The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-23
MILITIA ON DUTY.
Incipient Race Riot Near Nus
kOgee, Oklahoma.
Negroes Arrested Following
Bynching.

Muskogee, Oct. 23.-With two dead
and four desperately wounded in last
night race riots at Coweta, 20 miles
north Of Muskogee state militia to-
day is maintaining martial law in the
disturbed town and searching homes of
negroes for arms. The soldiers have
arrested numerous blacks and many
others are under surveillance.
The Dead.
]. d. BEAVERS city attorney; shot
to death by Ed Suddeth, negro.
ED sUDDETH. negro, riddled with
take him from Coweta.
Seriously Hurt.
Carmen Oliver, white, wounded dur
ing general firing.
Stella Thompson, white.
Ed Ruse, negro, who resisted arrest
and with other negroes defied the city
marshal, probably fatally wounded
J. r.. Thomas, a section foreman, at
tackled early today by a mob of ne
groes. is probably fatally hurt.
When news of the troops coming
spread early today among negroes in
Coweta and surrounding country quiet
was restored. However, the local au-
thorities assisted by soldiers began
searching homes of negroes. Uncon-
firmed rumors stated that twenty
white farmers had been set upon and
shot to death by negroes near Coweta.
1t is rumored that an armed mob of
blacks is preparing to march from Red
Bird to Coweta tonight.
Early today Thomas, an American,
was found seriously shot outside
Coweta. Barely conscious, he told
of being waylaid by armed negroes
during the night. State militiamen
today arrested 2 negroes in Coweta.
Negroes houses We're searched. In
nearly every one the authorities say
they found arms hidden
He's Shot to Death
Suddeth was wounded and was then
strung up to a water stank, but was cut
down before he died and locked in a
vacant building. Last night Deputy
Sheriff Flowers attempted to take the
slayer to Wagner to Jail. As the
negro was being lifted into an automo-
bile the mob opened fire on him. Prob
ably fifty shots entered his body.
The trouble started Saturday after
noon. A telegraph operator named
Swazer was walking with a young
woman when Ed Ruz. a negro, in pass
ing, pushed the girl from the sidewalk
into the mud. Swazer struck at the
negro and another white man, whose
name is being kept secret, seized Ruz
and Swazer beat him with his fists.
Sunday Ruz had been walking the
streets with long knife in his pocket,
seeking the man who had held him.
City Marshal Hart ordered the negro
to give UP the knife and Ruz shot at
him.
At tnaI instant I1Q SuQQGth ran out
of a house across the street and open
ed fire, instantly killing City Attorney
Beavers and wounding Oliver and
Thompson, all of whom were passing
at the time, and had taken no part in
the trouble.
Suddeth took refuge in a nearby
house. which was bonn barded with
guns and revolvers by several white
men. The house was set afire and Sud
deth fed. He was shot, but not fatally
injured. He was taken TO the water
tank, a rope placed about his neck and
he was swung up. 1t was then decid-
ed however, that to kill him would
precipitate a general race war and he
was cut down
There are 1900 people in Coweta,
one-third of whom are negroes. The
county is populated largely by negroes
and it was stated that if the blacks
dContsnued on Page seven.1