Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-08-22
DENEEN's STORY OF RIOT.
Governor Describes the Situation a.
seen i'm Afternoon.

seen i'm Afternoon.
Sprin gfeld, ILL.,. Aug. 15.-Gov.
Deneen this afternoon issued the fol-
lowing:
The trouble at Springfield arose
out OF an assault upon a white wo-
man by a Negro named George Rich
ardson, whS, IL is alleged. entered
her home about midnight August 1 3
choked her, carried her to the back
yard, and assaulted her during the
absence Of her husband, who was a
conductor on the street railway here.
About two weeks ago. another col
ored man. named Joe James. was
found in the daughters bedroom of
the home OF another conductor of
the street railway company on the
return OF the family from n social
engagement, and after discovery. I'm
the struggle to escape. killed the
father.
Fearing the trouble. the sheriff
yesterday afternoon induced the pro-
prietor OF one OF the principal res
taurants, Mr.. Loper. 20 take the pris-
oners and the sheriff in his automo-
bile TO the outskirts OF the city. and
20 transfer Richardson and the other
person referred 10, to Bloomington
about 90 miles north of Springfield
THE ATTACK on LoPER's.
There was an uneasy feeling a.
mong certain classes az Springfield
yesterday afternoon, but Il was pre-
sumed that the knowledge OF the
transfer OF the prisoners to the fail
trouble. A large crowd gathered AT
the jail IN the evening. and there
learned that Mr. LopeT had furnish
ed the automobile in which the pris-
oners were transferred They went
over 20 his restaurant. demolished
the plate glass and furniture. sacked
the restaurant OF its liquors. turned
the owners automobile upside down
and set II afire. The crowd then
moved east on Washington street. TO
the quarter OF the city which IS
largely populated by colored people
and known as the levee. Here they
sacked the stores owned by colored
persons and one pawnshop. They
also burned a number OF houses. es-
timated at between 20 and 25.
Only such buildings were burned
as were occupied by cOlored people.
Negroes who were found on the
streets were assaulted. and one was
beaten and was later hanged TO a
lamppost. The Negro was killed
while endeavoring TO protect his
home from incendiaries. after ne had
gone TO the front door and shot into
the crowd. As reported in the news
papers, the killed number three. the
injured. So.
The first call for help came nj 4
O'Clock yesterday afternoon. when
Sheriff Werner asked that a local
company of the national guard as
semble at s o'clock for duty at rho
county Jail The company was as
sembled at Z o'clock at the iail. The
second call came at 9 O'Clock. when
the gatling gun squad of the local
militia was assembled at Loper's res
taurant. AT 9:I5 p. NJ, IL was
thought more help would be needed
and the Decatur. Bloomington. Nor
NAL, Peoria, PeNin and Taylorviue
companies were ordered TO assemble
al their armories. The Taylorvile
company started from that city at
Il O'Clock. Later special trains left
bearing companies from Pontiac.
Danville, Champaign, Union CITY.
which arrived about 3 O'Clock. The
Decatur company arrived first and
marched at once from the cars to the
place where the crowd was congre-
gated. Within a few minutez COM
panies from Peoria arrived and join
ed them.