The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1923-01-06
ATTORNEY AUGUSTUS L. WILLIAMS
IN WINNING HIS RIOT CASES HAS
SCORED ONE OF THE GREATEST
VICTORIES OF ANY LAWYER IN
THIS COUNTRY.
Concluded from Page p

to the viciousness of the mob, and
among that number was Rev. Father
Jones, Roman Catholic priest, who
very wildly testified as to how he
knelt down by the side Of the dead
body of Joseph Lovings, right in the
presence Of the bloodthirsty mob, and
offered up prayers for the repose Of
his soul in peace.
1t was indeed a 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 a-profound impression
on the minds Of each one Of the jur-
ors, and they returned verdict in
favor of his client, Mrs. Carrie Low
ings, the widow of Joseph Lovings,
for three thousand and FIVE hundred
dollars ($3,500).
That same week Mr.. Williams sue
cessfully 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-
ments and so on. His third case was
that Of James G. Grimes VS.. City Of
Chicago. Mr.. Grimes was mobbed at
35th and Robey streets, where he re-
sided at that time, and most of his
witnesses were white ladies, from his
neighborhood, who were kindly dis
posed towards Mr.. and Mrs. Grimes.
Mr.. Grimes received permanent blind
ness from the injury he received at
the hands of the mob.
Mr.. Williams delivered a most mas
terly Grafton in winding up his case
and some Of the ladies sitting in the
court room, which was crowded all
the 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
seen to wipe tears from their eyes.
The jury, after being fully instructed
by Judge Windes as to the law and
the evidence governing that class of
cases, retired to the jury room and
in five minutes time they were back
in the court room with a verdict in
favor of Mr.. Grimes for FIVE thou
sand dollars ($5,00O).
The city, in its fight against Mr..
Williams, left no stone unturned in
its effort to head him off, but it availed
it nothing. Three lawyers were
hurled against him at one time, name
ly, Mr.. Charles w. Pease, Mr.. z. c.
Lund and Mr.. Albert o. Sullivan. The
feeling was SO intense on the part Of
the able lawyers for the city that dur
ing the selection of the jury co1ored
man found his way into the jury box.
Mr.. Williams was perfectly willing to
60 along with the colored juror, but
the lawyers for the city hustled him
out of the jury box just as soon as
they possibly could, and the jurors in
all three Of the race riot cases tried by
Mr.. Williams were white men.
Soon after the termination of
those race riot cases Hon. Samuel "A.
Ettelson, the great corporation coun-
sci Of Chicago, placed all Of the re-
naming race riot cases in the hands
Of Hon. James w. Breen, first as
sistant corporation counsel of Chi
cago, and being one of the most re-
sourceful lawyers in this country and
all of the laws of this
city and the laws Of the state Of
Illinois from A to z, and after read
ing many law books of other states,
it did not take Mr.. Breen long to
firmly arrive at the conclusion that
the city Of Chicago was liable to
the survivors of all those who lost
their lives in this city during the race
riots in 1919
Resolution Passed by the City Coun-
Gil, November %, 1921
The resolution authorized the Cor
poration Counsel of Chicago and the
Financial Committee to get together