The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1923-01-13
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

riot cases represented by Lawyer A.
/. Williams. Alderman Henry l..
Flick, Democrat, introduced the reso-
luton and Alderman John H. Lyle,
Alderman E. i. Frankhauser and Al
derman Charles G. Hendricks spoke
in favor Of its passage and every
member Of the City Council, both
Democrats and Republicans, voted in
favor Of putting it over, and it went
over as slick as a whistle.
Everything from that time in con-
nection with the riot cases seemed to
be stone dead until May 2, 1922, at
which time Hon. James w. Breen,
First Assistant Corporation Counsel
of Chicago, transmitted to Hon. John
a. Richert, Chairman of the Finance
Committee, his far-reaching and elab-
crate opinion in which he strongly
held that the City Of Chicago was
liable under the Anti-Mob Law of Illi-
nois for the death Of each and every
person who lost their life at the hands
Of the bloodthirsty mob.
On Monday, June 26, 1922, the last
meeting of the Finance Committee
before vacation, Alderman Louis B.
Anderson moved that the race riot
cases should be the first order Of bust
ness. His motion was seconded by
Alderman George M. Maypole and Al
derman John Powers, the father Of the
city council; John H. Lyle, Joseph o.
Kostner, Anton J. Cermak, Ross A.
! Woodruff, Chairman John "A. Richert,
Edward R. Armitage, Max Adamow-
ski and several other members of the
finance committee had joined in the
discussion and after Chairman Richert
had stated that the race riot cases had
been in the hands of subcommittee
namely, Hon. Ross A. Woodruff,
Hon. Max Adamowsl1i and Hon. Ed
ward R. Armitage-that they had
reported in favor Of settling the race
riot cases after a clean cut investiga-
ton had been made. Then, on the
motion of Hon. Anton J. Cermak, a
re salution was passed recommending
4 tn the city council should empower
the corporation counsel with the as
Itsistance of Hon. John A. Richert,
chairman Of the finance committee, to
settle the race riot cases without any
further delay. Hon. James w. Breen
was on hand to answer any questions
which the members of the finance
committee felt like propounding to
him. On Thursday afternoon, June
29, at the last meeting Of the city
council until after its vacation, it
passed an order authorizing the cor
poration counsel and Hon. John "A.
Richert, chairman Of its finance COM
mittee, to clean up or settle up all the
race riot cases in Chicago.
Recently a new subcommittee was
selected to handle the riot cases. name
/ ", Hon Guy Guernsey, chairman;
Hon. Dorsey R. Grove, Hon. Louis
B. Anderson, Hon. U. S. Schwartz,
and Hon. John A. Richert and on
Wednesday, December 20, the chair
man Of the Subcommittee was already
to report to the finance committee
that four thousand FIVE hundred dol
lars had been agred upon as fair
amount to settle each death claim
against the city and the actions Of the
subcommittee was ratified by the City
Council at its meeting Tuesday, Jan.
2, 1928.
The following are the honorable
Fmembers Of the finance committee Of
the City Council: Aldermen John A.
Richert, chairman; Louis B. Anderson,
u. S. Schwartz, Guy Guernsey, Ross
A. Woodruff, George M. Maypole,
John Powers, Dorsey r. Grove, Max
Adamowski, John P. Garner, Edward
R. Armitage, Terence F. Moran, John
H. Lyle, A. o. Anderson, Joseph o.
Kostner, John S. Clark, and they and
each and every members Of the City
Council has the everlasting thanks of
the colored people residing in this city
for being fair and liberal minded in
dealing with the race riot cases.
1t IS estimated that Attorney "A. L.
Williams expended we'll onto $1,000
Of his own money in his great and
memorable legal fight for right and
justice in behalf of the colored people
residing in Chicago.