Omaha daily bee., 1919-12-16
"That Is the Man. HE Cries
Dramatically, Rising to Point
Out Peddler in Court, ~ Am
Absolutely Positive"
SAYS CROWD DRAGGED
HIM OUT BY THE HEELS
Alleges Davis SWore When He
Said He Had Called on Gov
ernor for Troops and Then
Hit Him Terrific Blow.

"That is the man, right there"
declared Mayor Smith pointing from
his place in the witness stand Of
District Judge Redick's court yester
day afternoon at George Davis, who
is being tried on charges of assault
with intent to murder, and assault
with intent to do grea. bodily in
jury to Mayor Smith, the night of
the court house riot.
The mayors dramatic utterance
came in answer to the question by
County Attorney Shotwell, "who
struck the blow that knocked you
down"
Are you positive George Davis,
the defendant, is the man who struck
the blow?" asked Mr.. Shotwell.
"Ab-so-lute-ly~ exclaimed Mayor
Smith with the greatest emphasis.
"How did he impress himself on
your mind?" asked the county at
torney.
GAS I stood in the midst of the
mob outside the east entrance of
the court house." said the mayor,
II noted him particularly because
he is such a large man, and the
tn ought went continually through
my mind that here was a man SO
much bigger than the rest in the
crowd that if he were not such
coward, he could save my life"
Attorney Eugene O'Su1livan, for
Davis, interposed obje ii on
throughout the mayors recital of
the events of the riot night, bpt
Judge Redick permitted the mayor
to tell the whole story.
Mayor Smith told the story in
voice that sometimes shook with
emotion.
He arrived at the court house
about 6 the day of the riot, after
neighbor had informed him that
mob was surrounding the court
house. -r
Hooted the Mayor.
"About 1000 people were on the
Harvey street side of the building
and very few on the other sides
at the tirne," said Mayor Smith. II
went to the south entrance of the
building and tried to talk to the
crowd but they hooted and jeered
and threw stones so that | could
not.
II then entered the building and
went to the main floor where |
found about Is policemen. Com
missioner Ringer. Chief Eberstein
and Commissioners Zinrnan arrived
about this time. | began giving in
structions to the policemen at once.
About a dozen fellows reached Our
floor. We drove some of them out and
sent the rest up the elevator to Jail.
Then the Farnam street doors
were smashed in with the cannon,
Capt. Haze and party of police sta
toned themselves on the west steps
in the lobby. l borrowed revolver
from policeman and stationed my.
self with the rest of the officers on
the east steps. We held the crowd
that way for about an hour.
Beginning of Firing.
"Then shots began to be fired. |
went up to the sheriff's office and
got some one to telephone to the
governor for troops. l came down
again. When the fire was started
went to the sheriff's Office. The
women became hysterical and
begged me to get them out. ! went
again to the main floor which was
then filled with rioters. They de-
manded the negro. | told them to
never mind the negro but let the
fremen go to work and put out the
fire.
They seized me, threw me down,
took hold of my heels and dragged
me down the steps and out of the
east entrance of the building. Then
Continued on Page Two. Column Four.)