Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-06-16
Mock Trial Held; Three Freed: Three are Con-
 yicted
ASSAULT ON WHITE
 GIRL IS THE CAUSE
Not Shot is Fired as 5000 Take Captives With Barragc of
 Sticks and
 Stones

Duluth, Minn., June 15.-Three ne- groes were lyncheu nere tonight by a mob estimated at 5,000 persons, which overpowered the police, took possess sion of police headquarters and seized the negroes, who were held in con- nection with an attack on young white girl.
 | Not a shot was fired in the attack on the police station, the members of the mob using bricks and other mis- siles, and in the final stages of the fight, streams of water from fire hose taken from the police themselves A mock trial was held by the mob in the station, and three negroes were found guilty and three others also held in connection with the assault were acquitted, and turned back to the police.
 The first negro lynched was taken about two bolcks from the police sta- ton to the corner of First street and Second avenue east, where rope was thrown over telephone pole.
 As the negro was yanked into the air, the rope broke and he tumbled to the ground. He was held until an- other rope was procured and the exe- cution proceeded without further in- terruption.
 The attack on the girl is alleged to have taken place last night at the circus grounds here. The negroes employed with the circus were round- ed up by the police after the girls story had been told. Four other ne- groes, it is said, were arrested seye- ral miles from here and were being brought to Duluth tonight.
 May Lynch Others. 1 It was reported that automobiles loaded with members of the mob started at midnight toward Virginia, where it was said four other engroes are held in connection with the case.
 The negroes were roustabouts with circus, and the attack on the 17 year old white girl took place on the cir GUS grounds last night. The circus was in Virginia today, and it was said eight negroes were taken into cus- tody there, but only four held.
 One report was that the Virginia authorities and John Murphy, Du- luth's chief of police, had started back to Duluth with the four suspects be- fore the mob trouble started. It was understood the party had been divert ed to another city.
 The negroes hanged were Isaac Me- Chic, Elmer Jackson and Nate Green, all about 22 years old. They were lynched in the order named at 11:3O D. m., Il :38 D. m., and 11:45 p. mr. spectively. All professed innocence. I First indications the downtown dis trict received of the trouble brewing came at o'clock when trucks loaded with men dashed through the princi- pal streets, the men ealing for "vol- unteers to avenge the wrong done the white girl"
 There was ready response and it was estimated that the mob numbered 5000 when storming of the jail began about 8 o'clock.
 Police headquarters is just west of the city hall, with front entrance on Superior street, Duluth's main busi- ness thoroughfare, and a rear base ment entrance is on Michigan street.
 On both streets the mob gathered, : surging toward both entrances. The : police had made preparations to put up fight with streams of water from fire hose.
 3 Attack in Rear. l The first concerted attack was on
 the rear entrance. The mob took quick advantage of pile of bricks 9 nearby. Bricks were sent flying 9 through windows and against the rear
 door, which finally gave in. This let the mob into the basement, 9 and as it started up the stairs to the = first floor, strong spurts of water
 washed it's members back. Bricks again were, brought into play }, and as the battle waged at the rear t others of the mob obtained section T of fire hose and started an assault
 on the front
 s Priest Fails Here, too, the police were prepared and in the water deal that ensued.
 neither side had a marked advantage
 until the mob managed to cut the po-
 lice hose. This caused momentary
 retreat by the police and the mob
 began battering down the front door. ! Aften entrance had been forced the ! police offered no further resistance,
 realizing, they said that attempts to ,. use fire arms would turn the disturb 5 ance into riot of more serious pro- portions, and probably cause loss of life.
 Within the police station, the mob : faced two heavy doors, barring the way to the prisoners cells. With q large timber, the steel doors were bat-
 tered down after an hours attack. It took only few minutes to foree
 open the cages and gain possession ex the negro suspects. S On the second floor of the statten