The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-15
IN HANDS OF MOB
Springfield, ILL.,, Terrorized Dy
Angry Citizens All Night.
Frenzied by Escape Of Negro
From Their Vengeance.
TWO WHITE MEN DEAD
One Black Man Lynched ana
Fifty Persons Injured.
Forty Houses Burned in Colored
Quarters of the City.
WRECK RESTAURANT.
Pawnshop Looted Of Stock OF
Firearms.
Prohibition Candidate for Presi-
dent Hit With a Brick.
State Troops Finally Succeed in
Restoring Order.
Pawnshop Looted Of Stock OF
Firearms.
Prohibition Candidate for Pres1'
dent Hit With a Brick.
State Troops Finally Succeed in
Restoring Order.

Springfield. Ill, Aug. 15.-Two
white men were killed one ne
gro was lynched, more than half
hundred persons were injured and
two score of houses. mostly occupied
by negroes were burned last night, as
the result of an attempt by mob to
lynch a negro who had assaulted
white woman.
The Dead.
CHARLES HUNTER, colored.
LEWIS JOHNSON. white, II years
old
JAMES SCOTT, 20 years old.
After night Of riot. arson and
slaughter the state troops. called out
by the governor. succeeded early to-
day in restoring a semblage OF order.
one thousand militiamen including
three companies from the city and
companies from Bloomington. Deca-
tur. Peoria, Pekin and Pontiac are
patrolling the streets and it is believed
that further disorder will be pre-
vented
The rioting was precipitated by an
assault committed early yesterday
morning on Mrs. Mabel Hallam. wife
of a street railway conductor. While
the woman slept alone in her home on
a populous residence street awaiting
the return OF her husband. the man
broke into the house, dragged her into
the rear yard and sauited her. Be-
fore noon George Richardson, young
negro. was arrested by the sheriffs
force. charged with the crime. The
victim partially Identified the prisoner.
crowds quickly gathered about the
jail, but Sheriff Werner's forces ana
the police we're able to preserve order
until nightfall without difficulty.
Prisoner Spirited Away.
Shortly after o'clock successful
ruse was worked by the authorities
and Richardson was spirited away to
safety. With the assembled crowds
held at bay by the officers. false run
by the fire department temporarily
drew the attention of the crowd DUR
ing which time the prisoner was hur-
ried down an adjoining alley and at
the first corner was pushed into an
automobile owned by Harry T. Loper.
restaurant keeper. who had been
sworn In as a deputy sheriff Before
the crowd realized what had happen
cd Richardson was being rushed to a
point north of the city where a Chi
caGo & Alton train was stopped and
ne was put aboard: with a heavy
guard. and conveyed to Bloomington
ana later was taken to Peoria
Along with Richardson was John
James, another negro prisoner In the
Jan; VINO Is accused of killing Clargy
BaLard. state mine inspector. arter
daughter
Ballard went to his daughters
rescue and was stabbed to death.
Immediately after the darkness had
gathered crowds assembled in the vic
unity of the county jail. The mood of
the masses was ugly and appeals bv
sheriff Werner were without effect.
The sheriff offered to let a COMMITTEES
search the jail. assuring them that the
negroes were gone.
We will all go through" shouted
one In the crowd and the cr-- was TAX
en- up by hundreds.
Then some one in the crowd MAN
toned that Harry Loper, the restaur-
ant man. had furnished the automo-
bile In which the escape of the prison
ers had been effected.
''On to Lopcr's.,
"On to Loper's." he shouted and nv
this time the maddened mob was
ready for anything. A rush was made
on Lopers restaurant, five blocks
away. The proprietor was warned. hut
falling to appreciate the seriousness
of the situation did not attemnt No es-
cape until the mob was on tho nI.ca
He was pushed by employees of tba
place, together with his wife into a
basement room in temporary safety.
s'ii'AA NOAh was inaQe OF the raStanr-
ant. The automobile in which the res
cue had been effected had been left In
front of the place. It was ouicLIy
turned upside down and fire set 70 ths
machine.
While the machine blazed frenzisd
hundreds poured into the cafe. tora
fixtures and decorations from tbair
places and piled them upon the blaza
Even the sideboards and kitchen wara
stripped and all the tableware ara
dishes piled upon the blaze.
The fire department, which bod
been called out a half dozen times a.
effort to disperse the crowds again
made run to the restaurant, but was
powerless. Every line of hose that
was stretched was cut before a strean,
OF water could be forced into n TIE
restaurant was stripped clean by the
mob which worked without hindrance
until Its work was nearly completed
The local companies of militia. consist
Ing of a company of infantry, a troop
or cavalry and a gatling gun section.
which had been ordered out by Cover 4
nor Deneen early in the afternoon was
busy with the situation in the vicinity
OF the Jail and the local authorities
had no men to spare at the Loper res
taurant. Finally in a desperate effort
TO restore order. the cavalry troop was
dispatched to the restaurant.
Then the rioting broke loose in SER