Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1920-04-10
GREAT VICTORY FOR n. A. A. G. p.
Gov. Allcn's Refusal TO Extradltc
Robert Il. Hill to Arkansas Was
Great Blow for Justice.

L
night issued q statement in regard t
tho refusal OF Governor Henry J
Alton OF Kansas to extradite Rob
ert l.. Hill, accused Of being the lead
or Of plot to massacre" whites IL
phillips County, Arkansas, last Octo
Der, which reviewed the legal steps
taken to prevent Hills extradition
This tho Association regards as one
OF the greatest legal victories Won
since the Segregation Decision ano
since Governor Mccall of Massachu
setts denied oxtradition to West Vir
ginia Of John johnson.
AT tho close of hearing which
lasted from two o'clock in tho altar
Loon OF March 20 until after midnigh,
Governor Henry J. Allen Of Kansas
refused to grant the extradition pet
ton OF Governor Brough Of Arkansas
FOR tho return of Robert l.. Hill, al
legged head OF the Progressive Farm
ers and Household Union of Amerl
ca, to Arkansas.
"Hill was arrested in Topeka, Kan
sas, on January 20, as the leader OF
the organization charged with plan
nmg TO 'massacre' whites In Arkan
sas In October 1919. AS soon us news
or tho arrest was received at the Nat
ional Headquarters OF the Associat.
ION, the Secretary got in touch with
Senator Arthur Capper formerly
President Of tho Topeka Branch OF
the Association and at present q
member of the National Board of u.
roctors Of the N. A. A. G. P.) who
wired Governor Allen asking that
Fills oxtrajition DO denied until tho
n. A. A. G. P, could be represented
by counsel to fight the case The As
uociation itself wired Governor AL.
lem stating that the Association would
retain counsel on Hills behalf and
alleging that Hill could not receive
fair trial i'll Arkansas; that this
fact was conclusively proved by the
record Of trial and conviction grow
Ing out OF the Phillips County, Arkan
Bas, verdicts Of last November, rend
eLed by juries from which colored
mon were excluded. the 5ury's YER.
dict In the case Of five of the twelve
men sentenced to death, having been
returned in five minutes. Counsel for
the defonso put no witnesses on the
stand IN defendants behalf and did
not ask Tor n change of venue.
Senator Cappor recommended Mr..
Hugh ~ Fisher County Attorney Of
Shawnee County, Kansas, to represent
the Association In fighting Hills OK
tradition. Mr.. Fishers genuine inter
ebt IN securing for Hill fair UIal
MI
from his letter TO tho N. A. A. G. T.
In which ho agreed to take up tho
case: ;.
Immediately upon receipt Of tho
Telegram lrom Senator Eapper i
wired him to the effect that I would
take tho case upon his recommended
ton and without compensation and
that he would notify you to that OF
feet.
From this time until tho decis
Ion OF Governor Allen was rendered
Mr.. Fisher has worked untiringly
ana with great legal ability in Hills
defense.
1t was contended on Hills behalf
that he had no direct connection with
colored people arming themselves or
with the trouble Mt Hoop Spur, Arkan
Bas. BY affldayits and dispositions It
was shown that the testimony at til.
Arkansas authorities, who were ~
presented by Attorney General ].
D. Arbuckle, was hearsay testimony.
Mr.. Fisher forced the Arkansas AT
torney General to admit that o. S.
Bratton white man Of Little Rock,
Arknnsas, was almost lynched and
that h great deal Of feeling and preju
dice against Hill and his organiza
ton existed in Arkansas.
"F2lloE.Lg Governor Aliens deni
ai of extradition, which was a great
blow to the Arkansas authorities,
from securing writ from Federal
Judge Pollock for Hills removal 20
Arkansas on tho ground of imperson
ating federal officer, which counsel
for tho N. A. A. c. p. regard as a
trivial and inconsequential charge
Judge Pollock refused to sign the pa
pers and has SGT April s as the date
for the hearing on the federal indict
mont.
Associated with Mr.. Fisher and
backed by the N. A. A. G. p, were
three colored attorneys. OF Topeka,
Messrs. Elisha Scott, James II. Guy
and A. NJ. Thomas. +.
The National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People re
gards Governor Aliens action as
deeply Significantly said John r.
Shillady, Secretary Of the Associat
ion, '1nasmuch AZ tho Arkansas au
thorites were represented by the At
torney General of the State who ap
pearea in person, and is indicative
the Association believes, OF what
would have happened in Arkansas
hod the ninety odd colored defend
ents in the alleged uprising in
Elaine had a fair trial before an I'M
projudiced jury where there rights
were protected as they were by Mr.
Fisher and his associates inTopeka
ard not so in Elaine, Arkansas where
the defendants were represented by
counsel appointed by the court who