Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-02-18
Mob Attacked Cairo, Ill.,, Court
house Purpose of Lynch
ing a Negro.
WARNED AWAY BY SHERIFF.
Was Unheeded; First Fired Over
Their Heads Then Into
Their Ranks.
One Killed, Several Wounded-Eight
or Twelve Deputies Were Negroes
Militia Now on Guard.

Cairo. ILL.,, Fob 1S.-Thirty militia
men THIS morning patrolled in front of
the Alexander county courthouse.
where shortly before l a M. Alexan-
der Halliday. leader of a mob attack on
the Jail. was snot to death by deputy
sheriffs, and four others were wound
ed
Halliday, son of former mayor OF
Cairo lay for three hours dying beside
the courthouse steps with the tempera-
ture a few degrees above zero. During
that time Sheriff NelIs, acting on or
ders received by telephone from Gov.
Deneen. refused to permit anyone to
remove the wounded man or to allow
physician TO enter the enclosure.
The sheriff says he believed the man
was dead Milit;amen who removed his
body at 4 a. m. say it was warm, in
dicating that death had come but
short time before.
THE DEAD.
Alexander Halliday. S5 years old,
dairyman. son of former Mayor Thom-
as w, Halliday of Cairo; shot in
head and body.
THE WOUNDED.
sam Wessipger, former policeman,
wounded In head and shoulder; at St
Mary's mfirmary.
John Maloney, brother-in-law OF Mrs.
Roge Moloney whose purse was
snatched by one of the negro pris-
oners sought by the mob. Slight wound
on cheek.
Horton Crehan. wounded on ankle.
George 3. Walker. the Associated
Press correspondent, wounded IN the
leg
Graham was shot when he stopped
for moment to learn what the trouble
was about
Eight of the IL deputy sheriffs whose
shots killed + .lliday and wounded the
others were negroes. This fact was
not definitely known to the crowd.
was suspected, and the suspicion
helped to arouse the racial feeling.
THE DEADLY voLLEY.
The deadly volley which the sheriff's
men fred from the windows OF the
courthouse was fred in answer TO
scattering shots from the crowd. and
after the deputies. in obedience to the
sheriff's order. hnd fred one volley In
the air.
One of the bullets fred from the
crowd grazed the sheriff's right hand,
causing blood blister.
The mob fell back to two saloons ad-
Joining the courthouse and Jail, and
remained there until the saloons were
closed shortly after q. m. on
mn order from Mayor Parsons. caused
by a message from the governor at
Springfield
When the men were turned out OF
the saloon, ii was too cold to remain
outside. and another attack on the
courthouse was not ventured. The
militia company. ordered out by the
governor at midnight. did not succeed
in assembling until a. m. and at that
hour the militiamen relieved Nellis'
deputies.
CAUSE OF THE ATTACK.
The mob attack on the Jail was the
outgrowth of public Indignation over
petty crimes by negroes, particularly
purse snatchings and annoyances to
women.
Mrs. Rose Maloney's purse was
snatched Wednesday evening. she
drew a revolver and fired at the negro
but he ran away with her purse. In
her purse was a silver dollar to which
a postage stamp had become attached
Mrs Maloney told the police OF TINS
fact and when tho negro offered such
a com In store yesterday ne was
arrested.
The negro John Pratt. confessed
that he had taken Mrs Maloney y
purse and, several days ago that OF
Mrs. Accord. He said Lincoln wilson
was his accompllce. and Wilson. ne
gro. was also arrested.
Sheriff Nellis heard talk of lynch1nS
in the afternoon and evening, and at
10 pm. called up Gov. Deneen at
Springfield.
At about midnight an order was
sent to Cairo for Capt. Greaney Of the
local militia company to proceed to the
sheriff's aid. There was delay in find-
ing Greancy and In arousng the
mlitlamen. The sheriff called on
Mayor Parsons for aid from the police
The mayor said he would order some
OF the night force TO assist Nells. but
none OF the eight night policemen ap-
pcared nt the courthouse
From 10 pm. until midnight the
crowd gathered In the saloons and talk
or Iynching fomented into an attack.
The jail was dark. and the mob could
not see the sheriff and II deputies
standing guard with shotSuns at the
windows OF the two Offices on either
side OF the main entrance.
AS the crowd rushed toward thu
steps Sheriff NellIs called loudly:
stand back or my men VIII fire o'
you"
MOB FIRED on.
The first four men In the crowd
Nellis declares. had handkerchicfs ove
their faces. Nelis drew a revolver an
shouting command to fire, he fred
shot over the heads OF the mob.
The deputies who had been ordere
to lre their nrst volley IN the air, di
so. AS the sound died away. pistf
shots began popping from the crow
and bullets fell around the sheriff.
Then the second voIley. HALLIDAY
who had started up the steps in ad
vance OF his fellows. was telled b
charges from at least two shotgu1s. III
fell over the railing OF the courthous
steps and lay Ia the snow. The other
fell back hurriedly. none of the wounc
ed men being In too serious conuitio
To leave.
At q saloon the wounds of the for