The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-09-01
Nine Men Are Arrested Fol-
lowing GUN Battle Be-
tween Warning Factions
in Which Six Men Were
Killed and Many Injured,
DEPUTIES GUARD
HARRISBURG JAIL
Another Outbreak Is Feared
as KIanSmen and Anti
KIuxerS Move About
Heavily Armed - Militia
on Job Armed to Teeth,
BIZ Cnited Press

BIZ United Press
HEFRIN. Ill. Sept. With State
militia on guard following the bloody
riot Saturday between Klansmen and
anti-Klansmen in which six were
killed and several injured, one per
haps fatally. Herrin wore a business
as usual look today.
Nine men. all alleged to be mem
bers Of the Ku-Klux Klan, arrested
in connection with the riot. were
taken to Salina County Jail at Har-
risburg last night. The Jail was i'm
mediately surrounded by a force of
deputy sheriffs TO guard the prison
ers.
The nine men brought to the jail
at Harrisburg were:
John L. Whlteside, garage owner
of Marion; Harold Grain. Tom Thorn
ton. Charles Z. Denum. Clarence
Wyatt. John Crumpton. Earl Neil
son. John Smith and Gordon Smith.
the latter eight of Herrin.
Although Herrin presents a tran
gull outward appearance today.
scarcely forty weight hours since six
men were killed and several injured,
Il is believed TO be the usual calm
before the storm that Is almost Ger
tain to come. II is known that the
Klansmen and anti-Klansmen are
heavily armed and only awaiting a
favorable opportunity to shoot to
kill.
Groups Of each faction may be
seen in doorways, heavily armed, un-
til the early hours Of the morning,
but movements of the warning fac
tions are shrouded with utmost
secrecy. It is. perhaps, due only to
the presence Of trained troopers with
rnenacing bayonets and hand gren-
ades. and who, by the way, seldom
appear on the streets, that another
outbreak was not precipitated late
Sunday night.
Considerable interest was mani
tested Sunday afternoon in pa
rade Of members Of the 1S0th Illi-
nois Infantry through the streets of
Herrin. Platoons from several
companies marched with fixed bayo-
nets. Soldiers from the headquar-
ters company had been supplied
with hand grenades. which were car
rfed in pouches suspended from the
belts Of the men.
DisapprOves Rumors
On the other hand Adjt. Gen.
Carlos z. Black. who motored here
from Springfield last night, refused
to believe rumors of an impending
outbreak and said he hoped to re
move the troops from the county by
Thursday.
The death list still remains at six.
Herman Pheimister. at first thought
to be fatally wounded and given up
for dead, regained consciousness
yesterday and attending physicians
now hold out hope for his recovery.
Until Glenn Young, prohibition
czar" and KlaE raider left William
son County. the Ku-Klux Klan, &C
cording to residents, controlled the
county. Lately. however, the con
troll switched to the anti-Klan. IN
Saturdays riot the antis scored
heavily when four alleged Kiansmen
were h4lAEu d4A4 O4l4S OAAC dLLA NIT
death.
The city Of Herrin does not lack
law enforcement, however. Spit by
factional disputes between the Kl3n
and anti-K1an government exists.
but it is Of a dual nature.
Two Police Forces
A divided vote OF mayor and the
city alderman has brought into ex-
istence two distinct police forces to
patrol the city. The incumbent
chief of police. is Harry Walker, an
acknowledged Klansman, who from
his guarded city hall office performs
his duties. John Ford. also chief Of
police, has voluntarily withdrawn
from the execution of that office.
though ne still emphatically claims
his right to the office.
The police. together with the ma
tionaI guardsmen, serve somewhat
to allay the apprehension of
residents. but as accustomed as they
are to be sporadic affairs that have
resulted in the spilling of blood
during many years past they seem to
expect that next outbreak will be
the big fight