Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1919-09-29
oMAHA'S MAYOR
ALMOST LYNCAED
BY Wild Mob Which Strings Up
Negro Brute After Setting
Fire To Court House
(By Associated Press)

(By Associated Press)
Omaha, Neb., Sept. 29-Mayor
Ed Smith, of Omaha, injured yes
tereday when a mob attempted
to lynch him during the race riot
ing here, was in a critical condi-
ton this morning. Reports from
the hospital stated the Mayor has
recovered consciousness but his
physician said it is too early to
make a definite statement as to
his condition.
The attempt to lynch Smith
came during the night, the mob
rule resulting in the lynching of
the negro accused of attacking a
white girl, burning the county
court house where he was confn-
ed, and the death of one man, who
shot and the injuring of perhaps
40 others. The city is Guicr to-
day under patrol of federal troops
William Brown, the negro, was
dragged from the county Jail at
II o'clock and hanged from an
electric pole, following struggle
Of nine hours by an immense mob
to wrest him from the sheriff.
Sheriff Michael Clark and his
deputies held the fort on the top
floor of the court house. where
the Jail is located, with prisoners,
until the building be:anie 4 s'acth-
ing mass of flames, and he was
forced to submit.
After the lyn:'lng the frcmen
were able for the first time TO di-
rect a stream on the flames. At
the same time add - .al extern
sion ladders were sent to the
third and fourth floors where a
number of occupants were stand
ing on window ledgcs 4 one side
of the building that had not teen
touched by the flames.
AS soon as the mob had accom-
plished its primary nbjecr, It be-
gan to diminish. The worl, of
rescue then began. 1t was ap-
parent that the jali. on the flflh
floor of the building was becom-
ing intensely hot The cries cl
the prisoners, about 100 of whom
were trapped, spurred the fremen
to greater efforts. Troops start
ed from both Fl. Omaha and Fl.
Crook, at II o'clock. Before they
could reach the city patrol wa
gon was stopped by the mob, ov-
erturned and burned. The mob
appeared to be bent on still more
depredations.
The lynchings followed an af-
ternoon and evening fraught with
mob demonstrations seldom re-
corded. When the first rumblings
of possible attempt to lynch
Brown were heard during the
forenoon Sheriff Clark called in
all his regular deputies and swore
in a number of others.
Later the mob directed it's fren-
zy against Mayor Smith when he
refused to appear before it upon
demand. His offices were invad-
ed and the Mayor was taken to
the street and a rope placed
around his neck. A policeman
sut the rope and rescued the
Mayor before the mob could ac-
complish it's purpose.
The Mayor was carried away
unconscious by squad of police
officers and friends and he was
hurried to the office of a surgeon
nearby and then to hospital.
The attack with which William
Brown was charged was COM
mitted on Agnes Lobeck, early in
the week. With an escort, Grip
pied beyond resistance, Miss Lo-
beck met her assilant a few
blocks from home in the south
east part of the city. He held
the couple up at the point of re-
volver.
After having robbed the young
man, he attacked the young wo-
man in his presence, holding re-
volvre at the head of her escort in
the meantime.
Later Brown was arrested by
police officers and taken to the
city jail, where both Miss Lobeck