Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-08-03
|. ". ". LEADER IS HANGED
BY masked MEN IN BUTTE
Had Referred to United States
Soldiers as "SCabS
in Uniform"

BUTTE, Mont, Aug. Frank Little
member of the executive board of the
Industrial Workers of the World and
a leader in labor troubles in Arizona,
was taken from a lodging house early
today by masked men and hanged to a
railroad trestle on the outskirts of the
city.
The body was cut down at s a. m. by
the chief of police. Jerry Murphy, who
identified it. Little. in recent speech
here, referred to United States troops
as Uncle Sans scabs In uniform"
Since his arrival in Butte recently
from Globe, Ariz., Little had made a
number of speeches TO strikers in which
he attacked the government and urged
the men to shut down the mines Oh the
Butte district. His record was under
investigation by the federal authorities.
Little took a leading part In recent la
Dor troubles in Arizona. RE wrote Gov
ernor Campbell, of Arizona, from Salt
Lake. protesting against the deportation
of / w. w. members from Bisbee. Gov
ernor Campbell replied telling Little he
resented his interference and his threats
Little was understood to have the conf-
dence of William d. Haywood secretary
of the l. w. w. national organization
and was regarded here as one OF Hay
woods confidential agents.
Little was a cripple. but active and a
forceful speaker.
On Little's body was acard bearing the
words First and last warning. Others
take notice. Vigilantes."
Little was taken out of the building
in which he lodged by party of mask
ed men who took him away in an auto
mobile. He was not given time to dress.
The building is near the Finn hall, which
is headquarters for the new metal mine
workers union, which recently called
strike of miners and which was fire.
quently addressed by Little.
WARNING TO OTHERS.
The card found on Little's body when
he was cut down was pinned to the
underclothing on his right thigh. IL
bore, in red crayon letters, the inscrlp-
ton:
"others take notice First and last
warning. 3-7-77. L. d. c. S. S. w. T..
A circle was about the letter Il.
The letters were inscribed with LEAD
pencil.
The figures "s-7-77" are the old sign
of the vigilantes in Montana. The GUS
tom of the vigilantes was to send three
warnings TO a INV
and last one being written in red.
six masked men in an automobile
drove UP to the front of Little's hotel at
:05 o'clock. One stood Upon the side
walk In front of the rooming house
The others entered.
rha men quickly broke into room NO
so on the ground floor. Light from an
electric torch showed them the room
was unoccupied. Mrs. Nora Byrne, own
err of the hotel, who was awakened by
the noise, occupied an adjoining room
at the front of the building.
some mistake here" she heard
voice say. Then she heard the men
move to the door of her room, which
they pushed slightly open. Mrs. Byrnc
sprang to the door and held 1t. wait
until 1 get my clothes on she SAID.
Then she asked who they were and
what they wanted.
I'VE are officers and want Frank Lit
tie" she was told.
Mrs. Byrne hastily dressed and again
went to the door and opened it.
The leader of the masked men pokeo
a revolver into the opening.
where is Frank Little?" he asked.
HE is in room No. 3d." answered Mrs.
Byrne.
The men ran down the hall and tried
the door to that room. Then one OF
them gave it a kick that broke the lock
and they entered.
PUSH HIM INTO CAR.
Mrs. Byrne said she heard them CON-
ing from the room and saw them half
lead and half carry Little across the
sidewalk and push him into motor
car.
The body was found hanging on the
north side of the railroad trestle. The
ties on the trestle were about fourteen
feet above the roadway. Little's feet
were about five feet from the ground.
On the back of his head was a bloody
mark The coroner could not determine
whether the mark was a gunshot wound
or an abrasion from blow. An autop-
sv was ordered held late today
Little wore only his Undertaking
when taken from his room. He is not
known to have made any cutlery or de-
manded any explanation.
Little began to make speeches on the
day of his arrival in Butte three weeks
ago. On July 10 before a mass meeting
of miners Little referred to the United
States soldiers as Uncle Sans scabs
in uniform"
In the same speech he said:
IF the mines are taken under federal
control we will make it so hot for the
government that it will not be able to
send any troops to France"
Referring in another address to his in
terview recently with Governor Camp
bell, of Arizona, Little said that he used
these words:
Governor, I don't give a d what
your country is fighting for; l am fight
ing for the solidarity of labor"
Last Friday night at Finn Hall before
the metal mine workers union, Little
said: "A city ordinance is simply a
piece of paper which can be torn up
The same can be said of the constitution
of the United States"
w, D. Haywood MournS
Death of Frank Little
CHICAGO, Aug. Frank Little, who
was lynched early today at Butte,
Mont, had been identified with the In
dustrial Workers of the World since
1906 His home was in Fresno, Cal. He
was thirty-eight years old and single.
Word of his death was received with
eOotiou bV w. ID, HAYWOOD, secretary