Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-17
niless. A movement has been started to

niless. A movement has been started to
give them assistance.
Mrs. Eal Hal1am, victim of the at
tack in Springfield. which started the race
war. is in doubt about the identity of her
assailant. In an interview she declared
that she was uncertain whether Richard
son. who is now prisoner In Blooming
ton. Is the guilty man.
She says, however. that she Is almost
certain that he is the man. but in the
darkness which prevailed she could not
discern the Negroes features sufficiently 10
positively identify him. She will say
nothing more than that he looks some
thing like the man.
Mrs. Hallams greatest concern now is
over the race war which resulted from
her misfortune. Although herself prob
ably the most pitiful sufferer of the affair
she shows genuine regret over the general
bloodshed and destruction, and says that
she would rather die herself than 10
have been the innocent cause of such a
carnival of crime.
Richardson Has Alibi.
THE claim of George Richardson. the
of the negroes spirited out of Springfield
before the rioting reached an acute sage
that he could prove an alibi In the &C
cusation against him is generally credit
ed here.
IL
have investigated the matter that not
only Richardson's wife but number OF
his neighbors. white as well as black. are
prepared to swear that he was at home
until late in the evening of the night OF
the alleged outrage and that he could not
we'll be intoxicated, was claimed IN
Mrs. Hallam's statement Of the affair.
Mrs. Richardson. who bears an excel
lent reputation among her acquaintance,
regardless of color, has stated that she IS
- Ohav,d
home the entire night Of the alleged as
sault. Neighbors are ready to take oatn
that he sat peacefully at home on the
front porch the entire evening"
Rioter Going Insane.
PEORIA. Ill, August 1T am one Of
those who helped lynch William Donegan
at Springfield and 1 believe I am going
insane" was the statement of Charles
Gadwin at the office of the superintendent
of the Bartonvile Asylum last night.
I'VE stamped him in the face: we cut his
throat and then put rope round MS
neck. That's what 1t took to kill him."
Gadwin said that he formerly was a
member of the 32d United States Volun-
teers in the Philippines and had sister
at the asylum.
He was placed under guard.
Form Law and Order League.
league composed of negro residents of the
South Side, to stamp out lawlessness and
crime in the black belt of Chicago and
to prevent any such happenings as have
marked the last two days In Springfield.
will be formed tomorrow night at mass
meeting in the Institutional African Meth
odist Episcopal Church.
The decision to form such an organlza-
ton was taken yesterday as result OF
stirring appeal by the Rev H. E. stewart.
pastor of the church
1.-The bad and lawless element OF the ne
gro race always has and will continue to
affect the better element vastly more than
the lawless element of the whites Will az
feet that race" the preacher said. Our
people are judged by the worst element OF
our race and unless we rise and condemn
and fight against this lawless element we
will be rightly judged.
Negroes Must Act.
'In the trouble at Springfield we are apt.
perhaps, to condemn the whites. But we
must accept our share Of the RESPONSE
bility. We should form an organization,
a law and order league or good citizens
league. to rid our community of negro law
breakers. We do not want the impression
spread broadcast that our people harbor
the criminals of our race, and we must
act in our defense and In defense or the
future good name of our people,.