The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-06-26
Grand Jury Probing Race
Riots Allege Grave Dere-
LECTION Of Duty on Part
Sworn Law Officers
MUNICIPAL PEACE
GUARDIANS FIRED
FAILED TO PREVENT INTER
RACIAL WAR AND PERMIT
TED IMMORAL HOUSES
TO OPERATE


Police John A. Gustafsen of Tulsa
and other members of the police de-
partment were indicted today by the
grand jury in connection with the
recent race riot and on charges of
vice.
Other indictments were returned
against Bay Ward head of the police
automobile recovery department, and
Roy Meacham, traffic officer: b. +.
Waddell, chief Of police of Sand
Springs, and T.. f. Williams. Sand
Springs patrolman.
The jury in its report submitted
TO District Judge Valjean Biddson
recommended that the indicted Off
GERS be Immediately suspended from
office. The charges against the po-
licemen were not in connection with
the race riots. It was said
Final Report Brief
The final report OF the grand jury
was comparatively brief. II found
that the race trouble resulted from
armed negroes marching up town to
defend Dick Rowland from lynching;
that no attempt had been made or
was being made to lynch Rowland.
and the crowd Of whites assembled
about the courthouse was largely n
peaceful one: that the armed negroes
were responsible for the riots: that
the whites assembled at the court
house and who took part In the fight
ing there later were not TO blame.
II further found there were under
lying causes for the riot notably the
spreading OF racial equality doctrine
among the negroes for n considerable
time by members Of their own race
and the storing Of arms by them in
negro church and other places that
the majority OF the negroes were not
implicated and were ignorant Of the
true facts.
IL found that the police had not
properly enforced the law either In
the white or negro section refused
TO place any blame on Sheriff Will
liam Mccullough for the riot; de-
plored reports OF the riot which had
gone out through the newspapers and
called on the citizenship TO demand
law enforcement and competent off
cials.
Implicate Police In Auto Theits
The minor members OF the Tulsa
police department are implicated In
an automobile theft case,
The charges against Gustafson in
clude failure TO enforce law against
vice In roomlng houses, failure to
enforce the prohibition laws. failure
to enforce the anti gun-carrying law,
and derelictlon OF duty on the night
of the riot
Police Commissioner j. NJ Addison
refused TO announce what course he
would take upon suspension OF the
officers until he had received for
NAL report from the grand jury.
The grind jury filed lengthy re-
port on the result OF It's Inquiry.
Chief Accused on Five Counts
Chief Of Police John A. Gustafson
was formally accused today by the
race riot grand jury on five counts
In a final report In which Attorney
General s. =. Freeing. who conduct.
ed the inquiry, told the court he
could not fully concur for the reason
that IL did not include accusations
he said he believed should have been
made against other officials and al
legged rioters. The jury blamed the
armed negroes who went to the
court house on the night OF the out
brrak Of the riot. In the same re-
port. the grand jury accused four
policemen and indicted seven civil.
ians. The seven are accused In con-
necton with the race riot. The po-
licemen are not. Previously approx
inately ninety indictments had been
returned.
on the request OF the grand jury
and the attorney general. District
Judge Vatican Bidjison, TO whom the
report was made. Immediately order
I'd the suspension OF Chief Gustafson
from office. Judge Biddison am
nounced that all the accused police
men stood suspended pending trial.
The policemen. in addition to-
chief Gustafson, who are accused,
are bay ward. head Of the auiomo-
bile bureau In the police department.
Roy Meacham. police officer: ID. l..
waddeii. chief of police Of sand
Springs. and 7. T.. Williams. Sand
Springs police officer.
Serious Derc,iction Of Duty
Tho charges against chief Gustaf.
son are that he failed TO enforce
the prohIbltory law in Tulsa' that
C-onunued on Page Five)