The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-02-10
FEAR RACE WAR
Many Idle Negroes Are Arrested
Because of Attacks on
YOUNG White GIRLS

Reign OF Terror IN HERON Till LIS
trict Causes Police to Decide to
Arrest All Negroes Without Visi-
BILE Means of Support-Relentless
Crusade to Stamp Out Crimes.
Pittsburg, Feb. 3.-At the Central
police station here today 126 negroes
arrested last night and today, fol-
lowing a carnival of crime agalns'
Young white girls in the Heron Hill
district recently, were given hear
ings before Magistrate Brady. For
ty-three of the negroes proved to the
court that they have honest employ"
ment and were discharged.
in spite of many threats Of armed
resistance upon the part Of negroes
II the police continue their whole
sale arrests of members of their race
rithout employment in the Heron
Hill district of the city, no outbreak
of anyskind has occurred up to late
tonight. Of course these threats
will have no effect on the authorities.
Following the wholesale arrests
last night from now on large forces
of officers will be stationed over the
entire Heron Hill district and siren
nous efforts will be made to stamp
ont the many assaults on young wo-
men. Indignation is high against
this chal acter of crime and the au-
thorities have decided to arrest eV-
cry negro who has no visible means
of support or who is known to he a
user Of drugs.
During the evening three were
taken to police stations, and 1t IS
anticipated that tonight many others
will be arrested. No furlhe: attacks
upon women or girls has been repolt-
ed since last night. and should n
occur. the temper of citizens is sucr
that violence very probably Wo'lc
he melted out to the assailant /!
caught.
Men and women throughout the
section involved are carrying revolV-
ers, and the negroes are said to be
we'll armed also. Should a CLASH
come. as is considered not at all
probable if more arrests are made
the result would be serious. Local
orators are infaming the negroes to
resistance, and the feeling is high.
Forty-two we're fined today IN
amounts varying from IS or ten
days in Jail to $25 or thirty days IN
the workhouse and f~orty-one were
held over pending further investl-
cations. The police are of the opin-
ion that the terrible criminal acts
of the negroes are the work OF a
few degenerate cocaine fends. This
character of negroes together with
those who shirk work and frequent
pool rooms, are to be taken into
custody as soon as located.
This afternoon a large number OF
negroes are indulging in much rabld
talk. There is talk of rae riots and
bloodshed. 1t is said that the ne
groes are arming themselves. Ac-
cording to rumors, should the au-
thorities decide to make another raid
on the negroes armed resistance will
be offered by them. The police
however, seem to have the situation
we'll in hand and probably will not
make further indiscriminate arrests.
Of the negroes arrested last night,
thirty-nine were fined, most of them
going to the work house, and two.
Mack MCGEE and Edward Armstead,
were held over for further evidence,
having been partly identified as per-
petrators of one of the attacks on
girls. 1t is said that during the pas
month over a dozen girls have beer
assaulted in the Heron Hill district
This will give some idea of the STATE
OF affairs.