The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1922-07-08

rose in the extreme east and set II
the far west that he would meet with
success by and by. and now, after as
sisting Mr.. Williams every way thai
We possibly could for almost three
wears, in connection with his race riot
cases, we are able to greatly rejoice
with him in winning by far the
greatest legal victory that has so far
been won by any colored lawyer in
the United States.
On Wednesday, Max 2S, 1921, Mr..
Williams tried his first riot case be-
fore Judge Samuel c. Slough, sitting
in the Superior Court of Cook county,
that of Ada Dozier, widow, VS.. City
of Chicago. The jury was composed
of twelve white men, the city was
represented by Hon. Charles Pease,
assistant corporation counsel, ard by
several other brainy legal lights and
they fought Mr.. Williams to a dead
standstill. They did not hesitate to
resort to every sharp trick known to
the law in their desperate effort to
floor him or defeat him OF knock
him out. but in the final end their la
bors were all in vain, for the jury re-
turned a verdict against the City Of
Chicago and in favor of Mrs. Ada
Dozier for twenty-three hundred dol
lars $4,000. Then the leading col
ored lawyers loudly contended that
the city would move onto the higher
state courts and that by the time that
the Supreme court of this state
grabbed Mr.. Williams and his un-
heard of race riot case and ripped
him up one side and down the other,
that he would not have one leg to
stand on and that all Of his other
race riot cases would fall fat to the
ground. Such was not the case, how
ever, and that judgment against the
city become final.
On Tuesday morning, October p,
1921, Mr.. Williams began to try his
second and third race riot cases be-
fore the Hon. Thomas G. Windes, the
eminent dean of the Circuit court OF
Cook county-those were the cases OF
Joseph Lovings, who resided at 1850
South Dearborn street, and who
worked in a white barber shop at 1904
West 18th street. He was well liked
by its owner and his patrons. On
his way home on his bicycle on the
evening of July 10Th, he was set upon
by a bowling maddened mob, esti-
mated at almost 5000, and the mad
mob fred fifteen to twenty bullets
into his head and body. Then the
mob trampled upon his lifeless body |
and defaced his face and skull by
beating it in. A number of white wit
and men-testihed as
to viciousness of the mob, and among |
that number was Rev. Father Jones,
a Roman Catholic priest, who very |
vividly testified as to how he knelt
down by the side of the dead body |
of Joseph Lovings. right in the pres
ence of the bloodthirsty mob, and Of
fered up prayers for the repose of his
soul in peace.
1t was indeed very effective scene
to note the good acts and deeds of
this holy father, who waived all race
prejudice aside and had the moral
courage in the presence of the howl
ing mob to perform his sacred duty
Or calling.
Attorney Williams handled the case
in a thorough and most masterful
manner from its beginning to its end.
His closing argument to the jury
was really eloquent, effective and far
reaching in its rami6cations. When he
concluded it was perfectly apparent
that he had left profound impression
On the minds of each one Of the jur-
DIS, and they returned a verdict in
favor of his client, Mrs. Carrie Low
ngs, the widow of Joseph Lovings.
Tor three thousand and FIVE hundred
dollars (S5,5OO).
That same week Mr.. Williams sue
,essfully tried his third race riot case
before the Hon. Thomas G. Windes
and there was no question about IT.
He had greatly improved in his argu-
nents and so on His third case was
hat of James G. Grimes vs.. City Of Chi
ago. Mr.. Grimes was mobbed at
,5th and Robey streets, where he re-
,ided at that time. and most Of his
witnesses were white ladies, from his
who were kindly dis
posed towards Mr.. and Mrs Grimes.
Mr.. Grimes received permanent blind
ness from the injury he received at
he hands of the mob.
Mr.. Williams delivered most mas
ierly Grafton in winding up his case
md some Of the ladies sitting in the
sourt room, which was crowded all
he time. cried out in anguish and
With tears running down their faces.
They were led from the court room
Even strong, able-bodied men were
zen to wipe tears from their eyes.