Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-10-04
THREE MORE NEGROES SLAIN; HELENA NORMAL. /; CALM PREVAILS
 IN SOUTHERN PART OF COUNTY
Investigation of Disorders is Be- gun by "COmmittee of Seven" Named by Authorities. ALLEGED LEADER IN
 UPRISING IS ARRESTED Offices of Casey and Bratton Raided and Propaganda Papers Found
 Testimony of Both Races
 To Be Heard.

1 Helena, Ark, Oct. 3.-A mes-
 sage sent by the railroad station
 agent at Elaine late today stated
 that report received there in dicated that number of negroes
 had been surrounded near the village of Modoc, east of Elaine, and detachment of soldiers
 had started for the scene to Ike
 tehm under arrest. He reported
 considerable shooting in the cane brakes about Elaine where sol
 diers were engaged ill search for possible hiding places of the negroes.
 Helena, Ark, Oct. 3.-While the situation in Helena is almost normal tonight and virtually calm prevails in the southern part of the county which has been practically zone of negro insurrection since Tuesday night, sporadic clashes have taken place in the last 24 hours.
 Three negroes are reported to have been killed today in addition to two killed by soldiers near Elaine last night. Another negro is report ed to have been wounded by machine gun fire. Rounding up of negroes by the federal troops sent into the section continues.
 The number of negroes known to have been killed, remained, officially tonight at IA, although statements made by prisoners today that IS of their number had been killed previous to last night would bring the total to 26, accounting for possible duplica- tions. Seven are reported wounded. Figures tonight on the white casual ties showed total of five dead and six wounded, the latter including soldier wounded today and removed to a Helena hospital
 Investigation of the disorders was begun today by committee of sev- en" appointed by the civil authori- ties of the county with the approval of Gov. Chas. Trough. The commit tee IS working in cooperation with the military authorities and will take testimony from negroes as we'll as white persons.
 A statement issued late today over the signatures of offiicals and promin- ent citizens expressed the opinion after today.
 Among the negroes arrested at Elaine today was one identified as Ed Hicks, alleged to have been a leader in the movement to rise against the white residents. The alleged head of the disaffected ne- groes has not been captured, accord ing to word reaching here, but his description has been sent broadcast, his np.le being given as Hill" or "Hall."
 His home is said to be at Winches- ter, Drew county, to the southwest of the scene of the racial troubles in this county.
 Arrest Speaker.
 Henry Sloan, negro, was arrested at West Helena, four miles from here, last night, on charge of mak- ing incendiary speeches in the negro section of that town, it became known here tonight. West Helena is a lum- Der manufacturing center and has a population of about 4,00O, the negro section being densely populated by workers in the mills and factories nearby and their families This is the only incident of the kind reported from there, white citizens asserting the negroes of that town have con- ducted themselves commercially dur ing the last three days.
 Evidence accumulates that the ra- cial troubles of the last few days were due to carefully planned upris- ing on the part of a certain class of negroes which was revealed prema- turely by the killing of Sheriff Depu- ty w. A. Adkins, and, the wounding of Deputy Sheriff Pratt from ann bush at Hoop Spur Tuesday night. les, shot guns and pistols in posses and 27 similar rifles with a large quantity of ammunition in cases were seized in the building occupied by the four Johnson brothers who were killed yesterday. The high pow cred rifles and ammunition for them were purchased outside Helna, it d. leaders by freight and express.
 Sold Many Guns.
 Hardware merchants of Helena some weeks ago informed citizens they had sold more guns and am- intuition to negroes during the pro- ceding month than in any December, which is the month when the demand for such goods usually is heaviest be- cause of the duck and goose hunting along the river. Their statements caused some discussion, but aroused no alarm as these guns were of the kind used for hunting.
 The suspicious of the negroes ap- parently proved their undoing, for it is believed now they fired on the party of deputies at Hoop Spur on