Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-04
] |RY DEL|BERATES
BUT 8 MINUTES IN
| HELENA RIOT TRIAL
Fidence Shows Negroes
Organized and Armed
for Uprising.
RDERED TO BRING GUNS
TO MEETINGS OF UNION
illnesses Tell of Being Captured
and Compelled to Join
Movement.
ORDERED MARCH
'nvtcted Men We're Ringleaders,
ana Ordered March to Hoop Spur,
Where Trouble Occurred.
.EGLEADERs ORDERED MARCH
[By Associated Prem1

t1cE-SH, !ARh-, nov. 3.-Trial OF
aes growing out OF the recent race
sturbances near Elaine, in the south
part Of this county. which resulted
the bringing OF indictments against
PERSONS, mostly negroes. proceeded
ptdly today in Phillips County Cir
'it Court juries returning verdicts OF
nifty OF hrst-degree murder in two
ses, thereby causing six negroes 10
sentenced to death by eiectrocu-
ition In the two cases heard today
lowed the existence OF n post Of the
'rogressive Farmers and Household
MON OF America" the organization
ere banded for the uprising at
la!ne. near where the disturbances
box place the first week in October.
esultng in the death OF FIVE white
ersons and larger number OF negroes
nd the wounding OF others.
Ordered to Bring Arms.
Several witnesses for the state re-
lted how they joined the Elaine post
Fith!n ten days before the disturbances
cgan and were told to bring arms 10
neetings because the union expected
rouele ~ tho whites tried to break up
Is meeting"
That the union had a large following
h the Elaine neighborhood was brought
negro appearing for the State lin the
Easa OF Frank Hicks. charged with the
killing of Clinton Lee. Green said he
attended the meeting OF the union IN
md saw there ''over hundred head"
who, he testified. all carried guns
Fire on Automobile.
It was when an automobile IN whlch
small sherin's posse was going TO ar
rest white man in the Elaine neigh. no
IA negro church. according TO a state,
IInent issued by. the committee or
Seven" authorized by Governor Charles
Brough, city and county authorities 10
the trouble. that the dis
3orders started. the negroes In the build
hing firing on the party. Killing one
white man and woundinG another.
,The first case called today was that
|of Frank Hicks. Several witnesses for
the State testified they saw Hicks hre
1.-The shots the morning or Octoper l.
Lee. Of this city. a former soldier. who
was member OF one OF tho posses sent
Ito the section following receipt of news
Of the attack on the snerln's posse the
previous night
The defense announced II had no
witnesses and the State rested its case,
the court adjourning until at,ernoGn 1ndrn p
G Thweatt. Oldest member OF the local
bar, whose son was buried here to,
day When court was reGonVeheq
argument was waived aha 1uuEe se,.S
Nj
after eight minutes deliberation. re-
turned a verdict of guilty OF murder
IN the first degree.
The second case called nance Us
L, Knox. Paul Hall and Ed Coleman.
Iu negroes. charged Jointly with the
murder OF Clinton Lee. In TINS case
ire prosecution attempted to prove the
five negroes were ieaaers oi '"e t1'A''''
squad"
Leaders Order March.
witnesses for the State repeatedly
testified that Moore. Knox and HICKS
ncted as leaders giving orders the
morning OF October ! when when. oae and heEx1ns torm
Inrr in a column of twos. marched to.
ward Hoop Spur, where they mad
Jnhn Jefferson. negro. testified Hicks
VAS nresident of the Elaine post OF
the union and Knox vice-president. he
also said that Knox. who brought up
the rear of the column, SAID he "ouIu
shoot any deserters Witnesses, a,s9
Coleman In the squad that morning.
Force Negroes to Arm.
.tavc Archer. n negro VINO sain ne
i'd not belong to the union t]es.imen ]
nonmembers the morning OF the dis-
turbance. arm them and compel tnem
tc join their ranks. lie said ne naa
bsen captured and armed, but had
During the testimony the name of
Robert l.. Hill, negro, alleged organ
izer OF the union. frequently wss men.
TONED. According to the testimony
of Green in Frank Hicks trial. Hill told
the members of the union at q meet
ing the Thursday before the disturb
ance that they might have trouble
and to- stand their ground"
Verdict In Seven Minutes.
Arguments Tor a verdict Of second
degree murder were presented to the
jury by Greenfield Quarles, Of Helena
appointed by the court as counsel to
defend the five negroes, charged joint
ly. with the murder of Lee. John Il.
Miller. prosecuting attorney. closed
for the state. and seven minutes after
the case was given to the jury YER
diet OF guilty Of first-degree murder
Knox, Hall and Coleman.
Only moderate interest is displayed
IN the trials here. the courtroom being
only My partly pay filled by spectators today.
10 ths+ nrst nf Gase 20 be called tomorrow
the murder OF James Tappan.
Dolshevists Make Gains.
HELSiNGFORS. Nov. at Ia re-
DOrted that tho