The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-17
LEGION FOILED
LYNCHINC PARTY
Prompt Action by War Veterans
QuelIed Mob Violence.
Mayor Cancelled First Call for
State Troops.
FEELING is ROUSED AGAIN
Negro Club Is Attacked by
Whites With VOIIey.
Two Killed and Four Wounded
in Race Battle.
FIRST SHOT WAS DELIBERATE E
Negro Shot White Boy Down
Drops Bullet RiddIed.
Man Hunt by Independence
Whites ROuses the Blacks.
FIRST SHOT WAS DELIBERATE
Negro Shot White Boy Down
Drops Bullet RiddIed.
Man Hunt by Independence
Whites ROuses the Blacks.

Lawrence, Kan, Dec. 17.-Orders
wee received here today directing the
machine gun company of the Fortieth
Kansas infantry to mobilize at the
arnory and be ready to entrain for
Independence, Kan. if ordered.
The orders were issued by the adju-
tant general at Topeka. Capt. f. E.
Jones. commander of the company,
said the company would be ready to
entrain by s o'clock tonight.
Independence. Kan, Dec. 17.-One
hundred and fifty American Legion
members today patroIled the streets of
Independence. and guarded the county
Jail to prevent the lynchins of Noble
Green. negro murder suspect, and
prevent a second outbreak of race
r:o.s which RACED thruout the night
with the result that two persons are
dead and four arc in hospitals.
Belief grew Mt noon that only a
leader was needed to carry out the
evident determination to lynch Green.
Trouble was feared n, some officials
tonight. despite presence of former
service men patrolling the streets. The
mood of the crowd surrounding the
jail today was unmistakable.
New Appeal Sent.
A formal teiegraphic appeal was
sort to Governor Allen by the county
judge, asking that state troops be sent
here immediately.
1t was reported to Mayor Wadman
this afternoon that a store house at
the cemetery near Independence had
been broken into during the night and
dynamite and caps removed. 1t was
believed certain the dynamite was
stolen for use of the rioters.
Early today Mayor Wadman tele-
phoned the governors office at Topeka
caacclling his early request for troops,
believing the legiOnnaires under COM
mand Of Lieut.. Harry Ball, formerly
of the Thirty-fifth division of overseas
troops. would be sufficient to maintain
peace.
Fire on Negro Club.
Race feeling flared out again early
today when the Twentieth Century
club, negro pool hall in the down
town section, was fired on. In the
promiscuous shooting which followed
windows were broken in a hotel across
the streets and the guests terrorized
NO one was injured. The negro mem-
their weapons to the chief of police.
The sheriff, c. A Hall, said he
would not take the negro to another
town because he had given his word
that the black would not be spirited
away. IT was only by giving this word
he explained. that lynching had been
prevented last night
Two Killed. Three May Die.
But efforts for the sheriff and other
nutnOTtrlRg ierh
between whites and blacks were not
successful Today one white man is
dead, three may die and fourth is
suffering from a slight gun wound,
while only one negro was killed-the
black who fired the first shot
When I;alph Mitchell. driver of a
bread wagon. entered the grocery
store OF r. r. Wharton yesterday, he
saw negro robbing the cash register.
The robber fled.
Man Hunt Organized.
Mitchell glanced hastily about the
store and not seeing the proprietor.
started after the running black. After
short chase the negro turned, COW
cred Mitchell with a shotgun and
threatened to blow his head off II he
didn't drop the chase. Mitchell
! stopped. Returning to the store he
tumbled across the iifeiess body of
Wharton. behind the counter The body
was crumpled over a broom the little
suburban store being one in which the
owner was also the 1anitor.
Mayor Wadman happened along
and was called in by Mitchell The
city head Immediately, called for
volunteers to search for the murderer.
Mitchell could remember but little of
the appearance of the negro except
that he had a mustache.
The clash last night was precipt-
iated when city officials attempted To
disarm eight negroes mu:tering war
on the whites" The. blacks refused 10
yield their arms. Immediately after