The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1921-11-05
TEXT OF DYER LYNCHTNG
BILL MADE PUBLIC.
FaVOrably Reported in House
Committee it Has Raised a
Hot Debate in Congress.

The National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People, 20
Fifth Avenue. New York, today an
nounced that Representative ....;
e. Dyer of Missouri, who introduced
the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill in Con-
gress, had sent a copy of the new
text of the bill as It was favorably
reported iby the Judiciary Committee
of the House of Representatives. The
new text which is given out as an
exclusive release by the National AS
sociation for the Advancement of Col
red People, came in personal letter
from Representative Dyer to James
Weldon Johnson. Secretary of the As
sociation, prior to the printing of the
bill.
It embodies the suggestions made
by the Department of Justice in order
stitutionality of the measure. The full
text of the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill,
II. r. 13. as favorably reported to the
United States Congress by the Com
of Representatives, is as follows:
A Bill.
To assure to persons within the
jurisdiction of any State the equal pro-
lection Of the laws.
BE 1t enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress as
sembled,
That the phrase "mob or riotuous
assemblage" when used in this act
shall mean an assembly composed of
five or more persons acting in concert
for the purpose Of depriving any per-
SON of his life without authority of
law.
mental subdivision thereof fails, ne
elects, or omits to provide and main
tain protection to the life of any per-
son within its Jurisdiction. against a
mob or riotuous assemblage such
State shall by reason of such failure,
neglect, or omission. be deemed to
have denied to such person the equal
protection Of the laws of the State,
and to the end that such protection
as is guaranteed TO the citizens of the
United States by It's Constitution may
be secured 1t is provided.
Sec. 3. That any State or munich
pal officer charged with the duty or
who possess the power or authority
any person that may be put to death
by any mob or riotous assemblage.
"or who has any such person in his
charge as a prisoner, who fails, ne
gllect, or omits to make all reasonable
efforts prevent such persons from be-
ing so put to death or any State or mu
duty to death, or any State or mu-
nicipal officer charged with the duty
of apprehending or prosecuting any
person participating in such mob or
riotuous assemblage who fails, ne
elects, or omits to make all reason
able efforts to perform his duty IN
apprehending or prosecuting to final
judgment under the laws of such state
all persons so participating, except
such, If any, as are or have been held
to answer for such participation in
any district court of the United States,
as herein provided. shall be guilty
Of shall be punished by imprisonment
not exceeding five years or by a
fine of not exceeding $500 or both
such fine and Imprisonment.
Sec. 4. Any person who participate
in any mob or rlotous assemblage by
which a person is put to death shall
be guilty of a felony and on con-
yiction thereof shall be imprisoned for
life or for not less than five years.
Sec. S. Any county in which per
son is put to death by a mob or riot
uous assemblage, shall forfeit SlO'OOO
which sum may be covered by an ac-
tion therefor in the name of the
United States against such county for
the use of the family, If any, of the
person so put to death; If he had no
family. then to his dependent parents,
United states. Such action should be
brought ad prosecuted by the district
attorney of the United States Of the
district in which such county is sit
uated in any court of the United
States having jurisdiction therein. If
such forfeiture is not paid upon re-
covery of judgment therefore such
court shall have jurisdiction to en-
force payment thereof by levy of exc
cution upon any property of the coun-
ty, or may COMPEL the levy and
collection of q tax therefor, or any
otherwise compel payment thereof by
mandamus or other appropriate pro-
cess; and any officer of such county
or other pc son who disobeys or falls
to comply " tn any lawful order OF
the court in the premises shall be
liable to punishment as for contempt
and to any other penalty provided by
law therefor.
Sec 6. In the event that any per-
son so put to death shall have been
transported by such mob or riotuous
assemblage from one country to anoth-
er county during the tnme interven-
ing between his capture and putting
to death, each county in or through
which he was so transported shall be
jointly and severally liable 20 pay
the forfeiture herein provided.
In constituting and applying this
net the District OF Columbia shall be
deemed a county. as shall also each
of the parishes of the States OF the
State of Louisiana.
Sec. Z. u any section or provision
of this Act shall be held by any
court to ne invalid the balance Of the
Act shall not for that reason be held
invalid.