Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-02-18
NEGRO DEPUTIES
FIRE ON MOB, KILL
one, WOUND -FOUR
Sheriff Defends Cairo, ILL.,, Jail
Against Lynchers Who
Seek Thieves.
SITUATION CRITICAL AND
TROOPS ARE RUSHED THERE
SOn of Former Mayor Slain
When Angry Rioters Are
Checked by Bullets.

y
CAIRO, ILL.,, Feb. 1S.-Thirty militia
',,een, members of Company *. of this
tssity, today are patrolling the sidewalk
In front of the Alexander County
Court House, where shortly before 1
"a. m. Alexander Halliday, leader of a
mob attack on the Jail, was shot to
death by deputy sheriffs, several of
whom are negroes. Four other men,
two of them not members of the mob,
were wounded.
Halliday, son of former mayor of
Cairo, lay for three hours dying be-
side the court house steps, with the
temperature a few degrees above zero
During that entire time Sheriff Nellis,
acting on orders received by telephone
from Governor Deneen, refused to per-
init any one to remove the wounded
man, or to allow a physician to enter
the enclosure.
The sheriff says he believed the man
was dead Militiamen, who removed
his body at a a. M. say it was warm,
indicating that death had come but
short time before.
The dead:
Alexander Halliday, IS years old,
dairyman. son of former Mayor
Thomas W. Halliday, of Cairo, shot in
head and body.
The weunded:
Sanxs Wessinger. former policeman,
wounded in head ana shoulder; at ST.
Mary's Inffrmary.
John Maioney, brother-in-law of Mrs.
Rose MRloney, whose purse was
snatched by one of the negro prisoners
sought by the mob; slight wound on
cheek.
Horton Crshan, wounded in ankle;
had stopped to see what was the
trouble.
George .. Walker, the Associated
Press correspondent, wounded in the
leg
EAgfie Of She twelve of the deputy
rsheriffs whose shots killed Halliday and
wounded the others were negroes. This
TACT was not definitely known to the
crowd which storrned the court house,
but It was suspected, and this helped to
nrouse the racial feeling that spurred
on che crowd
The deadly vofley which the sheriff 8
men fired from the windows of the
sheriffs and the circuit clerks offices,
on the first floor of the court house,
was fired in answer to scattering shots
from, the crowd and after the deputies,
in obedience to the sheriff's order. had
fired one volley in the air.
One of the bullets fred from the
crowd grazed the sheriff's right hand.
causing a blister. but not breaking the
skin. Others fell near him. 1t was
after this he says. that his men fired
directly into the crowd.
rrt,o ,oot. Fall I1a ok m tyvo saloons adj
Joining the court house and Jail and
remained there until the saloons were
closed shortly after on an order of
Mavor Parsons caused by a message
from the Governor at Springfield.
Sheriff Nellis heard talk of mob law
Yesterday and called on Governor
Deneen for troops. He also called on
Mayor George Parsons for aid from the
police. The mayor said he would order
some of the night force to assist Nell1s,
hut none of the eight night policemen
appeared at the court house.
From 10 D. m. until midnight the
crowd gathered in the saloons, and
talk of lynching grew into the deter
n1inatfon to attack the jail and take
out the two negro prisoners.
The building itself was dark and the
mob could not see the sheriff and
twelve deputies standing guard with
shotguns. at the windows of the two
Offices on either side of the main en-
trance. As the crowd rushed toward
the steps, Sheriff Nellis called loudly
e'stand back or my men will fire on
you"
The first four men in the crowd, Mel
{ lis declares, had handkerchiefs ovel
their faces. Nellis drew a revolver
and shouting command to fire, sent q
bullet over the heads of the mob.
The deputies, who had been ordered
to fire their first volley in the air, die
So AS the sound died away pisto
shots began sounding from the GROVE
and bullets struck around the sheriff
Then came the second colley. Halli-
dav who had started UP the steps in
advance of his fellows, was felled by
charges from at least two shot guns
He fell over the railing of the court
house steps, and lay silent in the snow
The others fell back hurriediy, carrying
the wounded men in the rush for
safety.
From a saloon, wncee a physician
dressed the wounds of the four men
telepfone MESA ge was sent to the
sheriffs office. Neihs answered the
telephone.
N''~~s
man who is lying there" came a voice
from the saloon.
sheriff Feared Ruse.
you can't come until I've talked to
The Governor was the reply. Nellis
called up Springfield and told Governor
Deneen that the man in the snow was
dead, as he believed him to be. He
asked whether he should permit the
body to be removed.
The Governor advised. Nellis says, tc
wait until the militia came and TO take
no chances on ruse which might result
in a renewal of the mobs attack. Wher
the next message came from the sa-
1o.E Nellis told his questoner that
everyone aust keep away.
Early in She day Company K relieved
Sheriff Neils and soon had matters
fully In hand Tsxo- town IL excited ane
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