The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-10-09
OMAHA MOB FIRES
new COURT HOUSE
Negro Who Assaulted a White
Girl Taken From laII and
Hanged in Street.
NEARLY LYECBEO MAYOR. TOO
Policemen Club Off AssaiIants While
Comrade Cuts Rope From Neck
Of City Executive.

Omaha, Neb.-With eight hundred
troops from Forts Omaha and Crook,
Neb., and Camp Dodge, Iowa, on riot
duty, With five hundred more sol
diers due to arrive later, Omaha Off
Gals were confident there would be
no further outbreak of the race riot
ing which resulted in the death of
two persons, injuries to several score
Of others, an attempt to lynch Mayor
Ed P. Smith, and partial destruction
by fire OF the county court house.
At the same time the city's regular
law enforcement department was re-
enforced by special policemen organ
lied by the American Legion, to help
preserve order. Headquarters were
established at Central Police Station
by Col. J. z. Morris, Goth Infantry,
commander Of the military forces in
the city. Members of the police de-
partment were put under Colonel
Morris's orders Gen. Leonard A.
Wood, commander of the Central De-
partment of the army has arrived to
take charge of the military activities.
While criticism was heard that
there was a lax of leadership in the
1 VI lIO lOICCS COADdLl1lA6
the mob, reports indicated that the
police did not quit cold' as reported.
The complaint heard as expressed by
]. E. Davidson, vice-president of the
Nebraska Power Company, was that
there was no real leadership of the
police and deputy sheriffs.
Late information from Ford Hospi-
tai was to the effect that physicians
attending Mayor Smith have slight
fear of complications setting in, in
connection with the injuries he re-
ceiyed in the rioting.
Mayor Smith was the victim several
years ago of an accident which re
quired a serious operation on the
skull. In the attempt to place his
life in jeopardy, the mayor received
severe blow on the head, from the
effects of which the danger OF comp1i-
cations is feared by his physicians.
Judges of the district court here
will decide whether a grand jury in
vestigation of the race rioting shall
be conducted. At the same time Gov
ernor Samuel R. McKelvie is to be in
the city to give any advice he may
deem necessary.
Set Courthouse On Fire.
Omaha, Neb.-A lynching, which
developed many characteristics of a
race riot, held this city terrorized
for nine hours recently.
Mayor Edward F. Smith was him
self saved from lynching by a police
man, who it was reported, cut the rope
from about the mayors neck while
his comrades dubbed eff the mob. At
midnight it was said that the mayor
was unconscious in a hospital
The riot centered about the magnif-
cent new courthouse building. which
was set on fire in the efforts to reach
William Brown, a negro charged with
criminal assault on Agnes Lobeck,
white girl, a few days ago.
With the flames mounting steadily
from floor to door, Sheriff Mike Clark
and his deputies fought a battle OF
hours to save Brown, but at IL o'clock,
with the cries of the one hundred or
more prisoners on the top noor-the
Jail fIoor-ringing in his ears, he was
compelled to surrender the prisoner.
Hanged to a Light Pole.
The latter was hurried to an cleo
trio light pole and hanged.
The mob spirit began to manifest
itself in the afternoon, but it 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 its course despite 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 afterwards the cry OF
fire" rang out
Mob Cut the Hose.
Firemen were already on the ground
but members Of the mob, upon whom
they had turned streams Of water, had
cut the hose and it was useless. Other
fire companies brought more hose,
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