Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-01
ANT|-K LAN R|OT|NC
RESUMED DESPITE
REINFORCED POLICE

PERTH AMBOY, n. J., Aug. 81
Battling between ku Klux Klans
men and mobs was resumed on the
streets Of Perth Amboy this morn
ing as members of the order tried II
escape from Odd Fellows hall where
they had sought refuge during ar
attack on a khan meeting last night
in which more than 100 persons are
reported to have been injured.
A hundred men armed with club;
and stones attacked thirty klansmer
who dashed from the hall this morn
ing. The klansmen were severely
beaten.
Several injured klansmen were
treated at hospitals and later sent te
their homes.
The police said that the majority
of the klansmen who assembled tc
hold the meeting were from other
New Jersey cities and towns.
Autos Are Abandoned
A group of % who refused to try
driving their cars homeward, after
being sheltered for several hours al
police headquarters, returned to AS
bury Park and Belmar by train.
The city settled back to normal
condition during the forenoon and
police said they anticipated no fur
Their trouble.
A. ,ooo,, +bo nOlioo announced that
the few minor outbreaks had occur
red when small groups of men mo
Tested passers-by when they were sus
pected of being klansmen. Two or
three beatings administered by these
groups were reported, with no Sc
rious injuries.
Four men, alleged by the police to
be klansmen, were held on charges
of carrying concealed weapons.
It was impossible, early today, tt
ascertain the number of persons or
both sides who had been injured II
the nights lighting. Every physl
clan in the city had treated one OF
more cases while considerable mum
Der of the injured had been attended
to in hospitals.
Battling started just before mid
night VIXEN a crowd estimated at
more than 5000 men broke up a
widely advertised khan meeting in
the Odd Fellows hall.
Police Overwhelmed
The entire police force of IS, with
drawn clubs and guns, and reinforc
ed by the entire fire department
made a desperate effort to protect
the 500 klansmen whose meeting had
been surrounded by the clamoring
mob.
Tear bombs and we'll directed
streams from fire hose dispersed the
surging thousands after a first at
tack, but, returning with renewed
fury they swept the force aside
hacked the hose to pieces, and
charged into the meeting hall Klans
men wi!hstood the onslaught until
greatly ortnumbered, when many OF
them fought their way to doors, win.
dOWs and fire escapes, only to be en-.
quilted in the crowds below. Those
who had not had the foresight to re
move their khan regalia received
rough treatment before they escaped
into the woods bordering the city.
Police Chief Tonneson had sum
moned detachment Of state troop
ers, whose arrival was greeted by re-
newed activities of the muttering
mob. Aided by state troopers the
police began the removal of the
imprisoned klansman.
Several Of them were loaded into
three automobiles which the crowd
Immediately overturned, administer
ing severe beatings to the occupants.
A patrol wagon load of rescued re-
ceived similar treatment. The crowd
intercepted q number Of escaping
klansmen who were being led to safe
ty over adjoining roofs, They also
were beaten.