The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-09-29
(By Associated Press)

(By Associated Press)
OMAHA, Neb., Sept. 29.-The condi- |
tion Of Mayor E. P. Smith, whom men,
,bers Of mob attempted to hang when
he refused last night to deliver to
them William Brown, a negro, who
was accused of assaulting white girl,
was reported by his physicians to be
slightly improved today. The mayor,
who suffered from cuts and fractured
bones, recovered consciousness at
noon.
Mayor Smith is SO years old and is a
Democrat in politics. He was born in
Mount Pleasant, Ia, and came to Ne
braska in 1885 and to Omaha in 1890. |
He is a lawyer and practiced his pro-
fession until chosen mayor year ago
last May, to succeed James G. Dahl |
man, who had held that Office for
twelve years.
ls Strung Up Twice.
Mayor Smith was seized by the mob
on Seventeenth street, near the court
house, about 10 o'clock, and was
threatened with lynching. He was
hustled to Harvey street and stopped
at the foot of a trolley pole on the
cross-arm Of which was a coil of rope.
"Give US the key to the Jail! If we
can't get the nigger we'n lynch you!"
He's no better than the nigger!"
Hes negro lover" were shouts
heard among the mob.
Get that rope" someone shouted.
It was pulled down by loose end.
but was not long enough to reach. A
mar climbed the pole and with q knife
a III hrnnpht down
and placed around the neck of the
mayor.
Throw it up over the pole and
string the mayor up" yelled a dozen
voices. The mayor was the center OF
q crush SO great that it almost over
threw an automobile standing near.
The rope was placed around the
mayors neck. Appalled, at the posi-
bility of numbering the city's chief
executive, protests began to be heard.
"We won't stand for hanging the
mayor; that won't get us the niger;
let i'm go; tell i'm to get out Of here"
Then two officers cut the rope, car
ried the mayor to an automobile, and
rushed him to hospital.
Defending Negroes.
The mayors law firm is at present
defending two negroes charged with
assaults on white woman. The police
assert that that fact had much to do
with some of the remarks that were
made by members Of the mob who had
hand in the attempt against his life.
Courthouse 10 Ruin.
The fire that was started In the
courthouse left that structure a mass
of ruins. The property was valued at
a million and half dollars. The dam
age to the records could not be esti-
mated early today, but it is believed
many have been destroyed beyond
reclamation. Statistics vital to coun-
ty affairs since the county was Or
ganized are believed to be badly dam
aged.
For several hours the lives Of more
than 100 prisoners in the county Jail
were endangered by the flames in the
lawer floors Of the building. 1t was
finally necessary to send them all to
the roof Sheriff Clark stood off the
angry mob until the flames caused
the prisoners themselves to take ac-
ton. They at first decided among
themselves to throw the negro from
the roof to the pavement below and
leave him to the destruction Of the
mob. 1t was at this moment that
the mob gained entrance to the burn.
ing building, pushed past Sheriff Clark
and his deputies and forced their way
into the cell corridor. Here it was
that the negro was turned over to
them.
Throwing a rope around his neck
these men, numbering about fifty
dragged him to the ground floor.
Brown was practically dead before
his form was ever strung to the light
pole. Two bullets were fired into his
body as he was dragged through the
crowd He was never heard to utter
a word Browns body was mulitatet
beyond recognition.
Riddled by a thousand bullets, i
was first placed over a fire of tarrel
fagots. The spectacle did not enc
until late in the morning hours. Wha
remained of the torso was hung to ;
trolley pole at one of the most i'm
portant downtown intersections. Th'
arrival of federal troops caused dis
persal of the mob.
The destruction of the courthouse
came as a result of lack of police pro
lection for the firemen when they al
tempted to run hose lines. Many o
the firemen, however, entered tn
building and assisted in the work
auieting the prisoners, some Of whom
had become frantic.
Officers Quit Jobs.
Officers threw their clubs, guns an
badges of authority to the wind an
quit the job cold. This was especia
" true of many of tn eyounger me
who have come into the service uT
der the present administration.
Sheriff Michael l. Clark today toll
the story of how Brown finally cam
into the possession of the mob.