Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-11-04
SIX NEGROES IN PHILLIPS COUNTY
 SENT 70 CHAIR
First Convictions Come Speedily in Trial of 122 for Race
 Uprising. INTEREST IN TRIALS SEEMS TO BE SMALL Activity of Progressive Farmers and Household Union DisclOsed-Ne- groes Testify NOn- Members
 Forced to Join.

groes Testify Non-Members
 Forced to Join.
 Helena. Ark, Nov. 3.-Trial of cases growing out of the recent race disturbances near Elaine, in the
 southern part of this county, which resulted in the bringing of indict.
 ments against 122 persons, mostly negroes, proceeded rapidly today in the Phillips county circuit court juries returning verdicts of guilty of first degree murder in two cases, thereby causing six negroes to be sentenced to death by electrocution.
 Evidence brought out by the prosecution in the two cases heard today showed the existence of a post of the Progressive Farmers and Household Union of America" the or ganization under which it is allege the negroes were banded for the up- rising at Elaine, near where the dis turbances took place the first week in October, resulting in the death of five white persons and large num- Der of negroes and the wounding of others.
 Several witnesses for the state related how they joined the Elaine post within 10 days before the dis turbances began and were told to bring arms to meetings because the union expected trouble if the whites tried to break up it's meeting"
 That the union had a large follow ing in the Elaine neighborhood was brought out in the testimony of George Green, negro appearing for the state in the case of Frank Hicks, charged with the killing of Cilnton Lee. Green said he attend ca the meeting of the union in church the night of September 20 and saw there lover hundred head" who, he testified. all carried guns.
 Saw Hicks Fire.
 lt was when an automobile in which small sheriff's posse WIS gong to arrest white man in the hlalne nelghborhood was stopped for fepalrs before negro church, ac- cCordlng to statement issued by the committee of seven" authorized bv governor Trough, city and county au- .horltles to investigate the trouble, that the disorders starred. the ne, groes in the building firing on the party, killing one white man and wounding another.
 me first case called today was that c1 frank Hicks. Several witnesses . tor the state testified they saw Hicks 1're the shots the morning of October |, mat resulted in the death of Clin- I lGn Lee, of this city, former sol uier who was a member of one of the posses sent to the section following aeeceipt of news of the attack on the SnTrlffs 11,, posse the previous night. noo't mheh court was reconvened, argu- nehe T"a1 was waived and Judge J. M. sftnson sftan n instructed the jury, which ad'er ad brief deliberation, return tp GU verdict of guilty of murder in 'ne e first degree.
 sne second case called named as Ieighdants Frank Moore, Ed Hicks. o. D. Hicks, Paul Hall and Ed Cole tha than, all negroes, charged jointly with caeo cae murder of Clinton Lee. In this nas uase' the prosecution attempted to pf pfove the five negroes were leaders fan 1a tne Elaine "squad'. Witnesses ,Il W the state repeatedly testified that 1Jae, 1aeJaee, hnox and Hicks acted as Octohss, OH1rs, glvlng orders the morning of neeu suoeT S l. when the negroes gathered colnn, % moofe,s house and forming in T Hoom Ho,ih c ot twos, marched toward sh"tpp hp spur where they had heard fed wISi IT: John Jefferson, negro, testi- E1e;n a HICKS was president of the ,,;aa !ali'e post of the union. and Knox Kne Riee president. He also said That tho thlsoa, X, who brought up the rear of Joeo Sne column, said he would shoot anv the theoerters. Witnesses also testified tn the M presence of Hall and Coleman in '"e squad that morninp
 n, Hill Was Active.
 did ave ave Archer, a negro, who said he the no. belong to the union, testified non. n, rnemoers attempted to capture distrnee the morning of the tha ha,pance, n, arm them and compel had "ilo h Joln their ranks. He said he baJ I oeen captured and armed but bburlng the testimony. the name ,f i.ouert ;sou l.. Hill, negro, alleged orpan- mert; ner or the union, frequently was monv monrioned: According to the testi- H;n HH'y or Green in Frank Hicks trial at u moo4 :he members of the union the d;st.,g d;s.esihg the Thursday before have uisslur6ance that they "might ground ta,ouole and to stand their ed 'y ;n :, moderate interest is display. bein,na ,n M ene trials here, the court room todagg tg only partly filled by spectators row ;s tlrst case to be called tomor- ed u,;t, is mat of Ali Banks IT,. charr-
 "''h the murder of James Tappan.
 ,. HERRING RETc nOr