Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-02-25
Enraged Crowd in Ottumwa, Ia,
Wanted to Lynch Negro
Villain.
ASSAULTED SICK WOMAN
Bent Her into InscnsiahiIity mud Made
His Escape-Thc Capture of Sus-
poets Came ncnr Resulting in
Mob Observation-Disclosures
Aid tho Police

Ottumwa Ia, Feb. 1o-1ack If a leade,
was all that saved Ottunwa from adding
another bloody chapter to the hist ory OF
race riots IN the United states. A moi
Of men and boys which has increased
from 100 to more than 1000 gathered
around the city Jail. thirsty for vengeance
on Che negro who committed a crimina
assault or a white woman early to-day
While three negroes have been placed r
the city Jail and ono in tho county isi
and several threatening demonstrations
have been made no man was daring
enough 10 lead tho moo in the work thej
wanted to do. and it seemed likely that
peace might be preserved.
John Junkin. a negro suspected of the
murder of Clara Rosen. who vas slain
two weeks ago. was taken out ~ topr
secretlv b. the police following the early
manifestation Of mob spirit A recently
organized vigilance committee is aiding
Tho police. wto declare that they have
the situation in control. COMPANY G
of the 54th regiment of thc Nationa
Guard. under command of Captain
So1amp. is held in the barracks for any
call to action.
The cause OF the UPRISING is the same
as that which started Springfield. H.
mob ON its murdorous plaging nghts
Of terror last summer.
Mrs Charles NJ. Johnston. tho invalid
wife OF an Ottumwa travelling salesman
was in bed with her four 'oer Old child
at three O'Clock tits morning. when sine
aWOke to find negro bending over her
Before she could scream for help tho
black seized her hy the throat and besar
to choke her.
Despite her weakness as the result o'
= recent operation Mrs Johnston fought
desperately. She tore hey selr loose from
the essailants hands and cried for help
At the same time the child screamed
The negro became alarmed and selling
a wooden curtain pole used ms a window
prop beat the woman with the sticl
until she became unconscious
How long the negro remained IN the
room Is not known. The cries Of the
child finally aroused neighbors. who
found Mrs. Johnston lying on the floor
unconscious. News Of the assault spread
rapidly.
The police called ont the visilarte'
md before daylight armed men were
searching for the negro
GUARDS WE'LL PLACED.
Members ~ the citizens guard were
posted in places whore riots were fear
Cd The homes OF negroes were placed
under watch. The city jail became
the point Of attraction for tho excited
men who formed the nucleus Of the
mob.
The trail Of Mrs Johnstons assail-
ant was followed by bloodhounds Il
q deep ra vine near Rutledge mining
camp. three miles from Ottumwa, bu
thorc II was LOST, Other armed mer
searched other parts of the countr,
ell day and far into the night.
While this work was going on thu
crowd around the city jail continued
30 grow in size. Threats We're mad
freely against the negro Junkin an,
the police became alarmed for hit
ca'etY. Toward night they took hin
out Of the Jail hy rear door PLACED
him in an automobile and took hin
10 Chillicothe. ten miles west wher,
he was put on board Of Burlington
passenger train and taken to Abb;
and locked up.
Trouble started again when search
ers began to bring in suspects cap
tured in the surrounding country
The police had been provided Will
q good description Of the guilty Aeer'
hy Mrs. Johnston.
When the fourth suspect was hust
led into the county jail the mob agar
tecamc FESTIVE
WANTED TO BATTER THE JAIL.
"Come on boys, let US get some one
tho police are fooling us" cried :
man in the crowd There was
movement toward tho jan. Cries o
crowd IT was the moment for th'
ldader and the battering ram. but th'
leader was not there. The onslaught
never got beyond words News o
the searching partie. coming in fire
qusntly served to quiet the agitation
hf the crowd at times, while at othe,
periods reports that Mrs. Johnston
who has been an invalid for years
was dying OF her Injuries, fannef
egain the fame Of lawlessness
AS darkness came the less vengefu
went home and ar arently the DANCE
Of lynching was over FOR tho time.
NUMBER OF WOMEN ASSAULTED.
Although the Staying of Clara Roser
whose dead body was found in n
abandoned excavation OF a house, III
head beaten 10 n pulp. with a rock frs