The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-22
.LE ADERLESS MOB MAKES B|C NOISE Negro Who Tried to MurdeT White Woman Is Sought FOOLED BY THE OFFICERS One Negro Murderer Is Spirited Away From Jail By the Sheriff to Save
 His Life-Mob Is Finally
 Dispersed.
FOOLED BY THE OFFICERS

Ottumwa, Iowa, February N.-The citi- zens of Ottumwa tonight were on the verge of adding another bloody chapter to the history of race riots in the United States. A mob of men and boys, which increa sed from 100 to more than 1000, gath ere1 around the city jail, thirsty for ven geance upon an unknown negro who com mitted an assault upon white woman here early this morning.
 Three negroes were taken to the city jail as suspects, and one to the county jail. A demonstration was made by the mos as the fourth man was brought in, but there was no man daring enough to lead. John Junkin, a negro suspected of the murder of Clara Rossn two weeks ago, was taken out of town secretly by the police, following the early manifes- tstion of mop spirit. The recently organ ized vigilance committee aided the police, who declared they had the situation in control. Company G of the National Guard, under command of Captain Sohamp, was held in the barracks.
 Ire cause of the uprising was the same as that which started the Springfield H.. mob cn it's murderous, pillaging nights of tetror last summer.
 Woman Nearly Killed.
 Mrs. Charles M. Johnston, the invalid wife of an Ottumwa travelling man, was in bed with her 4-year-old child at 8 o'clock this morning when she awoke to find a negro bending over her. Be- fore she could scream for help the black seized her by the throat and began to choke her. Despite weakness as the result of a lton Mrs. John ston fought sUz She tore her self loose fro hands and the child screame IS a curtain pole an inch in of sh was used as a. window pro ach The negro grabbed q eat he woman until she becap- .ous.
 The CT the child finally aroused the ne'..Iuors, who found Mrs. Johnston lying on the floor unconscious. By her side was the curtain pole, stained with her blood. The news spread rapidly. The police called out the vigilants, and with in half hour armed posses were on the trail of the fleeing negro. Members of the citizens guard were posted in places where riots were feared.
 Jall Is Surrounded.
 While no demonstrations occurred in these quarters the city jail became the point of attraction for the excited men who formed the nucleus of the mob. The trail of Mrs. .ohnston's assailant was fol- lowed by bloodhounds to a deep ravine near Rutledge mining camp, three miles from Ottumwa, but there lost
 While this work was going on the crowd around the city jail continued to hlow in size. Threats were made free ly against the. negro Junkln, and the police tecame alarmed for his safety. To- ward night they took him out of tbe jai, by res" door, placed him in an automo- bile and took him to Chillicothe, 10 miles west of the city. Here he was put on board Burlington passenger train and taken to Albla where he was locked up in jail.
 The mob contented Itself with yelling it's hate as the first, second and third suspects were brought into the jail. The police had been provided with a good de- scription of the guilty negro by Mrs Johnston, and after the suspects were brought in 1t was announced to the mob that the men captured had no part in the crime. Then the crowd quieted down and the police said that they expected to get important information concerning the guilty man from the negroes held in the jail. When the fourth man was brought through the line the mob again showed it's spirit.
 "Come On, Boys"
 Come on, boys, let's get some one The police fooling us" cried a man in the center of the crowd.
 There was move toward the jail
 Cries came from all parts of the crowd It was the moment for the leader and the battering ram, but the leader was not there.
 Although the staying of Clara Rosen, whose body was found in an abandoned excavation. remains a mystery, 1t re- kindled the mob spirit, which spread over the city with this latest crime There have been number of assaults on white women by negroes within the last two years, which contributed toward arous- ing the people The first was the case of Mrs George Mcbride. A colored man was tried for the crime, but was ac- quilted Mrs. Mahoney, the next victim, died in hospital. and Oscar Hogan, col ored, is serving a life term in the peni- tentiary as penalty.
 List of Crimes.
 Agnes Yates, a telephone operator was followed home from work and attacked A negro was arrested, but the jury ac- quilted him.
 MrS. JOnn lrWln was assaulted by l4e- roy Edwards, a negro, who was convicted and given a life sentence.
 The murder of Clara Rosen and the assault upon Mrs. Johnston brought the crimes to a climax.
 John Junken, colored. the only suspect now held in the Rosen case, is booked on a charge of larceny. Thus far there has developed little evidence to connect him with the murder, and many believe that the Rosen murder and the Johnston assault were committed by the same per- son.
 Late tonight two more negroes were brought to the city jail through a crowd which blocked the streets. There were more cries of Lynch them" but the threats were made mostly by boys.
 In addition to the reward offered by travelling men. S3O0 was subscribed as a nucleus of fund to employ detectives to work on the case. News of this action and the spreading of the announcement to- night of a mass meeting tomorrow when it is expected to raise a large sum to employ a sufficient force of detectives to morlr o1o a1l vacant Ott,,,,,ua c7-imas