Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-04
NEGRO APPEALS
To ROOSEVELT
PRISONER FEARS WRATH OF
TEXANS
Levi Mallory, Arrested by Los Angeles
Police on Charge Of Murder Of Ell
Paso PstroIman, Seeks Help
From President

When the arrival Of Deputy Sheriff
Briggs OF I'll Paso Tex, was made
Known yesterday to i. T.. Mallory, the
negro held on suspicion of being George
McElroy who is wanted on a charge of
murder of Patrolman Edward Stewart
in the Lone star state city on February
IL, 1900, since his arrest at Ascot park
by Patrolmen Glenn and Randolph
November 90, the prisoner was stricken
with terror. Later in the day Mallory
made personal appeal to President
Roosevelt by letter.
Since the day of Mallory's arrest he
has lived In constant hope that he
would escape being taken back to the
scene of his supposed crime. TO the
local police he has conhded the whole
secret of his terror at being removed to
TeXas-being burned at the stake.
Despite the assurance that the Of
fcers from Texas were coming for him.
Mallory has clung to the hope that he
would escape being returned. He has
strenuously maintained that his name
is Mallory and not McElroy, and while
he served in the United States army
at the time OF the murder he was sta
toned many miles from IIl Paso
Negro Soldiers Raid City Jail
Mallory or McElroy is believed to
have been stationed near FL Paso at a
fort with the Twenty infantry
(negro regiment) in 1900. On the day
of the murder an officer of the regi-
ment was arrested by the police and
confined in the city jail. Indignation
reigned among the troops, and during
the afternoon word was sent to the
police that the regiment would raid
the Jail that night
with other officers. Patrolman Stew
art was stationed at the city jail to
protect it. Early in the evening the
troops suddenly swooped down on the
Jail and attempted to break in Dur
ing the conflict between the city Of
ficers and the troops negro answering
Mal1ory's description shot and killed
Officer Stewart. Before the police
could capture the man ne escaped.
Descriptions of McEIlroy We're scat
tered broadcast throughout the coun-
try, but all We're of no avail, and the
murder case finally faded out of the
memories of the police. Some thought
that McI1lroy had escaped to another
country, but the general belief was that
he had committed suicide.
Mallory Betrayed by Friend
Suspicion was awakened in the local
police circles regarding Mallory upon
information received through friend
of the negro. According to the police
Mallory told another negro that he was
wanted in Texas for the murder of a
policeman about six years ago. The
one in whom he confided at once told
the police and an Investigation was
started.
Patrolmen Glenn AMI Randolph were
detailed on the case and for nearly two
weeks they shadowed Mallory, but
learned little. In the meantime wires
were kept hot communicating with the
Texas officers. At last d description
of negro corresponding to that of
Mallory was sent to Los Angeles from
IGl Paso.
Finding that they We're not gaining
n great deal by shadowing the man,
the officers arrested Mallory and wired
I1l Paso for more accurate descriptions
When the answer came the next day
the police became convinced that NAL
lory's true name is McElroy and that
he is the man that murdered Officer
Stewart.
Prisoner Denies Committing Crime
Mallory at first said that he had
never served in the United States
army, but was finally forced to confess
that he had been in service. Never
once though has he admitted being in
the neighborhood of the crime at the
time he is alleged to have committed it.
At present his sole defense is that
he was stationed at Fort Wingate,
Ariz., with the Ninth United States
cavalry in February, 1900, and that he
did not leave the service until late in
that year. On the strength of his story
and to prove his innocence, the local
police yesterday allowed Mallory to
make an appeal to President Roose-
Velt-
Mallory says that he can prove by
,.oonr6e in tha war 1an1rfmpnt that he
was at Fort Wingate at the time of
the crime and that his name is Mallory.
Despite his seemingly strong convic-
tions that he can prove his Innocence,