The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-18
SHOOT AND KILL
DEFENSE NEGROES
Deputy Sheriff Protecting Jail
/ Fire on Mob-One Killed
Four Wounded.
SOLDIERS LATE IN
REACHING THE SCENE
Mob Demands Negroes and Storms
Jail-Volleys Exchanged and
Rioters Suffer
Severely.


of militia called out to suppress the
second mob in Cairo within the past
few months early to-day took the
body of Alexander Halliday from
snowbank under the Jail window and
kept a quiet watch.
The mob had been dispersed earlier
In the morning by the sheriff. who
ordered volley fired that killed
Halliday and wounded four others.
After the shooting. the mad crowd
fell back and did not attempt to pick
up the body of the dead man. sheriff
Neiiis declared 1t would lie there until
morning or untilc the soldiers came.
When the troops arrived there was
little for them to do except take
away Halliaay's body
Gathered Before Daylight.
The mob gathered before daylight
To storm the Alexander county Jail
and lynch two negroes. John Pratt
and lincoln Wilson. confessed purse
snatchers. Nellis ordered his deputies
to fire when the attacking party re-
fused to disperse. The dead:
ALEXANDER HALLIDAY
monty known as "Spinney.
Tho wounded
SAM WESsINGEK, badly wounded,
shot in head.
JOHN MaLONEY. slightly wound
ed. shot In head
GEORGE b. WALKER, shot in leg
HORTON GREHAN, shot in ankle.
Walker and crehan were spectators
hit by stray bullets.
About fifty men we're in the mob
that threatened to break open the
tail Neliis and thirteen deputies. In
Gliding FIVE white men and eight
negroes, were in the building. After
the shots had been fired. the invaders
fell back. Although II was ramored
another attempt would he made, the
mob did not reform.
Troops Too Late.
Company X. of the Illinois National
Guard, called out last night In antici-
patton OF trouble. did not reach the
courthouse until the mot was dis
persed. Upon their arrival, just be-
fore daybreak the milttiamen removed
the body OF Halliday TO St Marys
infirmary. where, after an examina
ticf the body was turned over to an
undertaken by order of the coroner.
Talk of Iynching was reported to
Neilk early last evening. He had
previously arranged to- he in Bellevue
to-day to witness the hanging OF the
negro Clark. but decided TO stay and
await developments. About 10 O'Clock
Nellis called Governor peneen by long
distance phone. telling him of the sit
uation Shortly after this Nellis
learned the men We're collecting In the
saloons and talking OF iynching the
negroes Pratt and Wilson. He then
tried 10 hrd Captain Greaney. Of
Company *. Illinois National Guard.
and could not. so called up the Gov
ernor again Lieutenant Bistlewood
was ordered to call out the company,
hut did not know how to muster the
men.
Mob Would Not Halt.
At fa:4a the mob appeared at the
courthouse and started through the
gate and up The steps of the jail. Nell
lis commanded The mob 70 disperse.
TO III with you.' was the re-
Spouse,
Four leaders had covered their
to Ncl.is and he was unable to rec
ognize them.
The sheriff had instructed the dep
uties stationed I'm the jail to fire into
the air on given signal He gave
the signal and the deputies fred
,rolley through the windows The
shower OF hnitets was poured from
the reviewers OF the mob and fell
about the sheriff, The posse then
fred a second voliey directly at the
mob.
Shrieks and groans followed and
FIVE men sank to the ground. The
fire was not returned.
e. Orders saloons Closed
Nellis telephoned the Governor
what had happened and said some
one had asked permission to remove
the body of the dead man from the
iaii yard. Governor Deneen instruct
ed him TO allow no one to enter the
Jail yard until reinforcements arriv-
cd. Shortly before dayhreak Com
pany Il put in an appearance and
lHaliiday's body was removed TO the
infirmary. The body was warm when
picked up. II Is said.
4 Governor Deneen has ordered all
saloons in Cairo closed up and the Ad-
iutant General has sent word that
Company G, of Effingham. VIII ar
rive early this afternoon.
L Sheriff NelEs was appointed by
Governor Deneen to succeed Frank Is.
Davis. whom he removed from office
following the double iynching Mo-
vember ii OF Will James. a negro
accused of assaulting and killing Miss
Anna Peliey. a young dry goods safes
woman, and John Seizner, white,
photographer. accused OF beating his
wife 10 death.
Although Governo& Deneen at first
declared everything Tssible had been
done TO save James, he afterwards
decided that it was mandatory under
an old Illinois statute to remove pa-
Wis. The law provides that when a
prisoner is taken from sheriff and
iynched the sheric must be removed
and the office turned over to the cor
oner until a sheriff Ia appointed.
Fire ON Fifth street.