The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-13
Slayer of Leavenworth Officer
Rushed to Pententiary.
Negro Murderer Killed His Man
in a Low Resort.
THEN DEFIED ARREST
The Dead Policeman Was For
merly a Prison Guard.
Mayor Alternately Says He Will
Close the Negro Dives.

Leavenworth, Kan, Jan. 13.-Fear-
ing mob violence, jerks Proctor. slay-
er of Officer Warren Devinnish, was
rushed to the penitentiary by the Of
f1cers in an automobile. The threats
of mob violence became so insistent as
darkness drew near that this course
was thought advisable.
Following his arrest the negro was
placed in an automobile. which was
guarded by q Gordon of police and
deputy sheriffs, and, manacled and
under heavy guard. was rushed to the
county Jail, where another negro,
1Sora Murray, convicted or rape, was
placed in the automobile with Proctor
and a flying trip made to Lansing,
where the men were placed in cells.
Proctor was frightened and would
make no statement. He sent for Den
mis- Jones, a prominent negro attor-
ney, to defend him, but Jones sent
word back that if Proctor had $4,000
to pay him he wouldn't defend him
One of the bullets fired by the negro
passed through Officer SWeeney's hat,
just grazing his head.
Dead Officer Leaves Family.
officer Devfnnish, who was killed,
leaves a young wife in practically des-
titute circumstances. He was former
ly a federal prison guard and was a
big, fine looking fellow. He had been
on the force about two. months.
Mayor Alternately announced that
every negro dive in the city will be
abolished. Lacy, who engaged in the
duel with Proctor, Is under arrest
Police Officer Warren Devinnish lies
dead, shot through the head and
heart and officer Patrick Sweeney is
wounded in the abdomen as the result
of a battle with the negro desperado.
The shooting took place in low negro
resort on Choctaw street about 2:3o
o'clock and occurred when three po-
lice officers attempted to place jerks
Proctor under arrest
Shortly after o'clock Proctor en-
gagged in a pistol duel at Second and
Cherokee streets with Joe Lacy, pro-
prietor of another negro dive, but
neither was injured. When they had
Lacy ran to the police station and
gave himself up, while Proctor fed
up an alley.
Officers Hubbard, Devinnish and
| Patrick Sweeney were sent out to ar
rest Proctor, and located him in a
resort on Choctaw street. They were
told that he was in a front room,
| which was dark. Devinnish picked up
a lamp and advanced into the room,
| his revolver in the other hand. The
| negro sat in ehairsfaoing the officers
and had his gun under his coat.
When told to throw up his hands
he replied with an oath and com
menced firing. He fired five shots
4o1ShiS' O1A5 81 AoWCOilOy III Lie
abdomen. A heavy police whistle
caught the force of the bullet and
saved Swecney's life. One bullet
struck Devirnish in the chest and he
| fell to the floor, but propping himself
up On one arm, the dying officer fired
| five shots in quick succession. none of
| them taking effect Proctor fired sew
| eral more shots, one of them passing
| through Devinnish's head.
| Officer Hubbard claims he had no
chance to shoot, and Officer Sweeney
| was unarmed, being On night duty
/ and having just gone with the officers
to help, not suspecting trouble.
Sweeney staggered from the smoke
filled room and fell into the arms OF
several men who had run at the
sound of the shooting. Meantime
police officers came running from
| every direction and with drawn re-
volvers surrounded the place. The
big crowd which had gathered kept al
a respectful distance when it was
known that one man was killed, an
other injured and the slayer at bay.
Officer William Krumm discovered
the negro crouching behind a box cal
and got the drop on him. Proctor
started to raise his gun, but seeing
that the policeman meant business he
surrendered and was hurried to the
police station. An immense crowd
| collected and there were open threats
of mob violence, and County Attorney
| Lee Bond at once made out a state
warrant for the man and turned him
over to the sheriff.