The San Francisco call., 1910-02-20
NEGROES IN DANGER
FROM ILLINOIS MOB
Six Sheriff's Deputies Admit
Having Fired Into Crowd
Before County Jail
Martial Law Prevails in Cairo
and Race War Is Barely
Restrained

CAIRO, H., Feb. 1s.-Statements by
four negro special deputy sherifs today
at the coroners investigation of the
killing of Alexander Halliday that they
fired several shots into the mob that
was demanding admission to the county
Jail and courthouse Thursday night has
renewed the anti-negro agitation and
the situation tonight is acute.
Three hundred militiamen began pa
trolling the streets at dusk in antici-
patton Of trouble. The town is practi-
cally under martial law.
The coroner's inquest resolved itself
into more of a grand jury quiz than
the usual formal proceedings before a
coroner. The jurymen, mostly business
men. could hardly restrain themselves
when the negroes were on the stand.
JURORS CONFUSE WITNESSES
Questions were showered on the wit
nesses in such rapid manner by the
jurymen that the negroes quickly be-
came confused as well as alarmed. The
jurymen tried to learn which of the
negroes fired the steel jacketed bullet
that killed Halliday They got admis-
sions that the negro deputies fired in
discriminatory into the crowd with
shotguns and revolvers, but none would
admit having used a Swiss rifle, with
which it is supposed Halliday was
killed.
The investigation was adjourned un-
til Monday afternoon after 16 witnesses
were examined.
The six negroes who participated in
the firing on the mob are said to be
marked men now that their names
have become public.
The killing of one white man and the
wounding of several others at the
hands of negroes has brought out pro-
tests from even the conservative ele-
ment.
SHERIFF WEEPS ON STAND
Sheriff Nellis testified at the inquest
that he used negroes because he could
not find his regular deputies nor the
Carlo militia company officers nor
white men who would answer his call
for help.
Tears ran down the sheriff's cheeks
as he told of his desperate efforts to
find men to assist him in protecting
his prisoners. He declared that the
Cairo militia company, Company X.
was notified before 10 o'clock Thurs
day night to report to him Immediately
to protect the jail. The company did
not put in an appearance until six
Nellis said that he obeyed the orders
Of Governor Deneen in leaving HALT
days body in the snow in front of the
courthouse for three hours before per-
mitting il to be removed.
He also insisted that some one in
the mob fired the first shot which
whizzed by his head, and said that his
man, mistaking the shot for his signal
fired first into the air and then into
the crowd This statement was con-
tradicted by George Jackson, a negro.
who insisted that the sheriff fired the
first shot.
MOB LEADERS IN GUNNYSACkS
The witnesses said the mob leaders
wore gunnysacks over their heads with
holes cut through for eyes.
Mrs. Rose Maloney, whose pocket
book was snatched by John Pratt, the
negro the mob was after Thursday
night, had a second encounter with a
negro today. She lost diamond brooch.
and, when she heard that negro had
found it, went to his home. She re-
covered the jewelry, but the man in
sisted that he did not intend to steal
it,
Drawing a revolver from her muff
she placed it against his stomach and
said:
You knew it was mine when you
quick, or I'll shoot"
The negro then said that he did
recognize il.