The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-03-23

Gov. Henry J. Allen today refused
to sign extradition papers that would
send Robert L. Hill, negro, back to
Arkansas to face trial on a first de-
gree murder charge in connection with
the race riots at Helena last fall.
Following the governors refusal to
permit Arkansas officials to take the
negro, Col. r. Neil Rain, deputy
United States marshal, placed Hill un-
der arrest on a warrant charging him
with impersonating a United States
officer. A hearing was held before
United States Commissioner White on
an appncauon by the Arkansas attor-
ney general to have Hill removed to
the Arkansas district of the federal
court for trial.
Hill admitted his identity and his
bond was set at $4,000 by Commits
sioner White, but had not been fur
nishgd by the negro late this after
noon. He probably will be tried in
the federal court at Helena, Ark, ac-
cording to federal authorities.
All the South is interested in the
case and as much influence and sup
port was given by the white people
there to bring about Hills return, as
northern negroes exerted to keep Hill
from returning to Arkansas. Hill has
been held in the city Jail in Topeka for
several weeks. He fled from Arkan-
SaS when the riots started in Arkansas
Until Midnight Last Night.
The problem of the south came
home to Kansas Monday afternoon
and evening in the extradition hear
ing before Governor Allen in the In
tinued until a few minutes after mid
night. Not once did the interest of
the few white people present and the
hundreds of negroes relax as testimony
in the case was presented to the Kan
Sas governor.
Testimony introduced by John d.
Arbuckle, attorney general for Arkan-
sas, showed that in Phillips county.
the scene of the riot, there are 1000
white people and $4,000 negroes. 1t
alleged that Hill. by the use of hand
bills and personal solicitation in which
the name of the Lord and weird re-
ligiAus pleadings, were mixed with
pleas for united negro society, went
thruout the length and breadth of sew
eral counties, organizing a society
known as the Progressive Farmers
and Laborers' Household Union of
America
The Arkansas attorney. general
! claimed and showed affidavits to
/ prove that Hill advised members of
this order to go to the meetings armed.
, Hill, on the witness stand denied this
story and stated he was merely organ
\ iz1ng the members OF his race and COL
! lecting money so they might start a
cooperative store.
Testimony introduced showing that
negroes in that country were forced
/ to purchase their clothing and food
| thru plantation "comnissaries'' owned
! by the white planters and also were
obliged to dispose of their cotton
thru the white man. often not getting
| a settlement for a year. when the
| white presented a bill for goods pur-
chased and gave cedit for cotton sold.
| Fisher Afraid To Go To Arkansas
1T is the. first time in my career as
an attorney in which I was involved
| in a murder case that I didn't go to
I the scene of a crime" said Fisher.
| Frankly. 1 was afraid to go because
of the riot spirit which I learned thru
/ correspondence exists down there.
People would write TO US and give us
! information that would help Hill and
| insist that their names be kept secret
4 for fear of trouble.
Testimony introduced disclosed that
the negro took a correspondence
course with a St. Louis firm and paid
IS for a course in detective training.
| He wae given a star at the conclusion
of the course and a diploma. The
star. 1t is claimed, bore the initials
"U. s" Hill in letters to negroes
wrote on stationery captioned Robert
!