The Detroit times., 1910-02-18
MEMBER OF MOB IS
KILLED; 4 OTHERS
WOUNDED
Sheriff Orders volley Fired Into Wild
Crowd That Storms Jail In Cairo
To Lynch Negroes Arrested
For Snatching Purses.
Mob Retreats and State Troops Ar
rive To Take Charge of the
Situation.
THE DEAD.

| THE DEAD
ALEXANDER HALLIDAY. commonly
known "spinney."
THE WOUNDED.
SAM MESSENGER, badly injured,
shot In head.
JOHN MALONEY. slightly wounded,
GEORGE ID. wALkERt shot I'm ley.
HORTON CREHANj shot In ankle.
waiker and Crehnn were spectators
and were hit by stray bullets.
CAIRO. Ills, Feb. lS.-A company
OF militia, called out to impress the
second mob in Cairo within the past
few months. early today took the body
of Alexander Halliday from a snow
bank under the Jail window and kept
watch. The mob had been dispersed
earlier In the morning by the sheriff
who ordered volley fred that killed
Halliday and wounded four others.
After the shooting, the mad crowd
fell back and did not attempt to pick
up the body Of the dead man which
lay In the snow In front OF the Jail
Sherir Nellis declared II would lie
there until morning when the soldiers
would come. When the soldiers came
there was little for them TO do ex-
cept to take away Halliday's body.
The mob gathered before daylight
70 storm the county jail and lynch
two Negroes, John Pratt and Lincoln
Wilson, confessed purse snatchers.
Sheriff Fred G. Nellis ordered his
posse OF deputies to fire when the at
lacking party refused to dispense.
About fifty men were In the mob
that went to the courthouse and
threatened to break open the jail
Sheriff Nellis and 13 deputies, includ-
ing five white men and eight Negroes.
were In the building. After the shots
had been fired. the invaders fell back.
Although IL was rumored another at
tempt would be made. the mob did not
appear again.
Guard, called out by Gov. Deneen last
night in anticipation OF trouble, did
not reach the courthouse until the
mob was dispersed. Upon their ar
rival, just before daybreak, the mill
tiamen removed the body of Halliday
to st. Mary's Infirmary, where, after
an examination. he was pronounced
dead and the body was turned over
10 an undertaken by order OF the
coroner.
Talk of lynching was reported to
Sheriff Nellis early last evening. He
had previously arranged to be In
Belleville today to witness the hang
ing OF the Negro Clark, but decided
to stay and await developments.
About 10 o'clock Sheriff Nellis called
up Gov. Deneen by long distance, tell
ing him the situation. Shortly after
this Nellis learned that men were col
lecting in saloons and talking OF
lynching the Negroes. Pratt and VII.
SON.
He then tried to find Captain Cream
ey, OF Company X, |. n. G.. and could
not, so he called up the governor
again Lieut.. Arthur Thistlewood was
ordered to call out the company, but
did not know how to muster the men.
Mayor George Parsons promised the
assistance Of the police. but the off,
GERS did not materialize.
At 12:45 the mob appeared at the
courthouse and started through the
gate and up the steps OF the jail.
Sheriff Nellis commanded the mob TO
dispense.
ITO h with you," was the re-
sponse.
their faces with handkerchiefs. ac-
cording 10 Nellis and he was unable
10 recognize them.
The sheriff had instructed his dep
uties stationed In the Jail TO fire into
the air on a given signal He gave
the signal and the deputies fred u
yolley through the windows. Tho
shower OF bullets was poured from the
rcvolvers Of the mob and fell about
the sheriff. The posse then fred n
second volley directly al the mob.
Shrieks and groans followed and
Ave bodies sank 10 the ground. The
posses fire was not returned.
Sheriff Nellis telephoned the gov
ernor what had happened and said
someone had asked permission TO re-
move the body OF the dead man from
the jail yard Gov. Deneen instructed
him TO allow no one to enter the
yard until achievements arrived.
Shortly before daybreak, Co. K put
IN an appearance and Halliday's body
was removed 70 the inirmary The
body was warm when picked up. Il Is
said. but was dead when physicians
arrived
Gov. Deneen has ordered all saloons
in Cairo closed and the adjutant gen.
eral has sent word that Co. q. OF Et-
fngham will arrive here early this
afternoon.
Sheriff Nellis was appointed by
Gov Denen 10 succeed Frank 3.
Davis, whom he removed from Office
following the double lyncbAng in
Cairo on Nov H. OF VIII James. a
Negro accused OF assaulting and kill
ing Miss Anna Pelley. a young dry
goods saleswoman, and John Salzner
white, photographer. accused or
beating his wife TO death.
When Sheriff Davis learned that a
mob was forming TO attempt lynching
the Negro James. he took to the
woods with his prisoner and by long
detours, tried TO reach a place OF
safety. After he had secretly board
ed nortnbound train with the
Negro. the mob got wind OF IL and
took the Negro from him after hold.
ing up the train.
James was hanged. The lynchers
then stormed the jail and brought out
Salzner who was also strung I'D.