Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1909-02-25
NEGRO F|END IN
BRUTAL ASSAULT
Another Chapter Added to ct.
tumwa's Race Riots and
UnmentionabIe Crimes.

Ottulnwa. Ia. Feb ,4.-I,.ix negro
suspects are being held in the case Of
the criminal assault on Mrs. e. NJ.
Johnston early Sunday morning. The
mob spirit has somewhat subsidized. al
though if the citizens are given amy
information regarding the capture of
any one tallying with the description
of the assaultcr "a lynching party will
result
Mrs. Johnston ut noon was very weak
and nervous and the physicians state
that her recovery depends upon abso-
lutte Quietude and tho best of attention.
Her wounds inflicted by the brutal cur
tain pole, did not DISTURBANCE amy of the
organs. although the shock upon her
heart it is feared may result fatally.
NEGRO ATTACKS
INVALID WOMAN
Oitunwa, la, Feb. o4.~.Nngered by
the brutal attack by Il negro upon Mrs.
Charles NJ. Johnston. the invalid Wife
of Il travelling salesman the citizens OF
Ottumwa last night threatened to add
another chapter to the history OF race
riots. A mob OF 1000 men and boys
surrounded the Jail. thirsting for ven
geance upon the unknown culprit. -Four
negroes We're locked up as suspects. and
John Judkih Il negro. suspected of the
murder of Clara Rosen two weeks ago,
WAS hustled out of town to avoid the
mobs fury
Company Ct. of the national guards,
was held in the barracks in readiness
for action.
Mrs. Johnston WAS in bci With her
4-year-old child at 5 o'clock Yesterday
morning when she awoke to find Il
negro bending over her Before she
could scream for help the negro seized
her by the throat and began to choke
her.
Despite her weakness as the result
of n recent operation Mrs. Johnston
fought desperately. She tore herself
loose and cried out. AT the same time
came alarmed There was a curtain
pole an inch in diameter which was
used as q window prop within reach.
The negro grabbed this and beat the
woman until she became unconscious
How long the negro remained is I'M
known. The cries of the child finally
aroused the neighbors. They found
Mrs. Johnston laying on the floor eln
conscious. BY her side was the cur
tain pole, stained with blood.
The news spread rapidly. Soon
armed posses We're on the trail of the
fleeing negro. Members of the citizens
guard were posted in places where riots
were placed under watch. The trail
of Mrs. Johnstons assailant was fol
lowed by bloodhounds to II deep ra
vine near Rutledge mining camp. three
miles from Ottumwa, but there lost
The mines were searched with the help
of miners, but the man had disap-
peared Other posses of armed men
searched other parts of the country all
day and far into the night.
While this work was going On the
crowd around the Jail continued to
grow. Threats We're freely made
against the negro, Junkin, and the po-
lice became alarmed for his safety.
Towards night they took him out of
In AN automobile and taken to Chilli
cothe, 10 miles west of this city. where
he was put on board q train and taken
TO Abba, where he was locked up in
1 the Jail
4 The mob contented itself with yell
Ing its hate as the first, second and
4 third suspects We're brought into the
Jail. The police had been provided with
! a good description of the guilty negro
by Mrs. Johnston. and after each man
/ was brought in they announced to the
| crowd that the man had no part in the
| crime The news of the searching par
/ ties which came in frequently served to
I uuiet the agitation. 1T was reported
that Mrs. Johnston. who has been an
I invalid for years. was dying as the
! result of her injuries. 1he men of
sober minds in the crowds argued with
4 the more violent to give the police Il
/ chance, 1t was felt as the night wore
! ON that the danger point of concerted
+ action on the part of thousands had
passed Still there were evidences of
| unrest in the more isolated parts OF
! ti,e city