The Cairo bulletin., 1910-03-29
Because Jury is Convinced From Evidence
Submitted, That City Authorities Can Not
or Will Not Bring About Much Need
ed and Continuously Solicited
RefOrm---39 Trne Bills
We're Found

The special grand jury which has been at work til
peoples business for two weeks past adjourned yesterda
shortly after and made the following report to the
Cairo Ill.,. March 28th 1910
To The Hon VIM. n Butlcr Judge of the Circuit Court
Alexander County, Illinois
We the undersigned Special Grand Jury impannelled
honor the sixteenth day of March, Wednesday, 1915
respectfully beg leave to report follows
We have examined one hundred and hirtynine witnesses
and found thirty nine bills the latter being returned int
this court specifically enumerated the attached Sheet
same being prt hereof
Mob of Feb 18th
We first investigated the called mob and its attempte
assault upon the County Jail the night of February lit
past and find the evidence shows that said mob or ineer
parts thereof began to form at about $50 D. in varou
places down town. meeting apparently by appointment
the saloon OF Rudy Laurent Of Nineteenth and Was
ngon avenue about 80 p. m and proceeded in a bod
variousy estmaed hour thereafter to the Court House
where and when the leaders entered the gates ascended tn
steps and demanded of the sheriff the negro prisoner Pratt
being held for purse snaching. The Sheriff in accodanc
with his duty and oath OF office upon refusal to deliver tn
said prisoner and entreltng the mob to dspese ad
dressed by one of the leaders as follows:
"To hell with you, will take you' wlereupon II
leaders attempting to enforce their threat started for the doo
Then the shooting began, in and during which,
was killed and several wounded.
The following the identified leading members of til
mob
James Davdge, G. o. Foster Sam Wessinger Lee Wa,
son. James Casey, j. b Scott George B. Walker VIM Ches
Charles John Maloney Frank Gornan W. II. Simpson
O. p IIurd Jr
The jury unanimously regret the circumstance and dc
plore mob-aw and violence especially in the absence Of
ustfbe demonstration of passion such prevailed tn
memorable night Of November 11th 1909.
Authorities to Blame.
We find that there occasion for any mob demon
raton or awessness Of the character exhibited on the nigh
of February 17h and furthermore that the same could hav
been avoided had the city authorities vizthe MAYOR an
police attended to their swom duties or made and easonab
effort to go to the Sheriff though the order
do promulgated about two hours later than til
evidence and facts indicated warranted
The evidence shows a papabe lack Of vigilance on I'll,
part Of the police, and general disregard of orders IT
manesty impossible for the laws ordinances to be en-
forced when such chaotic and indiscrnnate methods pre-
vail evidenced by the information we obtained from
witnesses and the records
We feel too that the sheriff is not entirely bameless
The matters as had he coopelaed earlier with the authorities
if not all Of the shooting could have been avoided
TO be regretted by the community generally that the
militia" Company X allowed much time to inerven,
between the receipt Of orders to appear the Jail and Their
response and appearance That due however we ouno
principally to the ncemen weather prevailing that night and
also the inadequate facilities at their disposal for connnica
|tinn with one another