Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-26
AFFAIRS At SOUTH OMAHA
Conditions Settle Down to Normal So
Far As Appearances Co.
DAMAGE BY RIOTS EXAGGERATED
chief Briggs Receives Anonymous
Letter C%ritieiEinE His Actions
During Riot and Makes
Reply to the Same.

Another night of perfect quiet In South
Omaha indicates the return of normal con-
ditions. 1t is believed that the anger OF
the populace against the Greeks has been
satisfied. During the entire day Wednes-
day Greeks in small parties came to South
Omaha and after securing an officer at the
city jail visited their old quarters. No one
stayed there. AS soon as they could load
Up their property in vans and moving
wagons they returned to Omaha. Fifteen
or twenty loads of furniture, bedding and
beds were hauled away. The property own
ers have not attempted to repair the ruined
buildings. The Greeks can not sleep in
them. The people whose houses are entire
dare not rent rooms or buildings to the
Greeks. so IT is imperative that the Greeks
return to Omaha. II is now believed inn
probable, even with the repair of the former
lodgings, that the Greeks VIII return to
them after having once settled in Omaha.
In the first hurly-burly of excitement.
when estimates of the property loss we're
based on the statements of the owners OF
the damaged buildings and furniture, 1t was
thought from $4,000 to $4,000 would be the
amount. 1t is likely that this is consider
ably too high. At least Mayor Koutsky. j.
j. Breen, George W. Roberts and G. IL.
Boesche, acting on the suggestion that a |
careful estimate would not be amiss, Wis
tied all the. places damaged and have item
ized the losses to the buildings and fur
niture. They prepared lists of every win
dow broken and every piece of damaged
furniture as far as known. The aggregate
of the losses estimated in this manner is
only $1,622.60. This estimate does not in
clude losses to the business houses by way
of income or the loss to the managers OF
lodging houses. 1t does not include loss of
wages to laborers. This loss can not be es-
timated until the names of all aimants
are in. Several claims for damages were
filed.
All of the four men mentioned, who in
spected the buildings with a view to dis
covering the exact damage, agreed on the
total loss in each case before leaving the
spot. This action was taken with a view
OF meeting possible extravagant claims by
owners of the damaged property. The
owners of the property win not agree to
the appraisement by the city officials, but
many Of the private claims alone exceed
the total loss estimated by the city.
The claims for personal injury will be
much higher, being based on estimates Of
a different character. 1t is likely that the
city will compel the aggrieved parties to
pAihB sui Tdtncl q COfne L d SetIienent,
since it is declared that the state has no
law covering damage to property during a
riot.
statement from Chief Briggs.
Chief John Briggs has felt himself ag-
grieved through the receipt of an anony-
nous letter, which was mailed to him from
Omaha yesterday, The letter reads:
Chief Briggs: You and your department
stirred up this riot. You must feel good
over It. This brutal treatment Of people
who had nothing to do with the murder
viii put a feather in your cap. like -.
You know all these rioters and could
have stopped II had you cared to do so.
Omaha famous for breadth OF mind and
justice.
The letter was written in typewriter and
no marks of Identification could be found.
Even the water mark in the paper was
torn through. The CHIEF said that since
the letter had been published without com
ment or reply he thought he should say
that he believed his actions in the late
riot would fully vindioate him in every
particular. He said that the party need
not fear his making every effort to pre-
serve the peace and to punish the rioters.
He said he had made lists of names and
turned them over to the county attorney,
in addition to those parties who were
placed under arrest during the riot. In
cases of arrest ample evidence will be
produced on the request OF the county at
torney. Chief Brigg was present at the
mass meeting last Sunday and as soon as
he saw Indications of violence he left the
crowd to summon his patrolmen where
possible and warn them TO be ready to
preserve order if possible. During the
riot he was found in the midst of the
crowd protecting the injured and trying to
persuade the men to go home peaceably.
That he did not shoot he said was due
to the fact that al his approach the crowds
drew back aud trouble started AT another
point. Had any Greeks been killed / would
have resorted even TO arms to dispense the
mob, but until the violence reached the
point OF murder 1t was most dangerous TO
begin promiscuous shooting
Such was the reply OF the chief to the
accusation that the police department was
responsible. He commended his men on
their GOODNESS and efforts TO queil the
mobs. which at many points we're as bad
as the city has ever seen.
Miller Charged with Assault.
Charles Miller was arrested yesterday OF
a warrant sworn out by John sullivan
charging Miller with assault. sullivan says
that Miller struck him with q heavy bal
yesterday at the cudahy packing house
Il is said that Sullivan Is In a serious con
dition and that the charge Of assault may