The Minnesota fiery cross., 1924-04-11
TWO men KILLED
II N MiHfat sE'E& fjSI fb%n
Two Women Favorable To
Organization Attacked
by Foreigners
FIGHT IN SELF DEFENSE
Twenty-FOur Men Under Arrest
on Charge of Riot, Gun Car.
rying and Murder
BY s. THOMAS ZENER, Jr.


Especial Telegram to The Fiery Cross)
LILLY, PA, April This lit
tie mining town today assumed
a belligerent, anti-Protestant at
titude after restless Sunday fol-
lowing the attack upon Cambria
county Klansmen Saturday night
after they had burned a cross
on an overlooking hillside.
Strangers within these borders
are regarded with utter suspi-
cion, and the religion of anyone
seeking information is closely
questioned. The situation has
assumed a religious status en-
tirely.
At Johnstown, 20 miles west, "a
alleged Klansmen are held without
bail in the county Jail. Charges Of
carrying concealed weapons, riot and
murder were charged against them
before Alderman Levergood Monday.
Three Klansmen, Worthy Davis,
Johnstown; Sarah Johnson, Revlock,
and Samuel Evans, Southfork, are in
the Memorial hospital there, suffering
from wounds received in the melee
Saturday night. None of them is Sc
riously injured.
Took Special Train
Cambria county Klansmen boarded
a special train at Johnstown Saturday
night and came to Lilly. Upon ar
rival the klan members marched to
field near the town and burned fiery
cross. While the ceremony was in
progress, two men attempted to en-
ter the field, around which a Gordon
of robed Klansmen had been sta
toned. They were frustrated in their
attempt. There was no initiation
service at the field.
In an orderly fashion, the Klansmen
marched back to the special train,
which was waiting for them on a sid
ing. During the march two women,
Anna M. Hanna and Esther Hanna,
said to be Klanswomen, cheered the
men. They were attacked by a mob
of ruffians who had gatherd along
the line of march. Esther suffered a
broken leg, and is said to be in a crit
ical condition.
Jeered and Kissed
Nearing the railroad tracks, which
are separated from the town by low
fence, the Klansmen were the objects
of jeers and Kisses from large crowd
of local miners and townspeople who
had gathered to threaten them.
A group Of men ran from a side
street carrying a section hose. This
was attached to a fire hydrant and a
forceful stream of water turned onto
the peacefully marching Klansmen.
One member Of the Klan delegation
stepped out of the ranks and gave
battle. He succeeded in stopping the
stream of water.
The first shot was fired by some
one in the mob. This was the signal
for the riot and the townspeople
crowded around the Klansmen and a
general melee followed. The Cam
bria county men were mobbed.
Italians Fired Shot
Witnesses declared that an Italian,
described as "portly" fired the first
shot from the doorway Of nearby
house.
In the riot two men were killed.
They are:
Philip Conrad, aged 25, Catholic,
Lilly.
Cioyd Paul, aged 27, Protestant,
Lilly.
Six men were seriously wounded
and are in danger Of dying. They are
Frank Miasco, Patrick Bradley, Fran
els Appalucci, Raymond Bradley, An
drew Marcinko and Clarence Patter-
son. These men were in the mob that
attacked the Klansmen.
Mob Disperses
When the Klan members defended
themselves and put up resistance to
the attack, the mobbers quickly dis
persed. Manned and injured Klans-
men boarded their train and returned
Immediately to Johnstown. Upon ar
ival, officers met the special train,
searched the crowd and every man
aboard. 1t is reported that the crowd
gathered at the station also threat
ened the returning Klan members.
Twenty-four of the delegation were
then arrested.
Residents Of Lilly Monday threat
ened the sister-in-law Of Cloyd Paul,
the murdered man. Unknown van
dals early Monday morning poured
oil on the crepe on the door of Paul's
residence.
M. X. Piper, president Of the First
National bank, rented wagon to the
visitors in which TO carry the wood
en- cross to the hillside where II was
burned. Az n consequence, q run on =
the bank is reported.