The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-29
COURT HOUSE IS
FIRED; SHERIFF
CAUGHT IN TRAP
One Killed, Many Hurt Be-
fore Black Is Taken From
Burning Jail.
ROPE ON MAYORS NECK
Police Rescue Executive, Who
Is Carried Off Unconscious
Troops Called Out.
ROPE ON MAYORS NECK


which developed many characteris-
tics of a race riot held this city tre-
rorized for nine hours to-day and
may cause the death of Edward p.
Smith, mayor of the city.
The Mayor was saved from lynching
BY a policeman, who cut the rope
from about the Mayors neck while
his comrades clubbed off the mob.
He was taken to hospital in an un-
conscious condition.
The riot centred about the new
county court house, which was set on
fire in the efforts to reach William
Brown, a negro, charged with attack
ing Agnes Lobeck, white girl, Few
days ago. .'.~-.- -.-.-----,-----
With the flames mounting stead
fly from floor to floor, the Sheriff,
Michael Clark, and his deputies
fought q grim battle Of hours to save
Brown from those who clamored for
his life, but at IL o'clock, with the
cries of the 100 or more prisoners on
the top floor-the jail fioor-ring-
ing in his ears, he was compelled to
surrender the prisoner.
Hanged to Lamp Pole.
The latter was hustled TO an cleo
trio light pole and hanged.
The mob spirit began to manifest
itself during the afternoon, but 1t
was not until gun store had been
looted that the Sheriff considered the
situation serious. He swore in extra
deputies and also brought In some
police In uniform, determined that
the law should take it's course, de-
spite the peculiar atrocity of the
crime charged against the negro.
BY dark the streets in the vicinity
Of the court house were blocked for
several squares. Chief of Police Eber-
stein mounted box and attempted to
address the crowd, but was unable to
make himself heard and only with
difficulty made his own escape. 1t
was at this time that the mob began
breaking windows in the court house
and shortly afterward the cry OF lire
was heard.
Firemen were already on the ground
but members of the mob upon Whom
they had turned streams OF water had
cut the hose and 1t was useless.
Other fire companies brought more
hose but It was similarly rendered use
less.
Federal Troops Called.
Meanwhile the progress of the flames
could to an extent be Judged by the
smoke curling from windows. EVERY
available policeman was on the scene
by O'Clock, but they were impotent In
the hands of the thousands arrayed
against them and troops at Fort Omaha
and Fort Crook were appealed for. III
was II o'clock. however, the lynchlns
was over and the crowd was beginning
10 disperse before the soldiers entraineu
for the city.
For hours il was not known whether
Sheriff Clark and the prisoners were
alive or dead. There was no way 10
get word in or out OF the building.
Some faces, supposed to be those OF
deputies, could be discerned occasion
ally through the ob9curtng smoke al
the windows and from time to time the
cries OF the jail prisoners, now I'm
prisoned as well by fame and smoke
could be heard above the shouts and
cries of the mob
Sheriff Clark Is believed to have sur
rendered Brown only when the threat
Of death to his deputies became toe
menacing.
With the dispersal of the mob after
the lynching, firemen were able to gel
water on the flames, which, 1t was re-
ported, were checked at the fourth floor
one story below the jail.
Mayor Drawn From Ground.
The attempt TO lynch Mayor Smitl
was made this afternoon. The Mayor
tonight was said to be in critical con
dillon, although his physician declined
to say just how seriously he is injured
rope was thrown around his necl
and he was pulled of the ground twic'
before two police officers succeeded II
cutting the rope and getting him int,
an automobile and away from the mob
Emerging from the courthouse witt
Sheriff Clark the Mayor met the mol
and began TO make an appeal for Law
and order. Somebody shouted 'Lyncl
him" and member OF the mob threw
a rope around his neck
several men dragged the Mayor half ;
block ana throw The l0osn end Of IN
roDe over g trolley pole. Twice the
drew the Mayors body from IN
ground Each time two police officer
cut the rope Following the aecon
attempt these officers succeeded q
placing the Mayor in a police motto
car and rushed him 10 surgeon
offlce near by.
The Mayor was bleeding from tn
mouth and nose and after a brief ex
Animation by physicians was taken b
hospital, where he lapsed into uncon