Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-04-10
U. $. JUDGE MAKES HILL SAFE FROM
 ARKANSAS TRIAL
Writ of Return Provides for His Asylum in Kan
 SiS
SURRENDER HIM TO
 II. $. OFFICIALS ONLY
Negro. Testifying in Own Behalf, De- nics that He Conspired to Im- persOnate Federal Offi-
 cial

Kansas City, Mo, April 9.--Com- pleting the hearing of Robert l.. Hill. wanted in Arkansas for alleged par ticipation in activities which led up to the Elaine race riots last fall. Judge John C. Pollock in the United States district court in Kansas City, Kan, today directed the United States district attorney to draw up a conditional writ for Hills return to Arkansas. Judge Pollock direct ed that the writ should specify that the United States district marshal in Kansas City, Kan, turn Hill over to the United States marshal of the eastern district of Arkansas, "there to be safely kept until reasonable time shall have elapsed, or he shall have been tried in the United States court of the eastern district of Ark ansas; that if not convicted Hill shall not be turned over to any state au- thority, but shall be returned to Kansas for asylum"
 The district attorney in Kansas City, Kan, was directed to send copy of the proposed writ to the United States district attorney at Little Rock, Ark, for his approval, before being turned over to the Uni ted States marshal in Kansas City, Kan, for execution.
 The offense with which Hill is charged in the Arkansas federal court is conspirng with E. V. Pow ell, another negro, to impersonate a federal officer.
 Hill was placed on the stand in his own behalf. He testified that on July 10, 1919, when the alleged of fense which Powell is charged to have been committed near Elaine, Ark, he (HilD was in Winchester, Ark. 100 miles from Elaine. Hill testified that he was counselor and organizer" for The Progressive Farmers and Household Union of America, the purpose of which was to build stores and buy lands for negroes. He testified that he left Arkansas September 30, 1919, aft CT 0. s. Bratton of Little Rock, white man and son of U. s. Bratton, a Little Rock lawyer at that time. was captured by a group of white planters near Winchester. Ark Hill said on the stand that he was ac- companying the younger Bratton who was getting the signatures of negroes in the vicinity to legal papers in suits which the elder Bratton was bringing in the names of the negroes against white planters.
 Held Defective Degree.
 The suits were for alleged non- payments to negroes of sums due them for cotton crops. the witness testified. Hill testified that he feared mob violence if he were re- turned to Arkansas. Hill said in his testimony that he had never pos- ed as federal officer nor advised Powell to do so. but that he had done detective work' and that he held degree as detective" for which he paid school in St. Louis $S.
 Hills wife testified that crowd of white men came to her house, near Winchester, seeking him aft CT he had fled from the vicinity and that they threatened to kill him.
 George V. Hannon, chief of police in Topeka. Kan. testified that John D Arbuckle, attorney general Of Arkansas, had said to him at the time extradition proceedings were being heard in Topeka:
 "I don't think Hill is capable of having done what he is chraged with. don't think he has intelligence enough or education enough. What we want is to get him back to tes- tifv against others"
 Hugh T. Fisher. county attofneay of Shawnee county, Kan.. who as- sisted Hills attorneys testified that he did so because Senator Arthur Capper of Kansas had wired him asking him to do all in his power to prevent Hills return to Arkansas. Fischer stated on the witness stand that he would not dare defend Hill in an Arksnsas court. as he believed he would be in danger of mob vio- lence if he did so.
 Elisha Scott. negro attorney for Hill, was placed on the witness stand and testified that Attorney General Arbuckle of Arkansas had said to him. speaking of the Brattons, two won't allow any white man to disturb Oiir good wOrkinp neproAsn {