Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-11-27
THOSE ILLINOIS LYNCHrNGs.

THOSE ILLINOIS LYNCHTNGS.
The lynching of Wln James. col
ored. the alleged murderer of Miss
Annie Pelley. whitev and Henry Salz-
ner. white. for the alleged murder
of his wife. at Cairo. Illinois. No
vember 70, 1909. adds another black
chapter TO the history Of that state
II shows plainly that there are. men
and women. capable of committing
as heinous crimes as the ones with
which these men stood charged. The
graphic recitals OF the deeds of
savagery read like pages from al
dime novel II is almost inconceiy-
able that men. women and children.
living In a christian country could
be guilty OF such acts OF sayageryI
as the newspaper reports describe
There is no longer any need toI
discuss the acts Of savagery inI
either Turkey or the Isles OF the
sea. We have them here in the
state of Illinois. AS an evidence of
the absolute depravity Of these
people. it will. be well 20 cite in
stances. Here is what the tele
graphic reports say:
OF James body nothing remained
after the lynching The corpse was
dragged 20 the alley where the body
of Miss Pelley was found. Then sal
was decapitated. and the head
placed on a pole. The torso was cut
open. the heart taken out. and dill
vided into small bits. and passed.
among the crowd for souvenirs. The
rope was soaked in the blood. and
also divided among the lynchers.
What was left was burned.
The CHASTITY head remained on the
pole until long after daylight Not
an undertaken In the city would take
charge OF H. and finally the city's|
dead wagon was sent 20 the place.
II Is supposed that the head was
buried on the city dump.
Before the head was disposed of
thousands swarmed about the neigh
borhood. The greater part OF this
crowd was composed OF women and
children. Youngsters who were tool
small ~ see easily were raised aboveI
the heads of the crowd. often byI
their parents
Salzner's body was claimed 10y hisI
father. Some dimculty was expe.
rienced in rescuing the corpse from
the mob
Is there anything in the historical
accounts OF the mob fury OF the
Middle Ages or the frenzied actions
of the people during the French
Revolution that will surpass in hor-
ror and depravity this Twentieth
Century lynching in one OF the
wealthiest and most populous states
of this Republic?
The following remarks are quoted
"A regiment couldn't have stopped
the work OF last nights mob" de.
clared Mayor Parsons. and Sheriff
Davis echoed this sentiment. adding:
There would have been Wholesale
bioodshed had soldiers been here
last night"
To our mind it is time that the
sacrifice be made The mob leaders
must be punished at the scene of
their crimes and the strong arm OF
the law should make its power felt
at the time that these people are
openly defying its authority. II
is this dallying with the Iawless ele-
ments that is causing us to pay
this price OF blood. The policy of
lawlessness and GOO
ing" to evil has its origin in Wash.
ington- Political influence is being
utilized TO prevent sworn officials
from doing their duty. II the state
government and the national gov
eminent cannot or will not protect
a prisoner, then the prisoner should
be armed and given the right 10
protect himself.
Whether by the soldiers or by the
sheriffs or by The law-abiding citi-
zens this lawless spirit must be
curbed and men and women of this
stripe and calibre must be sent to
The Indians happy hunting grounds.