The Minnesota fiery cross. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1924-19??, 1924-03-21
FLAMING CIRCLE RIOT
SUPPRESSED At START
Glenn Young in Full Accord
With Action Of Federal
Grand Jury

MARION, ILL, March l5.-Glenn
Young, federal prohibition law en-
forcement officer, who was the CEN
ter of the cleanup in Williamson
county, Illinois, was in this city re-
Gently.
As soon as it was learned that
Young was in town, the word was
spread to the flaming Circle, the
anti-Klan organization for bootleg
gers and law breakers in general.
The gang which is opposed to law
and order met at Murphysboro and
resolved to start on a cleanup be-
ginning at Marion. They left Muir
physboro and as their cars were going
through Carbonate, the chief of po-
lice of that city phoned Chief of
Police Thomas Boyd of Marion to be
on the lookout. The sheriff was noti-
fed and word sent to Herrin. Hugh
Willis, under instructions from Sher-
if Galligan, requested that part Of
the troops stationed there proceed
TO Marion 1t was told that the OBJ
jective point of the Flaming Circle
was Whiteside's garage on North
Market street, where Mr.. Young
sometimes puts in part of his time.
AS the word scattered about Marion
that the Flaming Circle was on it's
way to Marion to get Glenn Young
and dynamite Whitesides' garage,
several hundred patriotic American
citizens gathered and volunteered
their services to guard the place.
Upon the arrival of the soldiers they
marched about the square a few
times and went to the garage. As
sisted by the citizens who volunteered
help, guard was placed about the
garage. 1t is said there were several
hundred guns in the crowd and that
four machine guns were planted at
convenient places. Several of the
guards occupied places on the roof
of neighboring houses. Evidently
word was received by the Flaming
Circle that a warm reception was
waiting for them here, as they dis
banded shortly after passing through
Herrin.. Prompt action by the chief
of police at Carbonate served to
place Marion on it's guard and the
efficient work of Chief of Police
Boyd and his assistants was the
means of everything being ready
here for the invaders when they
should arrive.
Glenn Young was seen by news
paper representative and seemed
quite happy. He answered such
questions as were asked him and
gave expression to his attitude
throughout the investigation at Dan
vile. First, he said that he was in
perfect harmony with the federal Of
ficers and the federal grand jury in
all they did. He had never been dis
armed or requested to disarm except
by the Sheriff of Danville, and as
soon as Young showed him his high
authority for carrying arms, the re-
quest was withdrawn. And as for
the statement made through the
press reports that he had called the
federal grand jury gang of boot
leggers," he had never made any such
expression. All he said was that two
of the members of the jury had been
arrested some time ago for bootleg
ging. The story of wholesale con-
domination grew from that state
ment. He asserted positively that
the feeling between him and the
federal officers and grand jury were
harmonious in every particular. He
satisfied them of his authority to
conduct the raids, and that was suf-
ficient. They accepted his evidence
and the evidence of his witnesses.