The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-07-22
NEGRO FUGITIVE
/. FROM TEXAS MOB
IN NTOPEKATODAY
DR.. ID. H. Davis Gives Himself
Up to Governor Allen.
$500 Offered for His Seizure
by LOngview,. Tex.
TELLS STORY OF HIS FLIGHT
Protested Against Mob and
Rioters Chased Him.
He Admits Shooting Into Crowd
and Killing Four.
DRAMATIC SCENE AT CAPITOL
Protested Against Mob and
Rioters Chased Him.
He Admits Shooting Into Crowd
and killing Four.
DRAMATIC SCENE AT CAPITOL
Negro Delegation Accompanied
Davis to Governors Office.
Sheriff WIN Take Charge of
Him HOr Present.

Fleeing from a Longview. Texas,
mob and with a bounty of $500 on
his head, DR.. d. H. Davis, aegro,
today surrendered himself to Governor
Allen. The negro-wealthy and n
graduate of Harvard university-fled
to Kansas for protection from the
town which was placed under martial
law following a race riot. Doctor
Davis told a dramatic story to Gov
ernor Allen today and admitted that
he shot into a mob and killed four
men in defense of his home and his
family.
Details of the night of horror in
the Texas town were related to Gov
ernor Allen. Doctor Davis told the
Kansas governor how he escaped with
his family in motor car and of hours
in the river while the mob searched
for the negroes with bloodhounds. A
large delegation of Topeka negroes.
headed by Nick Chiles, president OF
the Kansas Defense society, accom-
panied Doctor Davis to the governors
office. Governor Allen said he had no
right to accept the negro's surrender.
He directed the delegation to Sheriff
Hugh Larimer. Under this procedure
full hearing of the case may be
had before Governor Allen when the
state of Texas seeks to extradite the
man.
Was n Dramatic Scene.
Few more dramatic scenes have
been enacted in the state house than
that which surrounded the twenty
minute conference in Governor AL
lens office. The negro fugitive went
into details concerning the Longview
rioting.
"I protested when one of my people
was mobbed." said Doctor Davis. This
action aroused race feeling in the
town. The fugitive became the prin-
cipal in n drive on the negro settle
ment of the town.
Six strong white men came to my
home to whip my niece" the negro
said. They charged her with inso-
lence toward her employer. She had
already been beaten once. 1 drew a
revolver and protected her"
Then the mob sought to destroy
Doctor Davis's property. They cut the
tires on his automobile. When night
came a mob formed and the whites
prepared to storm the negro's home.
They were coming with torches ana
oil and a rope" said the man. When
the leaders of the mob were a short
distance from his home Doctor Davis
says he opened fire with a revolver.
-Four men, he told the governor, were
killed. Then the mob drew back. This
gave Doctor Davis an opportunity to
escape with his family.
Bloodhounds Were Near.
1--WE waded the river" he said to-
mob off our trail. Sometimes the
bloodhounds were within fifty feet Of
me.
II knew of just two states that
were truly dear" continued the fuRi-
"Massa chusetts. where / was
/ educated-and Kansas"
| Doctor Davis told Governor Allen he
had sent his wife. daughter and niece
| to Massachusetts. The center Of the
race riot came to Kansas to surrender
| to the states executive.
| At South Coffeyville, Okla, several
days ago, Doctor Davis was arrested
by peace officer. He was released
when he gave a $500 cash bond.
State and local departments of gov
ernment in Texas have offered re-
ward of $500 for arrest of tie negro.
Demands for extra dition of Doctor
Davis are expected from Texas as soon
as officials of that state know the man
Is in this state.
Doctor Davis appealed to Governor
Allen for protection. He said that re-
mcval 20 Texas meant just one thing
mob violence. Under the action OF
the Kansas governor today. it will be
possible to hold a fun and complete
hearing as to the merits of the case.
The town of Longview was under
martial law two days following the
rioting.
AntagonIzed White Business Men.
According to the story which Doc
tor Davis told in Topeka today. he
aroused race feeling in the Longview
,Conttnued % Page TwoJ