Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-02-22
JUDGE BUTLER ADJouRNs COURT
FOR TWO WEEKS AND GRAND
JURY WILL BE DISMISSED, DUE
TO EXCITEMENT.
GRAND JUROR IN THE
MOB SHERIFF. CLAIMS
FUNERAL OF HALLIDAY SUNDAY
AND REPORTS OF FURTHER
PURSE sNATcHlNG KEEP EM.
cITEMENT BOILING AT CAIRO.

Cairo, Ill.,, Feb. 21-Because of the
great excitement here and to lessen
the danger of further mob violence,
Circuit Judge Butler today adjourned
court for two weeks. The grand fury
probably will be dissolved. this after
noon. The sheriff alleges that at least
one member of the grand jury was
present in the crowd during the at
tack on the Jail.
Negro Deputies Fired at Mob.
Four negro special deputies Satur.
day afternoon in the coroner's inves.
tigating of the killing of Alexander
Halliday, stated that they fired sew.
eral shots each into the mob that de-
manded admission to the Jail Thurs
day night.
The coroner's inquest resolved 1t.
self into more of a grand jury quiz
than the usual formal proceedings.
The jury, composed Of business men,
showered questions on the negro wit
nesses with such rapidity that the ne
groes became confused and alarmed
The jurymen tried to learn which one
of the negroes fred the steel jacketed
bullet that killed Halliday. They got
admissions that the negro deputies
fired indiscriminately into the crowd
with shot guns and revolvers, but none
would admit having used the Swiss
rifle with which 1t is supposed Halli.
day was killed.
The investigation was adjourned
until Monday after sixteen witnesses
had been examined.
Even Conservative Element Sore.
The six negroes who participated IN
the firing on the mob are said to be
marked men since their names ecame
public. The killing Of white man,
and the wounding of several others by
the negroes brought protests from
even the conservative element.
Sheriff Nellis testified that he used
negroes because he could not find his
regular deputies, nor the local 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 ia
find men to assist him in protecting
his prisoners. He declared the local
militia company could not appear un
| til six hours after 1t Is notified to re-
port to him.
Sheriff obeyed Denecn'o Orders.
! Nellis said he obeyed the orders OF
| Governor Deneen in leaving Halliday
in the snow in front of the court house
three hours before permitting him to
be removed.
He also insisted that member OF
4 the mob fired the first shot. This waa
contradicted by George Jackson, ne.
gro. who insisted that the sheriff shot
| first.
Jackson, Charles Hudson, Henry
Douglas AMI 7. A. Head, negroes, whn
served as deputies, admitted firing in.
to the mob. The witnesses said the
| leaders of the mob wore gunny sacks
over their heads, with holes cut for
eyes.
AS the position Of Haliday's body
and the course OF the bullet indicates
the missile came from first floor win
dow in the county clerks office, the
jury Is trying to learn which Of the
deputies was stationed in this room
The testimony will be used by the
grand jury, four members of which are
negroes, in the investigation of the
riot on Monday
Search for Purse snatcher.
Police officers are searching the city
for negro suspected Of purse snatch.
ing and another clash between the
authorities and the citizens is feared
IL the man is caught
Feeling is still running high against
/ the negroes and intensity was added
to this sentiment yesterday afternoon
whom negroes, it is charged, made In
sulting gestures at persons in the ftI-
neral procession that WIS following
the body of Alexander Halliday, killed
on Thursday night in an attack upon
i the Jail, to the cemetery.
Nearly six hundred persons attend,
ed Halliday's funeral and accompan.
led the body to Mounds, ILL.,, in spec.
4 ial train. AS the train was passing
through the negro district OF Cairo,
negroes collected on the streets td
watch it's passage. At Thirty-hrst
street members of the funeral party
charge, an insulting demonstration
i y,oc