The call of the North. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1923-1924, 1924-01-02
Gr0veland Park Folks Demand
Justice i'm Court Battles
WHAT WAS DEN T. LANES OBJECT IN SELLING
LOT ON ST. CLAIR STREET TO NEGRO STARkS?

D
press the sentiment of the people out
here" Negro Stark was now rag
ing and jumping up and down, shout
ing, "Pm fighting man. can lick
any ten of the-(oaths too vile to pub
lish). 1 can lick all three of you
(oaths too vile to publish)." With
this last outburst, Negro Starks
rushed behind the partition. Fred
rickson now said, "Come on boys, we
had better Co." Starks came after
them with a revolver, evidently hav-
ing secured same from somewhere
behind the partition. Mr.. Reaser was
in the car and when the men came
from the barber shop, Reaser at
tempted to start the motor. Fred
rickson leaped into the car, a Ford
sedan of the two-door model, one on
either side of the car. Mayhem fol-
lowed him. Reaser was having
trouble getting his car started.
Hackett attempted to get into the
car, but saw that Negro Starks was
too close, with a deadly weapon in
his hand. He turned and struck at
Starks, but missed him. In a flash
he saw that Starks was raising the
gun and he dropped to the ground
just as Negro Starks fired at him,
shooting off his cap. Hackett lay on
the ground as though dead, fearing
that Negro Starks would again shoot
if he showed any signs of life. After
Hackett had dropped, Starks COM
menced dancing, after the manner of
his jungle ancestors, waving the gun
over his head. Reaser finally sue
ceeded in getting the, car in motion
and Hackett Immediately leaped to
his feet and ran to the opposite side
of the Ford automobile. Mr.. Hackett
ran down the street, keeping the car
between Starks and himself until he
thought it was safe to enter the au-
tomobile. The committee from the
Groveland Park Improvement Asso-
citation went directly to Detective
Smiths residence on, Wellesly street,
but Smith was not at home. Then
they called Central Police Station
and one Cook and an unidentified
officer responded. The committee
told their story. One of the officers
remarked, Lets 60 and get him."
meaning Starks. However, they were
unable to locate Starks that night,
but arrested him the next day, May
II. Fredrickson and Hacket went to
Chief Sommer's Office at 8 A. M. Of
the 18th, where they told their busi-
ness. Negro Starks was already at
the Central Police Station. Chief of
Police Sommer said to Fredrickson
and Hackett, "Oh, you're the bunch
that went out there and started
fight" meaning by "there" Negro
Starks' barber shop, evidently. Fred
rickson now presented the resolution
of the Groveland Park Improvement
Association to the chief and said,
"No, this is what we went there for"
The committee presented their side
of the story to the chief in an ante
room, while Starks at that time was
in the main room of the Central Po-
lice Station. Sommer went directly
into the main room and approached
Negro Starks, saying in a loud voice,
"That makes no difference, you have
no business shooting at anybody.
Sit down." (The chief was possibly
grandstanding). The statement made
by the chief indicated that Starks
had admitted shooting.
Alleged to Have Made
Light of Shooting
Officer Cummings took Fredrickson
and Hackett to the County Attorneys
office, where he tried to get square
deal for them. When the men from
the Groveland Park Improvement As
sociation endeavored to file a COM
plant against Negro Starks, Mr.. Nc
Donald is alleged to have made light
of the affair, saying, according to an
alleged statement, "Starks is friend
of mine and a white Niger" Mr..
Hackett retorted, 81 don't care if he
has the entire white following of the
city of St. Paul, he's not going to
shoot me down like a dog and get
away with it." Mcdonald, according
to Fredrickson and Hackett, reluc-
tantlu said MAu ripht uo1,re tho