Evening times-Republican., 1903-12-29
Company Of Militia Called Out
to Protect Prisoners at
Council Bluffs
WANTED TO LYNCH NEGROES
"A Thousand Men consresated About
the Jail and Battered the Doors Down
With Railroad Iron, But Failed to
Get the ilitary Company
on Guard.
Special to Times Republican

Council Bluffs, Dec. 29.-Twenty five
were called out last night to protect
two negroes in the county jail charged
with attempt TO criminally assault two
women on Christmas night and re-
n1ained at the prison ali night to pre-
vent any further demonstration by the
mob. Two of the leaders were ar
rested and placed in a cell near the
frightened negroes. Small groups of
would-be ynchsrs stood on the street
corners near the jail until daylight,
discussing the affair. but no further
attempt was made 10 do violence to
tae prisoners.
(. Shortly after midnigh. this morn
ing nearly thousand determined men
were gathered around the county jail
threatening to break down the barriers,
ruAh ths Epscis, gaard ard seize and
lynch the two negroes.
Every effort was made by the county
md city officials 10 induce the men to
disperse. They were addressed by
both the sheriff and Mayor Morgan,
who appealed TO them TO let the law
take it's course, but in vain. The men
stub5or1ly remained on the grounds
about the Jail. The entire city police
force OF nearly thirty men We're called
out to keep ordsr. but the mob pushed
them about like mere children, and
they were absolutely helpless.
1t became evident early in the even
Ing that demonstration against the
negroes would be male and probably
an effort to lynch them. A spirit of
mob rule made Itself manifest as soon
as darkness began to fall and men
hurried from all sections OF the city
toward the county ja,i as tho by pre-
concerted arrangement.
The brutal assault Upon the two
women last Friday niga. had aroused
general indignation. This feeling had
been especia IS strong among the hum
dreds Of railroad mem living here, be-
cause the husband of one of the wons
Is q railroad enpioye, and mas many
friends among his fellow workers in
the city. Last night the railroad men
began to gather on the streets at an
early hour and they remained In snlal.
groups until the approach OF midnight.
when they began to move toward the
Sail. There they eongregated,2 and
with other men and boys the. crowd
soon reached a thousand.
Shortly before midnight a crowd of
men came toward the Jail with long
steel rail. which they laid upon the jail
lawn, evidently TO be used later as
battering ram. The police endeavored
to SEIZE this bar, but they were easily
restrained from molesting It.
The negroes were arraigned In police
court yesterday, and tho they had en-
ploysd counsel they secured contln-
uance of their case until nsxt Monday
crniag.A Their bonds were placed AZ
$4,000, and In default thereof they went
back to jail. During the hearing sew
eral hundred people gathered about the
police court building. but there was mol
. demonstration. save by the husband of
one Of the women assaulted, and he
was quickly qnieted.
Sheriff Cousins, in anticipation of
further trouble with the would-be
lynciers. has secured the aid of the To-
cal militia company to guard the jail
tonight. The sheriff today received in
formation that another attempt would
: be made tonight to lynch the negroes
and is taking every prscaution to pre-
vent it. Chief of Police Tbbitts has
has detailed a large squad of police to
assist the sheriff, should their services
be required.