Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-10-04

the assumption their plotting had been discovered and was being inves- tigated It has been shown that a number of secret meetings had been held in the negro church there and elsewhere in the disaffected district.
 A report reached Helena by tele- phone tonight that 25 negroes had passed the plantation near which o. R. Lilly, Helena city councilman. and the four Johnson brothers, negroes, one of whom was the white mans S slayer, were killed yesterday. The 25 negroes. it was said, were going in the direction of the river and measures were taken to prevent their escape into Mississippi. Reports of rioting at Wynne were denied by officials there.
 The committee of seven which is an outgrowth of a committee of eight" originated two months ago to consider rumors of an impending up- rising. is proceeding in cooperation with the military authorities and will hear the testimony of both blacks and whites.
 The official statement is:
 "Quiet having been restored at Hoop Spur, it is expected that normal conditions will be resumed after to- day. Most of the negroes in the Elaine territory have already return ed to work. Naturally many rumors and reports of the fighting have been terribly exaggerated. The negroes at Hoop Spur have been under the influence of few rascallv white I 1.- z IL. own race who have been exploiting them for personal gain The people of Phillips county have never stood for mob violence, and will permit none to occur under any circum- stances. There has been no trouble whatever in Helena"
 Interest here centers in the reten- tion at the county iail in Helena of o. S. Brattou, white of Little
 Rock law firm, pending investigation
 Bratton has been under arrest since Tuesday night
 All of the wounded were reported recovering today executing Ira Proc tor, a denutv sheriff who was serious lv wounded Wednesday. Fourteen negroes are known to be dead and it was expected other bodies would be located in the cane brakes and under brush about Elaine where Wednes- days fiohting took place, The citizens committee today ar ranped With Dr. H. H. Fighter, head of the local Red Cross chapter to send nurses to establish an emergency hosnital and canteen at Elaine. Two negroes, who failed to ohev a command of a military patrol were fired on bv the soldiers near Elaine and killed and another was wounded. A fourth member of the party was arrested.
 The negro has been brought here from Elaine sufferinq from gum shot wounds. received when he sought to oppose white possemen.
 A raid Hpon local law offices of Casey, x Bratton. resulting in confis- cation of some socialistic literature, including some written by Emma
 Goldman, and the patrolling of the | streets by regular army soldiers. constituted the situation in Helena on | the fourth day of the riotinp in l Phillips county.
 In the law offices were found con-
 tracts with negro share choppers.
 showin" that each of 1o negroes had
 paid S50 down and each was to nav
 an additional sum later in return for the ]e~al advice. Paper represanting the "Progressive Farmers and House : hold Union of America" srpposed to
 have headouarters in Washington. D. 5 c.. and Winchester Ark. and advo- eating social equality also were found