Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-04
LABOR AGITATOR STRUNG UP
BY MOB.
FRANK H. LITTLE, LEADER OF 7.
w. W., VICTIM OF LYNCHING
PARTY.

IL
w. W., VICTIM or LYNCHING
OTHERS ARE THREATENED
MAN WHO CALLED SOLDIERS
"SCABS IN UNIFORM" PAYS
DEATH PENALTY.
BUTTE, MONT, Auguot MARTIAL
law will BIO declared before tomorrow
morning 1t was indicated tonight,
following day of oxcit.ment as O re-
suit OF tho lynching by party Of
masked. mon, Of Frank Fl. Little, In.
dustrial Worker Of tho World lead or.
Tho city has been shut up tight to-
night. Every saloon and restaurant
Is dark. Every person in the city has
.en warned by the authorities to
stay inaoers. Windows are barred
and suffered. Armed police and
Vigilantes are patrolling the streets.
Other Industrial Workers Of tho
World agitators have applied for pro-
lection.
Little was takon from his room in
tho Steele Block, adjoining the I w.
W. headquarters at Sim Hall, before
dawn this mor ing, by a party Of
armed and masked men. He was
thrown into an automobile and taken
to the Milwaukee railroad bridge, in
the outskirts Of the city. After a des,
perate struggle a rope was .looped
around his neck and he was thrown
over the side Of tho bridge.
His body, clothed only in the under
wear IN which he slept, was discover
cd late in the morning by searching
party after his absence from his room
was disclosed.
Tremendous excitement followed.
BODY is CUT DOWN BY CHIEF
OF POLICE.
the body was cut down at 8 A. NJ,
ny the chief Of police. Jerry Murphy,
who identified 1t. Little, in a recent
speech here referred to United States
troops as Uncle Sans scabs in uni
form"
Since his arrival in Butte recently
from Globe, Ariz, Little had made q
NUMBER or speeches to strikers in
which he attacked the government
ana urged the men to shut down the
mines or the Butte district. His re-
cord was under investigation by the
TOOK LEADING PART IN LABOR
TROUBLES.
Little tcbk leading part In recent
labor troubles in Arizona. He wrote
Governor Campbell, of Arizona. from
Salt Lake, protesting against the de-
portation of l. w. w. membera from
Bisbee. Governor Campbell replied
telling Little he resented his inter
ference and his threats. Little was
Understood to have tho confidence of
william d. Haywood, secretary of the
l. w. w. national organization, and
was regarded here as one of Hay-
woods confidential agents.
Llttle was cripple, but active and
forceful speaker. =,
On Little's body was a card hearing
the words: "First and last warming
ochers take notice. Vigilantes."
Llttie was taken out of the building
III winch The lodged by O party of
masked men who took him away in an
automobile. He was not given time
TO dress The building is nesr the
Finn Hall. which Is headuuarters for
She new metal niiae workers ,niio1,.
which recently called a strike az
miners and which was frequently ad.
dressed by Little.
1no card found on Titles BODY
when he was cut down was pinned To
the underclothing on his right thigh
IL pore In red crayon letters the in.
scrtption:
Others take notice. First and Last
warming 3-7-77. l.. D. G.. s. s. w.
a circle was about the letter "I, -
inc letters were inscribed with q lead
pencil. = Aoe'" |
The figures "3-7-77" are the old s,pn
or the vigilantes in Montana. The
CUSTOM OF the yigilantes was to send
tnree warnings to @ marked man. the
'hlrd and last being written in red.
SIX MASKED MEN TAKE HIM
FROM HOTEL.
SIX masked men In an automobile
drove up TO, the front of Little's hotel
at minutes after 3 o'clock One STOOD
upon the sidewalk in front of the
room1ng-house. The others entered.
The men quickly broke into room
NO. 30 on the ground floor. Ijrbt
from an electric torch showed them
the room was unoccupied. Mrs. Nora
byrne, owner Of the hotel, who was
awakened by the noise, occupied an
ADJOINING room at the front of the
building. '''
Some mistake here" she heard a
voice say. Then she heard the men
move to- the door of her room, which
they pushed slightly open Mrs. Bvrne
sprang to the door and held 1t. "Wait
until l get my clothes on" she said.
Ihen she asked who they were and
what they wanted.
We are officers and we want Franz
Little" she was told.
Mrs Byrne hastily dressed; again
went to the door and opened it.
me leader CT the masked mon poked
revolver. into the opening.
where Is Crank Little?" he asked. !