Richmond planet., 1908-08-29
WOr1AN LEADER
COMMITS SUICIDE
The Springfield LynChings.
An Open Confession,
ACRAPC RECITAL OF THE MoBg Acr0N-BURNED MANY HOUSES
GRAPHIC RECITAL OF MOBs ACTION-BURNED MANY HOUSES

Springfield, H., Aug 26.-Mrs.
Kate Howard one or the leaders I'm
the recent riot in this city. commit
ted suicide to-day by swallowing acid
soon after being placed under arrest.
She died as she was being led into
the Jail.
Before the special grand jury.
now in session many witnesses testi-
fed that Mrs. Howard was one Of the
ringleadcrs OF the mob which wreck
ed Loper's restaurant and cafe. She
was the FIRST person indicted and
was held on several counts I'm the
sum OF $4,000. which she furnished
When she was released she said she
would never be arrested again.
To-day shortly after the special
jury returned another Indictment a.
gainst her. charging murder in con-
nection with the recent lynchings.
Deputy Sheriff Kramer was sent to
Mrs. Howard's rooms 20 arrest her.
Mrs. Howard received the officer at
the door. She secretly swallowed "a
large dose Of poison. then said. Pm
ready GO 20 now. She accompanied
the deputy 90 the jail, two blocas a
way, and was just entering the door
when she fell dead.
Ten more indictments. three charg
ing murder. were returned by the
special grand jury late this after
noon. True bills charging murder.
were found against Mrs. Kate How
ard, Abraham Raymor and Ernest.
alias slim" Humphrey.
ETHEL Howe, a young woman. was
indicted for malicious mischief
She was a friend of Mrs. Howard "
SPRINGFIELD. ILL. Aug. IT,
A special Grand Jury has been called
10 begin tomorrow investigating the
riots. Scores were arrested to-day
as suspects, or charged with riot.
The arrest of another mob leader,
Roy Young. . . years old, who proud
ly cOnfcsscs he helped burn Negro
homes and engaged in n revolver
battle with Negroes, was made to-
day. James Scott. aged -, died TO
day from a bullet wound through his
left lung, inflicted during Friday
nights battle along Washington St
The authorities are struggling TO
reassure the people who are wonder
ing If juries can be secured which
will convict any who may be placed
on trial
CONSERVATION was caused when II
was known that Wholesale arrests
We're to be made. Scores were tax
en- to Jail
With the arrest this afternoon Of
Roy Young, the police think they
have the ring leader OF the mob
which Friday afternoon created n
reign of terror in the BLACK belt
and wound up with the lyuching of
Scott Burton, an aged Negro. at the
corner of Twelfth and Madison SITS.
Later Young made a confession in
which he said:
when / heard they were shooting
niggers / went over. When the Mig
gers commenced shooting on East
Washington street some of us broke
into Fishman's pawnshop TO get some
guns. took three or four ,revolvers
and some cartridges and some of
the other fellows got some guns too.
We went east on Washington street
and the fighting got bad.
Il commenced shooting at niggers.
i shot at every one / got a chance.
/ guess I hit some of them, but /
don't know. They tried TO kill me
just the same. When we went over
to Madison street some one started
setting fire to the houses of niggers
and / helped. I guess 1 poured oil
on about fifteen or sixteen houses
and set fire to them.
'I didn't set fire to Burton's beds
nor did ] help hang him to the tree.
When we got to Ninth and Madison
streets / was just setting fire to a
house when a white man ran up to
me and told me not to burn the
place, that 1t belonged to him and
was rented TO niggers. We did not
burn this house"
Roy Young has been living with
his uncle, Edward Young. Their
nome is located at zoe North Sew
eDth street and IL was there that
goods, guns and much ammunition
were found by the authorities follow
ing Young's arrest. When confront
ed with the stolen property he con-
fessed he had taken the articles from
the various stores visited by the raid
ers along East Washington street
last Friday night.
When questioned at the station he
said that he had set fire to ten or
twelve houses, but when taken along
Madison and Mason streets through
the ruihs of the colored district he