New Britain herald., 1920-06-21
Radical Plot Suspected.

Police today emphasized that the rtoting was not the result of racial feeling but more probably the result of q radical plot. They pointed out that negroes and whites had cooperat- cd in an effort 10 resent tho insult to the flag. However. several incidents. including the maltreatment of three negro ministers many blocks from the scene of the rioting. occurred later in tho night savoring of race rioting.
 The negroes sought as leaders in tho plot to burn the flag are Joseph Fernon who is said to call himself the great Abyssinian'', his son. and Grover C. Redding. who, it is satd. claims to be a native of Abyssinia. The three negroes led the parade yes terdsy, mounted on horses and wear inE fantastic raiment.
 Bedding and seven other negroes said to have been leaders in yester- days parade, were arrested today. Bedding was caught at railroad station Just after he had purchased a ticket for St. Louis.
 Rally for Thompson. Jonas who police declared, was back of the movement for the return of the negroes to Ahyssinia yesterday was the principal speaker at a meet ing which had for its object the launching of a boom for Mayor Will liam Hale Thompson as a third par +y' candidate for president who would rally the solid Irish and negro vote"
 To Whites Killed.
 The killing of the white men. who included Robert l.. Rose a sailor sta tioned at Great Lakes, aroused hun dreds of sailors on leave in Chicago and caused issuance Of an order for tho arrest and immediate dispatch to Great Lakes Of all sailors found on the streets,
 The other whito man killed was Joseph Hoyt. 50 years old. a clerk in a cigar store near the scene of the shooting. He was shot with what is believed to have been a dunn dunn bull let. His head was split as though with an axe. The negroes who were wounded. include Joseph r. Owens. 8 policeman,
 For several hours after the riotinE started crowds formed in and around ,fhe outskirts Of tho black belt but 700 policemen had little trouble in dis persing them.
 Three PrcacherS Beaten.
 Three negro preachers were beaten by a crowd Of white men. and a negro buying a ticket at the Polk street station downtown was seized by 2a men and severely beaten. Four negroes in taxi near the same station also were set upon by a crowd but escaped.
 According to witnesses Of the burn ing of the flag and subsequent shoot ing. tho parade led by the Fernons and Bedding dispersed in front Of a cafe at 35th street and Indiana ave- nue. The parade was to have been followed by a meeting in hall.
 Ono Of the leaders of the process sion. believed to have been the elder Fcrnon, took a lag from parcel which he was carrying and set fire to n. Spectators assorted that the flag was saturated with oil and that it burned readily.
 Policeman Is Wounded
 Policeman owens rushed to the scene 4nd toward one of the men, his club raised as though to strike wit nesses said. One of tho men on horse- back, It was declared. fired at him with short rife, wounding him with his first shot.
 Rose, the sailor. who had been touring the south side with two com- pgnions sprang from an automobile when ho saw the parade and was almost at the policcman's side when the latter was shot. according to spec tators. He turned and ran into a nearby cigar store.
 Fires Voilcy Into Crowd.
 Several men with rifles. some Of which H IA declared wore obtained from an automobile nearby. ran to the door of the cigar store and fired a vol ley, according to persons near the ~