The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20
SAVANNAH SCENE
Of R|OT|NG WHEN
NEGRO IS JAILED
One Man Dies In Hospital
As Result Of Shot
From Mob

SAVANNAH. Ga, June 19.-With
two thousand persons before the
county Jail, where Walter Lee. ne
gro, charged with a statutory Of
Tense, is confined, and with the num-
every moment, the riot call TO. tho
city AMI county officers was sounded
shortly before midnight tonight.
Lee. negro about is years old,
was captured by county police this
afternoon after 24-hour man hunt
He is charged with statutory Of
Tense ann beating his victim into in
sensibility win a sadiron. His cap
ture was effected late this after
noon upon Information furnished by
a negro who had seen him near the
woman's home shortly before the
| crime was committed. Lee was
rushed to the county jail. where he
was identified by his victim. He de-
mics his guilt. but, according to the
police, circumstances point to his
guilt.
Shortly before midnight when the
| armed forces about the Jail had been
virtually perceptibly increased the
crowd was addressed by Solicitor
General Walter Hartridge and by
Sheriff Merritt w. Dixon. who de-
clared it was his purpose to protect
the prisoner and II any attempt was
made to storm the jail there would
be bloodshed.
Hose Turned on Crowd.
Sheriff Dixon's address did not
quiet the crowd. While there was
no rush toward the jail, it was evil
dent that there was no intention of
dispensing. Sheriff Dixon then gave
an order which resulted in half a
dozen streams of water being sent
into the crowd by city firemen.
Instead Of flinching from the water
the crowd Immediately began throw
ing bricks at the firemen. In the
battle that ensued a brick from the
dark knocked the sheriff's pistol
from his hand.
At 1920, when two shots had been
heard within a block of the Jail and
Mayor SeabrCoks arrival on the scene
had failed to quiet the clamoring
crowd, call was sent out for mill
tary aid and at 1890 a detachment
of machine gun men. under Maj. A.
Russell Moore, reached the Jail and
took possession. The military had
been put on notice by the first riot
call and had assembled at the ar
me ries. all OF which are within a
short distance of the Jail.
One man was reported shot and
wounded in the general fighting
among the soldiers and members
of the mob surrounding the Jail.
When the machine gun men rushed
the crowd to push it back, one man
on the front line showed resistance
and he was quickly taken in charge
and sent to the police station.
One Man Killed.
A. Claude Parker. Jr., shot in the
abdomen. apparently by some one in
the crowd, was sent to a hospital
at 12:45 in a serious condition, dy-
ing at / a. m.
Chief of Police Hendry was struck
| in the stomach with brick. but
the extent If his injuries has not
been determined.
Lieut.. 1. C. Helmley. Jr., of Bat
terry C, national guard, was struck
in the face with brick at l o'clock
and disabled.
Police Lieutenant Sherrod, who
fired the first two shots heard in the
vicinity Of the Jail, fired on someone
who had hurled a brick and struck
him. He was not seriously injured
and Is still on duty.
At 1:15 a. m. the military under
Lieutenant Colonel ]. H. Thompson
| had pressed back the crowd two
blocks from the jail on all sides and