Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-08-21
WITNESSES REFUSE TO TALK
Memory is Poor Before Coroner's Jury
at Springfield.
MOB LEADERS MAY ALL ESCAPE
Prosecution Discouraged at Result of
First Inquest-NeEroes Expect
Further Violence aud
Leave CITY.
MOB LEADERS MAY ALL ESCAPE

SPRINGFIELD. ILL.,. Aug. 2O-Final re-
lnauishment of the military control of this
city will take place tomorrow as the result
Of the conference between Governor Deneen
and General Young this morning. The First
regiment will be sent to Chicago and the
remaining regiment, the Seventh infantry,
will be held here I'm reserve in case tho
shriff's force and police are unable to pre-
serve the peace with the troops have estab-
lished.
Following his conference with the COVER
nor, General Young issued a lengthy state.
ment praising the troops Tor their conduct
and bearing, calling attention to the fact
that for three days and nights no serious
disorders have occurred and placing the
responsibility of maintaining the condition
upon the civil authorities.
HIS statement is In part as follows:
While the conditions on the surface are
normal and peaceful, there is undoubtedly
an underlying sentiment which must be
changed and this can be done by the reso-
lutte conduct and action of the citizens
themselves. 1t must be remembered that
the lawless do not stop with the execution
of their first intent. The burning OF the
house of negro the destruction Of his
life II not prevented, will be followed by the
destruction Of the lives and property OF
whites who may be Objectionable to this
lawess class Laws which do not ade-
quately protect the property and lives of
all citizens alike without regard to their
race, color or their position in society, will
sooner or later fail to protect the life and
property of any citizen
The lawless mob lacks courage when faced
by an aroused and determined citizenship.
BY an investigation which / have con-
Quoted, 1t has been demonstrated that the
inception of the destruction of lives and
property in Springfield came from the law
less, indolent and vagrant portion of the
community Such connection possesses
no moral fiber whatsoever and Is as
cowardly as It is reckless and cruel when
once aroused. 1t cannot resist a determined
stand or firm purpose and by assuming
these qualities, the citizens OF Springfield
have ths power to dissipate such combina-
tions and gatherings as the leaves are
driven before the wind.
Brigade Headquarters Abandoned.
with the departure Of all except two regi-
ments, tho division and brigade headquar-
ters were abandoned. Generals Wells and
Foster were relieved Of duty and General
Young remained only in advisory capacity
to the governor. H. T. Loper returned to
the city today prepared to testify before
the grand jury. Mr. Loper said that he has
no intention of resuming business in Spring
field. He limited that his testimony to the
grand jury Will result in the indictment of
several persons whom he recognized as
leaders of the mob which destroyed his
restaurant.
Try 20 Fix Responsibility.
The local authorities today began theatssk
of overcoming the handicap on efforts to fix
responsibility for the recent riot, imposed
by the failure OF the coroners' inquest
to hold any one responsible for the death
of Scott Burton, the negro lynched in the
''black belt last Friday night. The open
verdict of the coroners jury was a blow to
the hopes of the states attorney and other
officials, who saw in 1t confirmation of
the suspicion that witnesses to the riot
ing would fail to recognize leaders OF the
mob. when called upon to testify in public
proceedings. or the four witnesses upon
whom Coroner Woodruff had depended for
the success Of his first riot inquest, only
one appeared on the stand. That witness
displayed an unusually poor memory when
confronted with incisive questions and the
/ absence of the other three made the
coroner's task futile.
| This condition existes despite the ap-
peals of the commercial organizations and
! Governor Deneen that luw-foving citizens
volunteer their testimony regarding the
riot and its leaders. There was a generous
| response to these appeals so far as the
secret grand jury proceedings are con-
/ cerned, but few persons seem willing to
/ risk the enmity of the lawless element of
/ the community by appearing in the open
/ as defenders Of the strict letter of the
! law.
Grand Jury stiI at Work.
The grand jury went ahead with its
investigating today, but there was con-
:
work than was displayed two days ago.
| The departure of all except two regiments
| of the state militia caused a renewal of
the threats that there would be "some-
! thing doing after the soldiers leave" and
this feeling was reflected in the anxiety,
which was manifest in all circles of the
| city.
/ In fact, a renewal of the zioting is ex-
pected momentarily and the negroes espe-
! cially fear that once the mob is started
again no power OF the state can prevent
/ the most serious disorders.
/ Only the Seventh regiment of infantry
and eight troops of the state cavalry regi-
ment were on active duty today, The Sec
ond, Fifth and Third regimental origani-
cations broke camp this morning, reducing
the military force to about 1000 men. Not
| more than third of these were on active
duty and the decrease in military display
and regulations was noticeable.
! The force may be reduced still further
! tomorrow, according TO common report
but none OF the officials in charge would
confirm OF deny this. II is certain, how
ever, that the immediate return OF normal
! conditions is the goal sought in all quar-.
ters. This can be accomplished only by
the withdrawal Of the troops from the
streets and the abrogation of the orders
which, in many instances, requires the pres
entation of special orders before citizens
can pass sentries stationed at certain
street corners. The regulation Of the city
officials regarding the early closing of al
business houses and the prohibition of the
sale of liquor within the city limits are
| still In force
Sentries Fire at shadows.
This morning was almost devoid OF
alarms. Some firing was heard I'm the
outlying eastern sections OF the city, buI
nervous miltiamen were responsible for