Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-11-14
Negro Narrowly Escapes Lynch
ing Within Sight of White
House at Washington
TWO POLICEMEN. WERE SHOT
When Officers Pursued the colored
Man He Turned and Fired-Mob
Soon Gathers and Negro Is Beaten
Numerically - Started in a
Hold Up.

| Washington. Nov. 14.-Charles Smith
| a negro desperate, narrowly escapet
| lynching last night within the shad
| dows of the white house and a race
| riot was barely averted within the
! hearing of President Roosevelt. Smith
| held up the cashier of a lunchroon
| near the treasury department at the
point of revolver and robbed him OF
SIS, and. when pursued by crowd and
several policemen, he shot two Off
GERS.
A mob of 500 angry citizens gathered
demanded that he be lynched. some OF
the negroes in the mob protested
against the treatment Of Smith, and
We're promptly beaten.
For few moments the national cap
ital was in grave danger OF being dis
graced by lynching and a race rios.
There was no organized effort, how
ever. to lynch the negro, who was
locked rp and his injuries treated.
Smith was employed as dish wash
er in the Treasury cafe, 1909 G. street.
but was discharged last Wednesday.
Tonight he appeared at the cafe armed
with a revolver and carrying mask.
Placing the mask upon his face, he
entered the place and demanded mon
ey of the cashier, who was counting
the receipts of the day. The Negroes
demand was reinforced by the revoi-
yer. and the cashier promptly handed
over his funds.
AS Smith left the cashier started in
pursuit. He was joined by other citi-
zens and the crossing policeman. G. w.
Osburn and c. NJ. Edwards, stationed
at the northeast corner of the treasury
department.
Frank O. Parker, a bystander. out
ran the police and was close upon the
heels of the negro, who suddenly turned
and fired at him. The bullet missed
Parker, but struck Osburn in the
thigh. He fell to the ground with a
groan, but Parker, Policeman Edwards,
and number of citizens continued in
the pursuit, and Smith ran into an al
ley. AS he entered he turned and fired
again. This time the buffet struck Po-
liceman Edwards In the breast. Ed
wards life probably was saved by the
bullet striking q bundle OF papers in
his coat pocket.
Other police then appeared on the
scene, and Smith fired again, but this
time the bullet went into the air, as
those who were attempting to disarn
him pushed his hand upward. The
police disarmed Smith and in doing SO
administered severe clubbing. A
number of angry citizens also Joined in
the assault upon the negro.
There were cries OF Lynch him"
The situation was critical. and the
three policemen, realizing a lynching
and rescued him from the mob, escort
ed him to the patrol box, and sum-
moned o patrol wagon.
While they were awaiting the arrival
OF the wagons with reinforcements,
several negroes in the crowd noisily
protested again the manner in which
Smith had been treated, and several
fights occurred The negroes were OUT
numbered by the whites. and as mat
tiers were looking serious for them they
disa ppeared.
Smith was taken to the station house
and locked up. His two victims were
conveyed to the emergency hospital,
and upon being examined 1t was found
that Osburn's leg was badly shattered.
but Edwards was not wounded SER
ously there being red mark on his
chest where the bullet struck.