The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-02-20
Negroes Testify That They
Fired Into the Mob of
White Men.
THIS HAS SERVED TO RENEW
THE ANTi-NEGRo AGITATION
AND THE NEGROES ARE MARK.
ED MEN-THREE HUNDRED MI
LiTIAMEN PATROL STREETS
AND CITY is PRACTICALLY UN-
DER MARTIAL LAW.
BY Associated Press.


Cairo, ILL.,, Feb. 19.-The statements
of the four negro special deputies at
the coroner's investigation of the kill
ing of Alexander Halliday that they
fired several shots each into the mob
demanding admission TO the county
jail Thursday night served to renew
the anti-negro agitation and the situ-
alton tonight is acute. With three
hundred militiamen patrolling the
streets the city is practically under
martial law.
The coroner's jury, composed OF all
business men, could hardly restrain
themselves when the negroes told
how they fired on the white men. The
negroes, in testifying, became con-
fused and alarmed. The jury tried 10
ascertain which negro fred a steel
bullet which killed Halliday. but none
of them admitted TO using a Swiss
rife, which it is claimed one of them
had The Investigation adjourned un-
III Monday.
ARE MARKED MEN.
The six negroes who assisted the
sheriff are marked men now that their
identity is known Protests even from
the most conservative whites have
been heard Sheriff Nsllis tearfully
explained he could not find white men
TO help him, and that the local COM
pauy Of militia was ordered 10 report
10 him, but IL was six hours before *
arrived al the jail
Mrs. Rose Malonev. whose pocket
book WAS snstehed BY a negro whom
the mob WIS after THURSDAY night
had a second encounter with a negro
today. She lost a diamond breach,
which negro found. She went to
the negrO's house and secured the
broach, but he said he did not know
IL was hers. Drawing a revolver
from her muff, she placed the muz-
zle to the negro's stomach and made
bin confess he knew il was hers.
TAKEN TO PENTERTIARY.
Surrounded by a hundred infantry
men, twelve convicted prisoners who
were sentenced yesterday by Judge
William Butler to varying terms in
the Chester prison, were hurried out
or town at a. m. today 10 prison.
Among the prisoners was John Pratt,
the negro purse-snatcher, whose ar
rest resulted in an attempt TO lynch
him and ended in the death of the
leader of the mob and the injury of
four others.
The plans of the military and civil
officials to get the negro out of town
without demonstration were entire
ly successful, as few people knew of
the move. The crowd which saw the
departure was small. A squad of
soldiers accompanied the prisoners to
the Chester penitentiary.
Company l of Vandalia. the fourth
militia company ordered out last night
by Adjutant General Dickson, will
OF hrve ,i-I
Last night the streets about the
Jail were closely patrolled by the mi
litia and the vigilance of the au-
thorities to prevent formation of a
crowd was unrelaxed
y The officials, military and civil. are
apprehensive of what today and to-
morrow may bring forth, as thousands
of laboring men will be free to roam
the streets at noon today until Mon
day morning, the shops and factories
closing early on Saturday. 1t is fear
ed the animosity of the disturbing ele-
ment toward the blacks, who as depu-
ties, assisted Sheriff Nellis in de.
Tending the Jail, will bring about at
tacks upon negro property.
Animosity towards Sheriff Nellis for
ordering the body of Alexander Halli-
day to lay for three hours in front
of the Jail has died down to large
extent since the coroner's autopsy
last night disclosed that Halliday's
death was probably instantaneous.
Halliday's funeral will be held to-
morrow afternoon and may be made
the occasion for a demonstration.
A detachment of militia will attend
the services in anticipation of trou-
BILE.
The saloons remain closed and the
order to keep them shut is being rigid
ly enforced.