Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1919-07-22
MARTIAL LAW
LIKELY IN RIOTS B
At WASHINGTON
Five Killed, at Least SO In
jured AS Race Riots Are
Continued
By Associated Press.


WASHINGTON, July s22.-Procla-
nation of martial law may be neces-
sary to end race rioting here which
resulted last night in the killing of
five persons the injuring of at least
fifty others. Several days of disorders
following wave of attacks on white
women, robberies and assaults by
negroes, eliminated in a series of
race battles during the night hours in
which the police were unable to cope
fully, despite the aid of military pro-
vost guards. Several of the injured
were reported fatally hurt this morn
ing and at least 200 rioters were under
arrest. The dead include Detective
Sergeant Harry Wilson, shot through
the heart by a negro girl when he en-
tered a house from which she was
firing indiscriminately into the streets.
Detective Bernard w. Thompson
was seriously wounded by a negress
in the same section of the city. Four
negro men are dead and several
others are believed to have been fatal
ly wounded. Three patrolmen were
included in the list of badly wound
ed.
Although two troops of calvary
from Fort Myer had been called out
to patrol the streets and 400 Marines
from Quantico and the Washington
Marine barracks had been added to
the provost guards as precaution.
against disorders, the situation at
times last night, was more than the
authorities could cope with.
Reserve squads of police and pro-
vost guards were being rushed
through the streets of. the city all
night in answer to riot calls. Army
motor trucks were stationed at the
precinct headquarters with squad or
men armed with automatic rifles as
signed to each. More than 45 riot
calls we're turned in at one precinct
alone between the hours of and 1
o'clock and others responded to al
most an equal number.
Last nights rioting was marked by
a general preparedness on the part OF
the negroes who during the day pur-
chased hundreds of reyolvers.
Late in the night the negroes dis
persed as mobs and numbers OF them
took possession of high powered auto
mobiles and went at fast rate
through the streets pumping bullets
from automatic weapons at all whites
who happened in range. 1t is beiieV-
ed that numerous casualties resulting
from this indiscriminate firing nave
not been reported to the ponce.
The first police report of the day
told of another white woman assault
ed and injured by negro at Capltoi
Heights a suburb to the northeast or
the city. The negro, who had loiter-
ed about the woman's house all yes
terday was at first scared away ana
then hiding behind hedge seized her
as she passed by late last night. The
woman was practically disrobed IN
her struggle with her assailant VINO
escaped after she had struck ana Dit
ten him badly.
This was the seventh attack on
white women by negro men in ana
near the District of Columbia within
two weeks.
In a statement today the Board OF
Commissioners, the governing au-
thority of the District of Columbia,
said that at no time last night was
the situation beyond the control OF
the authorities and that with the ald
of the militia and the cooperation or
citizens, the police would remain In
control.
A bill for the separation or the
races on street cars in the District OF
Columbia was introduced today by
Senator Harrison, Democrat, M1ssls-
sippi. who said he was prompted to
offer the measure because OIL the
race riots.