New-York tribune., 1920-02-10
Score Shot in Charge to
! Seize Slayer at Lexing-
ton, KY, Courthouse;
/; Martial Law Is Declared
Gun Used
In Street Battle
IS
Federal Soldiers Patrol
City; New Attempt to
Get Prisoner Expected
speeiel Dispatch to The Tribune

LEXINGTON, KY, Feb. 9.-Fivc
men are dead, two or three others
are mortally and nearly a score
more are less seriously wounded,
4 the result of a battle fought in
the center of the city to-day be-
! tween a mob and National Guards
men.
: The battle occurred when a mob
attempted to storm the courthouse
IA the face of machine gun and
automatic rife fire and lynch Will
beckett, negro, who had just been
convicted of the murder of ten
year.old Geneva Hardman, a white
school girl last week.
10. S. Troops Patrol Streets
The county is under martial law
1to-night with almost one thousand
United States troops on duty on the
Streets Brigadier General F. c.
1 Marshall, U. S. A., is in command
Of the armed forces.
The dead are B. F. Carrier and
|. NJ. King. Of Lexington, and Will
I liam Etherington, ]. NJ Rogers and
John Thomas, of Versailles. The
Wounded include one woman, Mrs.
]. 7. Gross.
/ 1t was reported that an unidenti-
fed white man and negro girl had
been killed, but their bodies have
not been found and the report is
discredted.
Lockett was put on trial at o'clock
this morning. Within twenty minutes
he was found guilty and sentenced to
die in the electric chair March H.
Governor Morrow has signed the death
warrant
Lynch the Brute" Is Cry
Just as a defense attorney was max
ing plea for mercy at the behest
u LOckets, Eve hundred men, led by
81 unidentified giant, carrying a rope
wfang toward the stone parapet around
'te front of the courthouse behind
which were soldiers.
The crowd. cursing and shouting
lynch the brute" swept forward, dis
rgardng the menace of raised rifles
and warning cries. Adiutant General
peweese, in charge of the state troops,
rappled with the leader. striking him
on the head with his pistol, but the
mob did not stop. Special deputy sher-
hs and city police Joined in the efforts
. halt the onrushing men, Then the
erder to fire was given and the ma
shlne gun and automatic rife fire
kgan.
Several men dropped and the crowd
turned to run.
Battle Ended Quickly
The battle was over in a minute
fHhe mob fired at the soldiers and the
courthouse soldiers returned the shots.
mat was all of the battle. City am.
sulances were rushed into action, the
nc'lms all taken TO the two city hos
eisals. There in a few minutes four
Med of their wounds. Policeman John
ylancys arm was SO shattered by
aullet that it had to be amputated at
ns elbow Policemen John Cropper
Md W. F. Ely were less seriously
founded. One soldier was slightly
sounded. All the other wounded were
nembers of the mob or bystanders
Threats were made all day against
fate and county officials, who were
nrced to remain at the courthouse
EN,nth the scores of deputy sheritfs to
Xuard Lockett, who apparently was the
nolest man in the city. He said he
I'D killed the child. but did not know
ghy, and that he was ready to die.
General Marshall issued proclama-
aon taking over control of the city,
shie his soldiers kept the crowds NOV
9g; Newspaper men were used to-
alght as scouts to find how sentiment
sas gong. repohs that hundreds of
souhtaneers were on their way here
aom Breathitt County caused uneasi-
Wss out there was no confirmation.
!o,night the streets are quiet. Rain
Z iaiilng and the members of the mob
1e either in hiding or have gone back
~ their homes. The National Guard
ss been relieved from duty by the
sNgulars. Machine guns will be placed
e. exposed portions of the city when
Improvements arrive
is Dy no means certain that the
Wa.ihg Is over. Lockett'is still in the
Tua. mouse tonight. surrounded by
ispasy sheriffs armed with riot guns.
|N Martial Law Proclamation
1eneral Marshall's proclamation de-
"sr,ng au,,g martial law follows:
.s;. "'nereas, state of lawlcssness
s;'sss In the County of Fayette, State
st., nen!ucky, with which the state
..norltles aWlle are unable to cope; and,
u T"nereas, the Governor Of said State
."sntucky has asked for the aid of
w united States in restoring and
sirHrnainlng order in the said County
r.Sow. therefore, I, Brigadier General
ir i,sne's c. Marshall, United States
EN%s, commanding the United States
asSyips IN the said county, do hereby
ss;a Stare state of martial law in the
~ eVunty, and do assume all func-
sbunty. N'''' anu h'''''a'S' III '''"
s,s nii citizens are warned to respect
ssAossey oney my orders and those of my
TgS''omases F. C. MARSHALL,
"brigadier General U. S. A."
~ d0skett's arrest, indictment. trial
ma. s sentence sets new record FOR
sssso In Kentucky.
Court Crowded at Trial
tt.sae t.rs;e case had attracted statewide at
svss and all Fayette County had its
! ~ ~ va the trial. Hundreds of farm
SSt.same to Lexington and sullenly
sss tue prisoner as he was led be-
sn,s Hnes Of state troops from the
@ ssso 20 the court house. He had been
- L. r ts.vax