large telephone pole which
they used to batter down the iron gate
to the right of the Jail. Once in this
passage way, the mob tried to beat in
the side door that leads to the Jail
corridor.
Sheriff Kratz offered no resistance,
Lut at once sent Tor the police, who
forced the mob from the passage way
into the street.
The mob grew in size and about 4
o'clock another attempt was made to
enter the Jail through the side door.
The officers fired no shots, but again
pushed the mob into the street and at
O'Clock the mob dispersed.
Sheriff KratZ finally took the prison
er to Vincennes for safe keeping.
There was a suspicious quiet all
day, but early this evening mob
again surrounded the Jail.
The mob was told that the negro
had been taken away, but a COMMITTEES
composed of nve citizens was selected
to go through the Jail. The mob clam
ored for twelve men, but the police re-
fused to grant their request. After be-
ing in the Jail for some time the COM
mirtee addressed the crowd and told
them the negro was not there. DR..
William Gilbert, the chairman of the
committee, tried to calm the assembly,
but his voice was drowned in shouts
of go, get the, niger
The people refused to believe that
the negro had been taken from the
city. The crowd shouted Death to
the negroes" and the police feared
they would murder all the negro pris-
oners Unfortunately. The race war
started late tonight, when a little boy
named Logan was shot in the leg by a
negro. An unknown negro woman
was killed and several negroes were
seriously injured. The enIlre police
force was called out and stationed at
the Jail and the negroes tried to take
possession of the town.