The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-02-25
A RACE RIOT OUT WEST
MOB IN OTTUMWA, IA, SEEKS
SUMMARY VENGEANCE.

Crowd, Deficient in Initiative, Con-
tents Itself With Noise After Start
ing to Lynch Alleged Assailant.
Ottumwa, Ia., Feb. 21.-Lack of
leader was all that saved Ottumwa
tonight from adding another bloody
chapter to the history of race riots in
the United States. A mob of men and
boys, which increased from 100 to
1000, gathered around the city jail,
thirsty for vengeance on the negro
who committed criminal assault on
q white woman early to-day. While
three negroes have been placed in the
city Jail and one in the county jail,
and several threatening demonstra-
tions have been made, no man was
daring enough to lead the mob in the
work they wanted to do and it seemed
likely that peace might be preserved. |.
John Junkin, a negro, suspected OF
the murder of Clara Rosen, who was
slain two weeks ago, was taken out
of town secretly by the police, follow
ing the early manifestation of mob
spirit. A recently organized vigilance
committee is aiding the police, who
declare they have the situation in
control.
Company G, Fifty-fourth regiment
of the National Guard, is held in the
barracks ready for any call to &C
ton.
Mrs. Charles M. Johnston, invalid
wife of an Ottumwa travelling sales
man, was in bed with her 5-year-old
child at o'clock this morning, when
she awoke to find negro bending
over her. Before she could scream
for help the black brute seized her
by the throat and began to choke her.
Despite her weakness as the result
of q recent operation, Mrs. Johnston
fought desperately. She tore herself
loose from the assailant's hands and
cried for help. At the same time the
child screamed. The negro became
alarmed, and seizing curtain pole,
beat the woman until she became un-
conscious. How long the negro re-
NAMED in the room is not known.
The cries of the child finally aroused
neighbors, who found Mrs. Johnson
lying on the floor unconscious. By
her side was the bloody curtain pole.
Search for Criminal.
News of the assault spread rapidly
and before daylight armed men were
searching for the negro. The homes
of negroes were placed under watch.
The city Jail became the point of at
traction for the excited men who
e. x6o af q
The trail of the assailant was fol-
lowed by bloodhounds to deep
ravine three miles from Ottumwa,
where it was lost. Other armed men
searched other parts of the country
all day and far into the night.
While this work was going on the
crowd around the city Jail continued
to grow. Threats being made against
the negro Junkin, the police toward
night took him to Chillicothe, ten
miles west, where he was put on
board Burlington train and taken to
Abba.
Trouble started again when search
ers began to bring in suspects caught
in the surrounding country.
The mob contented itself with yell
ing its hate as the first, second and
third suspects we're taken into the
city Jail.
The police had been provided with
a good description of the guilty ne
gro by Mrs. Johnston.
When the fourth man was hustled
into the county Jail the mob again be-
came restive.
..Come on, boys, let's get some one;
the police are fooling US" cried a
man in the crowd. It was the mo-
ment for leader, but the leader was
not there. The onslaught never got
beyond words. -
Violent One Soon Gained.
There were many of sober minds in
the crowds and these argued with the
more violent to give the police a
chance. AS darkness came the less
vengeful went home and apparently
the danger of lynching was over for
the time.
Although the Staying of Clara
Rosen, whose dead body was found in
an abandoned excavation of house,
was what first reused the mob spirit
to-day, there have been number OF
assaults on white women by negroes
within the last two years that con-
tributed to arouse Ottumwa people.
The first was an assault on Mrs.
George Mcbride. Sherman Phillips,
colored, was acquitted of this crime.
Mary Mahoney, the next victim, dlea
in a hospital. Oscar Hogan, coloreo'
is serving a life term for this crime.