Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-22

n MAHA, Neb., Feb. 21.-From
1 nid-atternoon until far into
" the night South Omaha, this
city's big suburb, has been the
scene Of rioting, murderous as
saults and pillage.
Greek residents were the OBJ
jects Of the attacks. More than
thirty buildings have been
burned, wrecked or badly dam
aged and probably a score of per-
sons injured, half that number
seriously.
By heroic work the police have
prevented actual loss of life.
The immediate cause of the trouble
was the killing on Friday night Of
Policeman Edward Lowery by John
Masuredes a Greek. whom the officer
had placed under arrest. MasUredes
was brought to the Douglas county jail
here at once, and for fear of an attempt
to lynch him he was taken Saturday
afternoon to Lincoln and placed in the
penitentiary to await his preliminary
hearing.
in South Omaha and signed by hun
dreds of citizens, setting forth that q
large number of Greek residents of the
place were of the undesira BILE class and
calling a mass meeting at the city hail
for Sunday afternoon to discuss
methods of ridding the city of them.
More than 1000 men attended the
meeting, which was addressed by men
Of prominence, including two members
of the state legislatu The speeches
were calculated to infame the passions
of the more eXcitable.
Crowd Invades Colony
The meeting ended, d large portion OF
the crowd started out with the inten-
ton of carrying out the suggestions of
the speakers in the most summary
manner.
Governor Shallenberger was consulted
and expressed a willingness to call out
the troops if necessary. No such de-
mand was made tonight, however.
Fifteen arrests had been made up to
midnight.
1t was a wild mob of 500 to 1000 men
which started for the Greek quarter to
avenge the death of PatrOlman LoWery.
Before their thirst for blood had been
satisfied two boys had been shot and
at least eight persons had been injured
by heavy missiles which the crowd
used for weapons, and not fewer than
thirty buildings were partially demol-
ished
The injured boys are Frank Sweeney
and Joseph Gamble, each about Is
years of age, who received part of the
contents of a shotgun fired into the
crowd by the maddened Greeks.
The other persons injured were all
foreigners, and after their wounds were
dressed they were sent to their homes.
A crowd of perhaps 500 or 1000 quickly
gathered to augment the size of the
mob and a general assault was begun
in the homes or business places of the
Greeks.
This attack was centered at Twenty
sixth and o streets, where is located
the principal Greek quarter.
Begin Throwing Stones
The maddened crowd began it's work
of destruction by throwing stones and
bricks through the windows Of stores
and houses known to be occupied by
Greeks.
In a very short time havoc was made
with the fronts of these places, and the
stocks of the stores were quickly laid
waste.
Two blocks east another crowd
smashed the front of a saloon and sew
eral daring spirits attempted to pillage
the interior, but a squad of police
charged the crowd and prevented the
mob from securing the liquor. 1t was
at this place that the two boys were
shot and the other persons injured.
A third crowd rushed to Twenty
fourth and l. streets and attacked q
confectionery store run by Demos
Brothers. The big plate glass windows
were quickly smashed, the doors were
kicked in and the stock and show cases
destroyed.
Mrs Mary Demos and her aged
father were in the store and both mar
rowly escaped death at the hands Of
the mob.
The three attacks were made almost
simultaneously, and the destruction
was completed before Chief of Police
Briggs could get his scattered forces
together.
Meantime Sheriff Brayler collected all
the deputies possible and rushed them
to South Omaha to aid the police. It
took some time to organize this force
and during the interval Greeks were at
tackled on every hand.
The members of the mob assaulted
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