The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-02-19


Cairo, ILL.,, Feb. 18.-Three COM
banies of militia are guarding the
ourt house and Jail and the city is
uiet tonight after last nights rioting,
hnd it is believed the authorities have
The situation well in hand. There
we're many scattered groups around
he jal, but no crowds were allowed to
tongregate.> Threats have been made
1gainst Sheriff Nellis, whose deputies
% firing from the Jail last night killed
alexander Halliday and wounded four
3thers.
the presence of the militia is having
J salutory effect in preventing a fur
Rher demonstration. John Pratt, the
Iegro the mob sought to lynch, was
iyen an indeterminate sentence of
Rot more than fourteen years in the
4enitentiary this afternoon, and will
be taken secretly to prison tomorrow.
fe was accused of snatching a purse
rom a woman. Lincoln Wilson, ar
ested as an accomplice, was released
)pnlght. The grand jury failed to in
ict him.
AN INVESTIGATION.
A searching Investigation of the at
6ck on the Jail in which Halliday was
killed was ordered by Judge Butler in
>harging the grand jury today. The
batter will be taken up by the jury to-
borrow morning. The coroner has
Rlled no inquest in the killing of Hal
day. He said tonight he would go
\lowly in the matter.
Halliday's body was moved to the
home of his brother today.
A stray shot fired by member of
he mob was the direct cause of the
FOLEY from the sheriff and deputies,
ccording to the sheriff's story.
Il was parleying with the mob when
ome member fired. My deputies,
thinking this a signal from me, fired in
be air."
There were six negroes in the party
I fourteen deputies that defended the
)ail with Nellis. Sheriff Nellis saws
the negroes were deputized because he
could not get enough white men to
serve. Despite this explanation he is
being criticised for using negroes to
fire on whites and the malcontents are
using the incident as an argument for
further demonstrations.
Mayor Parsons has ordered the sa-
looms to remain closed until the danger
VI I1OuDlC 10 pdSSSu.
Halliday, who was killed, lay in the
snow, on the court house steps for
nearly three hours, the sheriff fearing
a ruse. refusing to allow the mob to
come after his body. He was taken to
a hospital by militiamen, dying few
hours later.
WOUNDED MAN IN SNOW.
Halliday, son of a former mayor OF
Cairo, lay for three hours dying beside
the court house steps, with the tenn
perature few degrees above zero.
During that entire time Sheriff Nellis,
acting on orders received by telephone
from Governor Deneen, refused to per.
init any one to remove the wounded
man or to allow a physician - enter
the enclosure.
The sheriff says he believed the man
was dead.
The dead: Alexander Halliday, 35
years old, dairyman, son of former
Mayor Thomas w. Halliday of Cairo;
wounded in head and body:
The wounded:
Samuel Wessinger, former police
man, wuonded in head and shoulder;
at st. Mary's Infrmary.
John Maloney. brother-in-Iaw of Mrs.
Rose Maloney, whose purse was
snatched by one of the negro prison
ers sought by the mob; slight wound
on cheek.
Horton Crehan, wounded in ankle;
had stopped to see what the trouble
was.
George B. Walker, the Associated
Press correspondent. wounded in the
leg.
The fatal volley was fired in answer