The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-06-16
Mob of 5000 Overpower Duluth Police Force, Seize Six Negroes, Hold "Triaf' and Hang Three of Them for Alleged Attack on White Girl.
Rv Assnnlatnd Pr.ss

Three negroes were lynched
 here tonight by a mob esti- mated at 5000 persons, which overpowered the police, took
 possession of police headquar-
 ters and seized the negroes,
 who were held in connection
 with an attack on a young
 white girl.
 A mock trial was held by the mob
 in the police station, and three negroes
 were found guilty and three others
 also held in connection with the as- sauIt, were acquitted and turned back
 to the police. Not a shot was fired In
 the attack on the police station, the
 members of the mob using bricks and
 other missiles, and in the final stages
 of the fight streams of water from
 fire hose taken from the police them
 selves.
 Shortly after midnight the mob still
 surrounded the police station. but
 there was no indication of further
 trouble. The police believe the mob
 would disperse in a few hours with
 out other disorder.
 The attack on the girl Is alleged to
 have occurred last night at the circus
 grounds here. The negroes, employed
 with the circus were rounded up by
 the police after the girls story had
 been told. Four other negroes, It was
 said, were arrested several miles from
 here and were being brought to Du-
 luth tonight
 The first negro hanged was taken
 about two blocks from the police sta
 ton to the corner of First street and
 Second avenue. east. where rope waa
 thrown over a. telephone pole.
 As he was pulled into the air the
 rope broke and he tumbled to the
 ground. He was held until another rope
 was procured and the hanging pro- ceeded.
 It was reported that three or four
 trucks and automobiles, loaded with members of the mob, had started at midnight toward Virginia, Minn.' where it was said four other negroes had been arrested in connection with the same case.
 ATTACKED AT CIRCUS The negroes were roustabouts with a circus that appeared here yesterday | and the seventeen-year-o white girl
 was attacked In the circus grounds last ] night The circus was in Virginia to- day. and 1t was said eight negroes | were taken into custody there put only four held. One report was that the Virginia authorities and John Murphy, Duluth's chief of police. had started back to Duluth with these four suspects before the mob trouble broke out here, but 1t was understood that 1 the party had been diverted to an- other city.
 The negroes hanged wore Isaac Me- Ghee Elmer Jackson and Nate Green. all about 22 years old They were lynched In the order named at ll:So D. m., 113S p. m. and 11:45 ?. m- All professed their innocence. First indications the downtown dis trict received of the trouble brewing came at o'clock this evening, when trucks loaded with men dashed up and down the principal streets, the men calling for volunteers to avenge
 the wrong done the white girl
 There was ready response and It was estimated that the mob contained 800 shortly after o'clock Then the storm ing of the jail began.
 The first concerted attack was madc on the rear entrance. Near the building was pile of bricks. used on con struction job, and of this the mob took quick advantage.
 BRICKS FREELY USED Bricks were sent flying through win dows and against the rear door. which finally gave in
 This let the mob into the basement. the police garage, and as 1t started up the stairs to the first floor. strong spurts of water washed its members back Bricks again were brought into play, and as the battle waged at the rear or the building other members Of the moo attacked the front entrance Here. too, inc police were prepared to fight back tho mob with water. and in the water duei | that ensisd neither side had marked advantage until the mob managed to cut the police hose. This caused a momer' i tary retreat by the police, and the mop | began battering down the front door. After the entrance had been forced | from the front, the police offered no fnr-
 ther resistance, realizing, they said, that attempts to use firearms would turn the Idisturbanee into riot of even more se- rious proportions and probably cause eA' | tensive loss of life
 Within the police station the mob faceo two heavy steel doors, barring the way ! her the steel doors were battered down after an hours attack It took only few minutes to force open the cages ana gain possession of the negro suspects. On the second floor of the police sta | ton a mock trial was held The three negroes declared guilty were taken about one and a half blocks from tho police "+ lti0n. PRIESTS PLEAD IN VAID McGhie \ as the first 10 feel the moose. He cried for mercy. declaring he was innocent. Two Catholic priests called upon the crowd to let the law take it's (Continued on Page Three)