The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-01-19
But for Timely Arrival of Pa
trolman Fee, Frank Wade
Might Have Been Lynched
by Citizens.
HE HAD TERRORIZED
WOMEN IN WEST END
When Seen Looking in Win
dow Wednesday Night Two
Men Give Alarm and Live
ly Chase Snsued.

With the cry "lynch the Niger" an
angry mob OF Fairview citizens pounc-
ed on Frank Wade. an ex-convict. on
Sherman street late last night. and 1t
II said. II It had not been for the
prompt arrival of a policeman the ne
gro would have met violent DEATH
II IL alleged he was found peeping In
several windows in Fairview and has
been frightening women and children
for several nights.
Wade entered a plea of not guilty to
assault and battery. 1t was charged
he hit several members of the crowd
with fruit jars. In police court this
morning instead of binding him over
to the circuit court. which would prob
ably meant his return to Jeffersonville
to finish out an uncompleted term OF
fourteen years for grand larceny. the
court was lcnient and sent him to jail
for twenty days.
Was Caught In Act.
Fairview has been quite aroused ov-
er tho actions of the negro for sew
eral nights. as II Is charged he has
been making practice of pccpipg in
the windows OF houses in the vicinity.
Last night when Walter Mulligan.
1859 Sherman street. was returning
home. he was surprised to find the
negro looking in his side window.
Mulllgan dashed to barber shop
where several men werc talking and in
q few minutes they had aroused a
large crowd OF men and boys. armed
With sticks, stones and according TO
the negro. some rope and rcvolvers. al.
though members Of the mob deny this.
Tho negro was surrounded. but he
escaped and ran for almost a half mile
before being captured. The mob
made great uproar. yelling. stop
thief" xiii the nigger." Lynch
him." etc.
The negro. a small man. huddled
into fence corner and when the mob
dashed up he dropped on his knees
and prayed for mercy. denying all
sorts Of things. promising others. beg
ging and threatening all in breath.
Struck With . Club.
Tho negro said one of the men
who wore white sweater, struck him
q heavy blow In the face with a club
and that no dropped to the ground.
According to his statement the mob
thcn debated whether to shoot. burn
or lynch him. all the while administer.
Ing n shower Of sundry kicks and
blows with their feet and with clubs.
However. before any serious injury
was indicted Patrolman Fee arrived
on the scene and took the negro to
headquarters for safe keeping. He
was badly frightened but denied to
Superintendent Gormon that he had
pccped into windows or anything else
contrary to law.
According to the testimony of vii
liam Ratliff and Walter Mulligan. both
OF Fairview. as the negro ran from
the Mulligan home he grabbed fruit
Jars from fence which he hurled at
different members OF the mob. strik
Ing Mulligan several times. The negro
denied this.
The police and the negro both state
that had 1t not been for the opportune
arrival OF Patrolman Fee there would
have been murder committed.
No action will be taken against
members OF the mob. II is believed. for
no real harm was done other than Civ.
Ing the negro q good scare 1t is be.
lieved that such action will put an end
to window peeping and like nuisances
In January, 1910. Wade was released
form Jeffersonville reformatory. after
having served s years OF IA year
sentence. He was convicted of cloth
ing and meat robberies in and around
Richmond.