The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-07-15
INDICATIONS ARE
I HAT GUSTAFSON
TRIAL WILL LAST
ALL NEXT WEEK
ATTORNEY GENERAL INTRO
DUCES MORE WITNESSES ON
RIOT SITUATION; NEGRO
DEPUTY TESTIFTES

Tulsa, Okla, July 15.-The state
produced additional witnesses today
in the case of Chief of Police John
A. Gustafson, now suspended and on
trial for removal, to support its claims
that the chief and his department
were negligent in trying to prevent
and stop the race not, This Is one
Of the four counts brought against the
chief of which he Is heing tried,
Laurel Buck, &c, a brick layer and
overseas veteran, was the first witness
Of the morning session, He stated that
he went to the police station irnme-
jiateiy after the skirmish at the court
house and asked to be sworn in as a
special officer. He said a policeman
told him they could handle the situa-
ton, but advised him TO so get gun
and get a "nigger." Buck was unable
to identify the policeman with whom
he talked but said he was inside the
station when the conversation occurred
Buck said he visited the edge OF the
negro district early the next morning
and saw a policeman keeping the
crowd back while two other police
men were about half a block away
going to every building along the street
breaking the plate glass windows and
entering. He said that each time i'm
mediately after they came out smoke
began TO roll out Of the buildings.
Buck declared he had seen the two
policemen many times before on the
police force and thought ne might be
able to identify them. When the de-
fcnse asked him If he could go down
to the station and do this he said he
was not certain IL he could do 1t.
Contractor Testifies
I. ]. Buck. building contractor, and
father OF Laurel Buck, said he visited
the negro district about 1880 o'clock
On the morning OF June /. He stated
that he owned a two-story brick build
ing there and number Of frame
buildings in the vicinity OF the black
belt were already burning when be
arrived.
Il thought I might be able to save
my building" said Buck. IL asked
uniformed policeman who was keeping
the crowd back TO let me 80 over and
try. He said: You amt got no bust
ness building buildings for negroes TO
live in"
The defense moved TO strike this
answer but the court permitted II to
go in.
II tried to get by again" said Buck
and the same policeman told me II
didn't want to get my head shot
of ia better get away, and l sid"
Secs Own Building Burn
Buck declared after his own build
Ing was on fire he went about half
block away and saw a number Of
other buildings not yet fired. He ask
ed the same policeman to let him SO
over and Try to keep the crowd from
burning them and the policeman told
him to get away that he could take
care OF the situation. The buildings
later burned he said
Louis Hoffman testified that he
owned a grocery store In the negro
district. He said that some white men
chased him out of the building. that
there were no negroes armed at that
Nine which was about 5 o'clock in
the morning but said l5 or 70 white
men were passing along firing the
buildings. Hoffman testified that he
saw no policeman.
II. c. Souther, a white man, testi-
fed that he was operating a motion
picture machine In a negro theatre
about 7.SO o'clock on the night Of the
outbreak. He said the negroes gather
Cd rapidly and when he went cat on
the streets tt.y seemed like a swarm
OF bees and ell the men he saw were
armed. They took souther's car away
from him but brought him TO the edge
Of the white district on an armed
truck and turned him loose. Souther
declared he saw one negro policeman
do all he could to keep the crowd back
Policemen Stood Around Talking
w. NJ. Wilson. ex-polceman, said
he went to the police station after
the fight at the courthouse and saw
,cSnt iued On Pare Twv)