The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-01
Called Soldiers "UncIe Sans
Scabs in Uniform"
Frank Little Strung Up to Rail-
road Trestle Today.
GOVT STARTS ROUNDUP
To Rid Western States of 1. w.
w. and German Agents.
Arrest AgitatOr Leaders in
Michigan Iron District.

Butte, Mont, Aug Frank Little,
m amber of the executive board of the
Industrial Workers of the World.
and prominent in labor troubles in
Arizona, was taken from 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 a. IN.
by the chief of police, Jerry Murphy,
speech here referred to United States
troops as .tUncle Sans scabs in uni
FORM
Always Attacked Govt.
Since his arrival in Butte recently
from Globe, Little had made num-
ber of speeches to strikers in all of
which he had attacked the govern
ment and urged the men to shut Gown
the mines of the Butte district. He
was bitter in his denunciation OF the
government. His record was un Ter
investigation by the federal author
tiles whose attention had been called
to his activities. One the other hand,
the report was current that Little was
in the employ of a prominent detec-
tive agency and one theory was that
he was the victim of the radical ele-
ment of whom he appeared to be
member. Little took very prom
inent part in recent labor troubles
in Arizona. He addressed a letter to
Governor Campbell of Arizona, pro-
testing against the deportation of I.
w. w. members from Bisbee. This
letter was written from Salt Lake.
Governor Campbell replied by telling
Little that he resented his interference
and his threats.
A Confidant of Haywood.
confidence of William D. Haywood,
secretary of the 1. w. w, a national
organization, and was regarded as one
of Haywood's confidential agents.
Little was cripple but very active
and a forceful speaker. On Little's
body was card bearing the words:
First and last warning. others
take notice.-Vigilantes.
Little when taken out of the build
ing in which he roomed was not given
time to dress.
Titles Threat to Governor.
Salt Lake City, Aug. Little. the
1. w. w. organizer lynched today at
Butte, telegraphed Governor Camp
bell of Arizona from here July IT as
follows, regarding the deportation
from that state of members Of the
I. w W.:
Understand that the mine owners
mob will take same action at Globe
ana MIAMI, as was taken at E1SDee.
The membership of the l. w W. is
getting tired of the lawlessness Of the
capitalistic class and will no longer
stand for such action. If you as gov
ernor cannot uphold the law, we will
take same into our own hands. Will
you act or must we ?"
Vigilantes Append Sign.
The card found on Titles body
when he was cut down was pinned to
the underclothing on his right thigh
1t bore in red crayon letters the in
scription:
Others take notice. First and last
warning. 3-7-77. L. D. C. S. S. w.
A circle was about the letter IL"
The letters were inscribed with a lead
pencil
The figures "s-7-77' are the old
sign of the Vigilantes in Montana.
The custom of the Vigilantes was to
send three warnings to a marked man
the last being written in red Six
masked men in an automobile drove
up to the front of Titles hotel at five
minutes after 8 o'clock. One stood
up on the sidewalk in front of the
rooming house. The others entered
the house. Everything worked by
seeming prearrangement. without
speaking the men quickly broke into
room number 80 on the ground floor
Light from an electric torch showed
llleil eIS rooul was unOccupled. Mrs.
Nora Byrne, landlady of the hotel
awoke when the door to room No. 90
was brokn in. She occupied an adj
joining room at the front of the build
ing.
Open Wrong Room First.
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. Byrne
sprang to the door and he'd it, wait
until I get my clothes or /" she said.
Then she asked who they were and
what they wanted.
I'VE are officers and we want
Frank Little one of the men told
her Mrs. Byrne got into 1. bath robe
again went to the door and opened it.
The leader of the mask I'd men poked
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 % that room.
Then one of their number gave it a
| kick that broke the lock and they
entered.
Mrs Byrne said she heard them
coming from the room
Began Making Radical Speeches.
She saw the men half carry Little
across the sidewalk and push him into
the waiting motor car.
Little began to make speeches on
the day of his arrival in Butte three
weeks ago. In all of them he attacked
the government. On July 10 before a
mass meeting of miners Little re-
ferred to the United States soldiers as
Uncle Sans scabs in uniform, In
the same speech he said.
IF the mines are taken under fed
eral control we will max. it so hot
I for the government that il will not