New-York tribune., 1921-06-04
State Inquiry Ordered

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla, June 3.-A
thorough investigation of the Tulsa
race conflict by Attorney General Free
ling was ordered by Governor Robert
son to-day. Mr.. Freezing was author
lied to proceed to Tulsa at once and
preserve all evidence, which will be sub
mitted to grand jury when it meets.
TULSA, Okla, June 3.-Search for
number. of alleged ringleaders of the
race riots of Tuesday night and
Wednesday. which cost thirty lives and
the loss of S1,500,0O0 in property, the
lifting of martial law and progress on
plans for rebuilding negro "zone"
were developments in Tulsa to-day.
Adjutant General Barrett, in charge
OF the state troops here, announced
this afternoon he had the names of
number of persons suspected of being
ringleaders in the trouble and that
these persons when apprehended would
be turned over to the civil authorities
General Barrett told the Chamber of
commerce 1t was unnecessary to keep
the state troops after to-day and this
afternoon issued the: Governors order
restoring civil law.
Bar Association to Aid Jury
The Committee of Seven at confer
ence discussed the request of Governor
decided the best plan would be to han
die the investigation through the grand
jury. A special committee from the
Bar Association, it was announced,
will be appointed to cooperate with
the County Attorneys staff.
The Committee of Seven also con-
sidered the rebuilding plans and steps
are to be taken to provide a we'll built
negro section, this to be done in part
as an atonement for the harm done,
and also as an example for other
cities.
The committee expects no difficulty
in obtaining the $500,000 it has been
decided is necessary to rebuild homes
owned by negroes.
An order was issued from military
headquarters early Sto-day demanding
the arrest Of any one Offering for
recording deeds to or transfers of any
property in the burned district.
General Barrett asserted that ire
sponsible persons were seeking to OBJ
tain the property at much les than
its value.
Radical Agitators Blamed
Agitation by a few irresponsible
negroes was blamed for the part of
the negroes in the race war here in
statements by several prominent
negroes and by Police Commissioner
j. M. Atkinson.
According to Commissioner Adkin-
son the police were aware that negro
radicals had been at work for some
time. He said negro citizens had been
warned several months ago that re-
spopsibility for any trouble would rest
upon the negroes.
AS the race war excitement fiickered
out, the fear which kept negro leaders
silent was dispelled, and they told the
negro story. Barney Cleaver, a vet
eran negro police officer and former
deputy Sheriff, who enjoys the conf
dence of both whites and blacks, named
an alleged negro narcotic peddier as
one of the principal leaders in the dis
turbance Tuesday night which pre-
cipitated the shooting and burning.
o. w. Gurley, probably the wealthiest
negro in the city, told the story of
what happened in the negro section
and declared the belligerent negroes
established headquarters at the plant Of
negro newspaper early Tuesday
vening.
Leaders Jeercd at Warning
Cleaver said he warned negroes then
that thcy would cause the negro section
TO be burned if they did not dispense
and dsarm. "They only laughed at
me and threatened to shoot me-"
Cleaver said.
Gurley said on the night Of the riots
he went to the newspaper Office about
8 o'clock and found activities far ad-
vanced. "Men were coming in singly and
in little groups" he said Sin answer
to the call to arms, and guns and am
munition were being collected from
every available source.
"Many of the men," he continued,
"were making open threats and talking
In a most turbulent manner
when | saw what was going on, |
tried to talk them out of the idea of
arming themselves to prevent what
they believed was a threatened lynch
ing, but they were in such dangerous
mood that | almost got in trouble my
self.
''There were not more than forty or
fifty men in the crowd of armed negroes
who marched upon the courthouse.
They were nearly all dope users or
sjake' drinkers with police records.
However, a few more intelligent ones
were in the lead"