The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1920-06-23
THREE atGR0ES.HUHG
BY DULUTH MOB
Storms Jail and Seizes Circus
Roustobouts Held IN Attack
On White Girl

Duluth. MINI. June 1s.-Three
negroes were lynehed here Tuesday
by a mob estimated at 5000 persons.
which overpOwered police. took pos
session of police headquarters and
seized the negroes. who were held in
connection with an attack on a
young white girl
\ mock trial was held by the mob
in the police station. and three ne
groes were found guilty. and three
others. also held in connection with
the assault. were acquitted and turn
ed back to the police.
Not a shot vas fred in the attack
on the poncs station, the mob using
bricks and other missiles, and in
final stages OF the fight streams Of
water from FIRE hose taken from po-
lice themselves.
Shortly after midnight the mob
still surrounded the police station.
but there was no indication of fur
Their trouble. The police believed
the mob would disperse in a few
hours without other disorder.
Mob After Four Others
1t was reported that three or four
trucks and automobiles. loaded with
members Of the mob. had started at
midnight toward Virginia, Mimi,
where it was said four other negroes
had been arrested il connection with
the same case.
The negroes were roustabouts with
a circus that appeared here and the
17-year-old white girl was. attacked
on the circus grounds. ize -c!rcEs
vas in Virginia Tuesday and it was
said eight negroes were taken into
custody there. but only four held.
One report was that the Virginia
authorities and John Murphy. Dull
uths Chief of Police. had started
back 10 Duluth With ;kese four sus-
poets before the mob trouble broke
out here. but it was understood that
the party had been diverted TO an
other city.
The negroes hanged were Isaac
McGhie. Elmer Jackson and Nate
Green. all about % years old. They
were lynched in the order named al
1870 p. m. 11:3s p. m. and 1l:45
p. m. All professed innocence.
First indications the downtown dis
trict received of trouble brewing
came at Z O'Clock this evening when
trucks loaded with men dashed up
and down the principal streets. the
men calling for volunteers to av-
enge the wrong done the white girl"
Mob OF 5000 Modified
There was ready response and it
was es timated that the mob num-
bered 5000 shortly after o'clock.
Then storming of the Jail began.
The first concerted attack was
made on the rear entrance. Near
the building was a pile Of bricks, us
ed on a construction job, and Of this
the mob took quick advantage.
Bricks were sent flying through win
which finally gave in.
dows and against the rear door, |
This let the mob into the basement
the police garage. and as it 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 wsged at the |
rear of the building other members
of the mob attacked the front en-
trance.
Mob Cuts Police Hose
Here, too. police were prepared to |
fight back the mob with water, and !
in the waer duel that ensued neither
side had a marked advantage until
the mob managed to cut the police
hose. This caused a momentary re-
treat by the police and the mob be-
gan battering down the front door. |
After entrance had been forced
from the front, the police offered no
further resistance. realizing. they |
said, that attempts to use firearms
would turn the disturbance into a
riot of even more serious proportions
and probably cause extensive life
loss.
Within the police station the mob
faced two heavy steel doors. barring |
the way to the prisoners cells. With |
a large timber, the steel doors were
down after an hours at
tack. 1t took only few minutes to
force open the cages and gain pos