Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-10-23
Negro Shot to Death Following
Murder of White Citizen and
WOunding of Two More in
Street ARRAY.
ENRAGED NEGROES
THREATEN TOWN
White Men Patrol Streets With
ShOtgunS Ready to Resist
Attack; Afraid to Remove
Women by Train,
Inv MorploE Journal speeIal Lea.ed wlr.

Iby Morning Journal speclai Leased wlret
Coweta, Okla. oct. Edward
Suddeth, Il negro, was shot 10 death
tonight by mob OF citizens. who
had armed themselves following a
battle this afternoon between whites
and blacks, In which Suddeth killed J..
u. Beavers city attorney and wound
ed Carmen oliver and Steller Thomp-
son, white men. Suddeth was wound
ed ana then strung up to water
tank, but was cut down before he died
ana locked In vacant building. To-
night Deputy sheriff Flowers at
tempted to take the slayer to Wag-
goner to jail. AS the negro was se-
ing lifted into an automobile, the mob
opened fire on him. Probably fifty
shots entered his body.
Large numbers Of enraged negroes
are arriving tonight from the sur
rounding country and a race war
seems inevitable. The white men OF
the town are patrolltng the streets
and guarding their homes as best
they can. They were afraid 10 bring
the women out OF the houses and
sent them 10 Muskogee on the last
train cut, They also declare they will
rot dare try to get them on the next
train y lch passes through coweta at
midnight.
The trouble started yesterday after
noon. A telegraph operator named
Swaser was walking with Young
woman when Edward Ruse, negro.
In passing, pushed the girl from the
sidewalk into the mud Swaser
struck at the negro. and another
white man, whose name Is heing kept
secret seized Ruse ard swaser beat
him with his itsts,
Today Ruse had Been Walking the
sire x with 4 Ions lsBify IN his pocket
seeflua the man
"a Nafa 4al HART DFdefrd tho neera 70
I'll aH nae kRift, and Rtae Astef at
him
thr instant Edward suddeth ran
out OF house across the street and
opened fire, instantly killing City At
torney Beavers, and wounding oliver
ana 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 bombarded with
guns and revOlvers by several white
inen. The house was set afire and
Suddeth fled He was shot, being
the water tank rope placed about
his neck and he was swung up. II
was then decided that to kill him
would precipitate a general race war.
and he was cut down.
COwetn is Inv state OF terror to-
night and II Is feared that an out
break IL inevitable. There are l.a00
people In Coweta one third of whom
are negroes. The county Is populated
largely by negroes and II was stated
tonight that If the blacks organized
hey could bring 1000 men into town
before morning.
Negro commissioners have hurried
lut to surrounding settlements with
he avowed intention of bringing
If their people here to wipe the town
NJ the map. They declare they will
let fire 10 every house in town.
The sherifts of Waggoner Musko-
zee and Tulsa counties have sent help
o Coweta and every means possible
viii be used 20 prevent an outbreak,
one negro woman set out on food
oday for Red Bird, an exclusive me-
ro town, declaring she would bring
very negro In the settlement back
,ith her Officers followed, but
allied to catch her.
The citizens Of Coweta are pafiic-
lricken and are poorly organized.
hey have shot guns and revolvers,
MT not enough rifles. They are also
hort of ammunition. The town Is
'ithout fire protection
prominent man said late today.
we have been expecting for two
ears to have to fight for our lives
nd believe the time has come. |
IN confident that the town viii be nt-
itked before morning"