Omaha daily bee., 1906-04-16
statement br Pro.ecntc


resign their positions.
Statement by Prosecutor.
Prosecuting Attorney Roscoe Patterson
of Greene county said tonight:
Every man implicated in this dastardly
outrage whose name | am able to learn
will be punished to the full extent OF the
law. The members OF the mob are not
law-abiding citizens they are outlaws. They
broke into the Jail and, besides lynching
three negroes, released prisoners and thus
became law breakers by giving freedom to
imprisoned criminals.
Prosecuting Attorney Patterson and
Sheriff Horner are said to have secured
the names of more than 100 men who took
an active part in the lynching. The lead
ers of tho mob were not disguised, but
worked in the full glare OF the electric
lights on the square.
Prosecuting Attorney Patterson made the
tatement tonight that he will tomorrow
appeal to Judge Bihcoln OF the criminal
court to summon special grand jury at
once and make most thorough investiga-
ton into the lynching with the purpose Of
prosecuting every man concerned who can
be apprehended. This appeal, it is de-
clared, will be augmented by a petition
signed by hundreds OF the best citizens Of
this community.
A crowd assembled on the public square
early tonight and refused to dispense, but
when the first company of militia arrived
they sullenly scattered. 1t is feared that
an attempt may be made during the night
to set fire to the buildings in the outskirts
of the city, and consequently the arrival
OF the other companies of militia ordered
here by Governor Folk is anxiously awaited
Soldiers will be immedia tely placed in all
parts of Springfield and extra efforts will
be made TO suppress any violence which
seemed to promise early this evening.
The greater part of the negro population
has been in hiding all day. In the negro
quarters many women and children took
refuge in cellars and garrets Whole fam
lilies fed to the country after having APP
piled in vain to the authorities for pro-
lection. There were few negroes on the
streets today.
At a meeting OF the members OF the min
isterial alliance this afternoon call was
issued for mass meeting OF citizens at
Grace Methodist Episcopal church at 8
o'clock Monday night to consider ways and
means for Securing evidence against and
| aiding In the prosecution OF Saturday
| nights mob. A committee composed OF
| Rev II. p. Douglass, Rev. ]. A. Stewart.
/ Rev c. j. Free. Judge T. J. Murray and
/ A B. Lovan was appointed to suggest to
the meeting q plan of procedure. The min
I isterial alliance viii meet IN special session
at 1880 o'clock tomorrow morning to take
further steps In the matter. The call issued
/ for the meeting bears the signature OF
/ every clergyman in the city and many OF
! the most prominent men in the city.
I Victims Probably Innocent.
/ The authorities tonight assert that Cope
| land and Duncan, two of the victims, were
! innocent. This is the general belief
! ST. LOUIS, No, April 15.-A special to
the Republic from Springfield. Mo. says
! that Miss Edmondson said tonight that
/ she was positive that Copeland and Dun
! can two Of the negroes hanged, were not
/ her assailants and that she could identify
I her assailants il they We're brought before
/ her. It is also considered doubtful whether
! Allen was guilty of the murder of O. p.
| Ruark, the confederate soldier, for which
crime the mob killed him
Folk says LyHchinE Is Murder.
! JEFFERSON CITY. Mo. April l5-(Spe-
! eial Telegram.)-As a result OF the lynch
! ing Of three negroes at Springfield, Mo,
| last night and the threatened race war al
! that place today. Governor Folk has or
dered six companies OF the national guard
/ 10 that city to preserve order and protect
! life and property.
/ Tonight Governor Folk gave out the fol-
\
/ Lynchng IL murder cowardly murder. IL
/ is murder regardless OF the guilt or innO-
! cenCe OF the accused. Every person charged
| with a crime Is entitled 10 be tried by the
/ law, not by a mob. The Springfield affair
was fiendish and revolving. The extreme
penalty administering TO some iynchers by
law would have a salutaTy effect. Assistant
| Attorney General Gentry has been in
/ structed 10 go TO Springfield and aid the
prosecuting attorney in investigating this
disgraceful occurrence 70 the end that proper
punishment may be melted out TO those
Z who took hand in the crime | shall offer
/ a reward OF $500, the limit allowed by law,
I for Information given to the prosecuting
attorney leading 10 the arrest and con-
| VictiOn OF any person engaged in this das-
/ tardly onense, not against the wretcnes
! mobbed. hut against the state of Missouri.
/ The sheriff and prosecuting attorney ana
/ mayor OF Springfield having informed me
] this afternoon that the city Is In imminent
] danger OF mob violence and that they are
| helpless 10 control the situation, / have
I hOnored theig request for the state troops
/ TO preserve peace and protect the lives
/ and property ~ citizens there.
! nd