The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-06-16
DULUTH is
QUIET AFTER
NIGHTS RIOT
Troops Find City Suffering
Hangover After Three
Negroes Are Taken and
Lynched.
POLICE DEFENSE FEEBLE
(By Associated Press)

DULUTH, Mlnn., June 1b.-Nlrtual-
~ normal conditions prevailed today
on the Duluth business streets over
which a mob of 5000 persons surged
last night, sweeping the police from
power and seizing and lynching three
negroes held in connection with an at
tack on a 17-year-old white girl.
When two companies of Minnesota
national guardsmen reached here
early today after a special train trip
from ST. Paul, they found only a
damaged police station and Uttered
streets as visible effects of the mob's
activity.
Under personal command of State
Adjutant General w. F. Rhinow, the
124 men and six officers went into
tempOra. y camp, preparing to patrol
the streets, If necessary, to guard
against any eventualty that might
arise as an aftermath of the mob's
mad run. The men are equipped for
riot duty.
Available records today showed only
one previous lynching in Minnesota,
but this had not been confirmed in
official sources. Twenty years ago it
was said white man was lynched in
this county near Iron Mountain for
attacking d girl.
Police Are "Overpowered"
Last nights lynchings were accom-
plished after the citys police force
had been overpowered by bricks and
streams from fire hose in an attack
on police headquarters, which fronts
Superior street, Duluth's principal
business thoroughfare. For at least
two hours the mob ruled, only re-
linquishing its power after the negroes
had been lyHched.
Six negroes had been arrested by the
police in connection with the attack on
the girl, which took place at a circus
ground Monday night. The negroes
were attached to the circus as roust-
abouts. The mob held a mock trial,
declared three of the negroes guilty
and acquitted the other three, who
today still were in the hands of the
police.
The three convicted" negroes were
hanged within a block and half Of
the police station, the mob hooting
Gown pleas Of two priests that the
law be permitted to take its course.
1t took three starts to hang the first
negro as the rope broke the first two
times.
Cut Down Bodies.
After the mob had dispersed early
today the police cut down the bodies
of the negroes, which had not been
mutilated The authorities did not ex-
pect any further trouble today and
expressed themselves doubly sure of
view Of the presence of the guards
men.
There was no new information here
today in regard to the four negroes
said to have been arrested at Virginia,
where the circus appeared yesterday.
1t was reported that eight had been
taken into custody but that four had
been released. Reports that authori-
ties had started for Duluth with the
four suspects, but had been diverted
10 some other town by reports of the
rioting here, could not be confirmed
early today.
Injuries suffered by night policemen
and newspaper man in the brick
fight and fire hose attack on the police
station were said today TO be trivial.
An investigation of the action of the
mob Will be made il was understood
today but just what form this in
yestigation would take had not been
determined when the guards
reached here.
SOUTH BEND. June 16.-Negroea
lynched at Duluth last night follow
ing alleged attack on a white girl
were in South Bend with a circus on
June !, on which occasion they at
tackled and attempted to assault Helen
Penrod, a white girl living near the
show grounds.
ST. PAUL, Mimi. June 16-Local
police and county authorities early to-
day denied knowledge Of a report from
Virginia to the effect that ten negroes
alleged to have been connected with
an attack on a white girl at Duluth
We're being brought to the Ramsey
county Jail here for protection.