Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-08-21
RACEHATRED|N
SPRINGFIELD
SNOLOERS
FEAR CRAZED NEGROES
HUDDLED IN ARSENAL
GafbIed Story of Accidental
Shooting InfIameS CitizenSr
Presence of Troops Alone
Prevents Fresh Outbreak.
IBy Morning Journal Special Leased wire

prevents Fresh outbreak,
IBy Morning Journal Special Leased WireI
Springfield, ILL.,. Aug. SPRING
field was inflamed tonight by report
that Rolla Keyes, a seventeen-year-old
boy who testified before the special
jury when that body indicted George
Richardson for an alleged assault
upon Mrs. Mabel Hallam had been
shot by friends of the accused negro.
Before the rumor had time to spread
far, however, II was learned that the
shooting was accidental, the wound
having been inflicted by bullet from
a revolver belonging to a companion
of Keyes. The boy is so seriously in
jured that he may not recover.
According to the story first told by
Keyes' companion, Harold McLaugh-
lin, fourteen years old, and Chester
Brown, sixteen years old, the bullet
struck Keyes while he was fishing in
the sangamon river near the city wat
er works, three miles northeast of
here. They asserted that they had
left him for a few moments and that
when they returned they found him
wounded
This was the version which was
posted on the newspaper bulletin
boards about the city. Instantly
crowds began to collect and the excite
ment was Increased when the police
ordered the removal of the notices The
act was interpreted as an attempt on
the part Of the authorities to conceal
the true facts so as to minimize the
possibility of renewal of the local
race war.
When the fresh bulletins appeared,
however, and the true story of the af-
fair became known, the excitement
gradually subsidized.
Parental ipl11Ask caused .McLaugh-
lin and Brown TO confess the facts.
The formers father found the pistol
with the only loaded chamber dis
charged in the buggy in which the
boys had driven to the water works
When confronted with this evidence
the son admitted that he was holding
the revolver when It was discharged.
He repeated this to an Associated
Press correspondent tonight. He could
not explain how the revolver was dis
charged and said that the boys con-
cocted the first story because they
were frightened by the accident. Keyes
stood by his companions after they
had brought him to the hospital here
and told Or. S. IL. Munson, who at
tended him, the version agreed upon
during the drive back to town, The
physician found that the bullet had
pierced Keyes breast and ranged up
ward into the upper lung.
Because of the excitement caused by
the first reports of the accident. extra
precautions We're taken by Colonels
Moriarity and Foreman in command
of the two military sections of the
city to prevent the gathering of
crowds. The members of the patrols
were also instructed to spread the true
version of the accident and to crrest
any persons discovered counsellng
violence to negroes.
The occurrence caused fresh fears
in the "black belt" despite the at
tempts of the officials to quiet the
town.
The arsenal was crowded with refu-
gees again and there were also large
number of negroes who slept under
the protection of guard from the
Seventh regiment at Camp Lincoln.
Harry Loper, whose restaurant was
demolished last Friday night, testified
at the coroners inquest over the body
of Louis Johnson, the youth who was
killed in that portion of the riot. Lo-
per was unable to remember the lden-
tity of any of the persons who at
tackled his place The inquest adj
journed until tomorrow,
Kate Howard, who was indicted by
the grand jury today, was arrested
tonight
Ten indictments against two Of the
mob leaders here were returned by
the special grand jury of Sangamon
county late today. Six Of these are
against Abraham Raynor and four are
against Kate Howard. Raynor Is
charged with murder, four cases of
malicious mischief and one of riot.
The charges against the Howard wom-
an are for malicious mischief and are
Identical with those OF Raynor on
these courts.
The murder charge against Raynor
is based on his alleged participation
i'm the lynching of William Donnlgan,
the SO-year-od negro who fell VIC
tim to the mob's fury on Saturday
night Considerable of the evidence.
upon which this was voted. was heard
by n military court of inquiry which
has been sitting under the direction
of Lieut.. Colonel Chipperheld OF the
First cavalry and which today turned
over to the states attorney the results
of its Investigations. 1--WE secured
enough evidence to indlct forty or
fifty participants in last weeks riot
ing" said Col. Chipperneld tonight
we have practically complete con-
fession from Raynor and we have also
discovered convincing evidence OF ar
son on the part of former police Of
hcer Of Springfield. The evidence Is
not only available for grand Jury
work. but II is also Of such a char
acter that convictions are almost
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