Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-08
MILITIA WILL
COME TO CITY
MEETING OF CITIZENS LAST
NIGHT RESULTS IN REQUEST
TO GOVERNOR FOR GUARD
NUMEROUS VIEWS GIVEN
Safest Course Was Decided to be With
The Aid of the State Soldiers,
Despite Advertising Town
Would Get.

The mayor, acting in conjunction !
with the sheriff, was last night in the
council chamber instructed to request
the governor to send adequate guards
men here during the arraignment and
trial of John Junkin, the negro muir
derer, to protect the prisoner and pre-
vent any mob violence. This decision
was reached after the views of MI
merous citizens were heard both for
and against bringing the militia here,
and 1t was not until the motion of T.
r. Buckley was made, bringing our
the idea of enlisting 100 citizens to-
act as guard, that the matter was IL
nally adjusted This motion failed to
carry, and the motion that followed,
providing for the visit of the state
soldiers, was carried The saeetiug
was called for the purpose of ascer-
tanning the views of the citizens reid
tive to the necessity of bringing the
guardsmen here and If suf-
fcient number "of citizens would
volunteer to protect the criminal and
uphold the dignity of the law, it was
the plan to do without the soldiers.
Mayor Phillips opened the meeting.
and after few remarks in which he
incorporated the object of the gath
ering, he called upon 10 R. Jaques.
Jacques Wants Militia.
] t"There is not man in this room
who would protect Junkin with his
life said Mr.. Jaques, "and there is
no need of debating the question. The
militia should come. When / was ap-
preached the other day by man and
asked if / would defend the negro,
told him that l could not, as | was
prejudiced and could not defend him
with the sincerity that should be felt
between an attorney and client. The
militia should come by all means
A view entirely opposite this was
taken by r. r. Buckley, who contend
ed that the advent of the militia in
| Ottumwa would be heralded broadcast
and the general idea would go out
that Ottumwa was such lawless COM
munity that no dignity whatever was
felt for the law He offered himself
as one of hundred volunteers to take
the place of guardsmen.
Should be Given Hearing.
T. H. Picker, after bitterly de-
nouncing the murderer, stated that 1t
was the duty Of every law-abiding cit
izen of Ottumwa to see that John Jun
kin was given hearing He favored
the citizens cooperating with the off
Gals in protecting the negro.
"It would be a greater disgrace to
Ottumwa," said H. G.. Williams. ito
have Junkin hung here by enraged cit
liens without the militia, than with
them, and inasmuch as that Is what
the stat guardsmen are maintained
for, can see no reason why we should
not call them"
S. p Hartman referred to the dis
play of feeling some time ago in the
city against Junkin, and he was in ia
vor Of following out the safest course
in protecting him from any mob VIC
lence that might show itself.
Many Discourage Militia Idea.
The idea of bringing the state mi
litia was discouraged by ]. F. Powell
who contended that the city would gel
/ great deal more unpleasant advertis
ing and publicity through its coming
4 than by quietly bringing Junkin here
arraigning him and taking him bacl
4 to Fort Madison to await trial. e
4 Hoglund and Charles Ream were O.
u the same opinion. John Ninemires
n stated he had heard much common
A upon mob rule should Junkin BIZ
4 brought here, and favored the calling
4 of the militia. James Gee took the op
4 posite view, and discouraged bringing
y the militia here.
XII Remarks were made by A. J. Stump
Fred Wilcox, T. E. Kirby, and Chic
u Gallagher urging by all means to brins
II the militia, and to combat this view
T. H. Pickler, in speaking for FREQ
II Rosen, ST., stated that 1t was his ide;
n now to allow the murderer to come tt
this city and be arraigned with speed
n and tried as quickly as possible with
j out any more demonstration for thu
city than was necessary. e. r. Nit
4 chell was of the same opinion.
The motion Of Mr.. Jaques which EN-
powered the mayor and sheriff tt
4 communicate with the governor tt
1 send the militia, was then made ant
4 carried