Evening star., 1924-09-02

dChA1N M1N1STEhS dEAnO.
Statement Based on Alleged made
quate and Incorrect Reports.
lowing statement was issued by the
Minister'S Association of Williamson
County after a meeting here this after
noon:
1.-THE Minister'S Association Of Will
Hanson County, ILL.,. composed OF
preachers Of all Protestant denomina-
tions, feeling that the real situation
in this county is misunderstood by
the public at large. make this state
ment setting forth their views. in the
hope that 1t will correct the made
quate and sometimes prejudiced re-
ports which have appeared in the
press
1.-TWO years ago Williamson County
brought upon itself censure or the
entire country as a result OF bitter
economic dispute which had ended so
tragically, We need not review the
causes of that lamentable affair. Law
at that time was not SUI RENE, and
the will of the majority was not find
ing expression Since then it has
seemed impossible to re-establish the
supremacy of law and order in our
county.
County Omcers Criticised.
"A sheriff was elected who allowed
the bootleggers, the gamblers and
the houses of i'll fame to operate
openly. Our states attorney made lit
tie or no effort to curb this wholesale
law breaking The resulting situa-
ton was unbearable to laW-abidlng
citizens. An effort was made by the
law enforcement league to get some
action by local officials. Lack of or
ganization made impossible any WIS.,
ible results.
"Prominent men. many of them re-
ported klansmen. then took the mat
ter up with the federal authorities.
and independent of the local officials,
raids by federal deputies. on infor-
nation furnished oftentimes by klans-
men, resulted in the convection
of scores of lawbreakers who thought
themselves safe. They brought on the
bitter feeling between the sheriff and
his colleagues and federal deputies,
many, or all of whom were klans-
men. This has given rise to the popu-
lar belief that our controversy is
Klan and anti-Klan.
Law Enforcement Sale Issue.
'It is really law enforcement
through the legal channels opposed
to non enforcement by those who are
entrusted with that duty. This bitter
ness caused the assassination of Con-
stable Caesar eagle last February by
a mob. eagle had been active as an
officer in cleanup of raids all over
the county. Later followed the at
tack on Glenn Young and wife while
en- route to ST. Louis.
The next morning special police
were guarding the road entering
Herrin from the West and were
stopping all cars. when information
was received that car answering
the description Of the one in which
Youngs assailants were riding was
speeding toward Herrin. On reach
ing the city limits it was ordered to
stop. According to the testimony of
the police they answered by opening
fire. The police returned the fire and
killed one OF the occupants and in
jured the other. The car was shown
to have been stolen. contained arms.
masks and "make-up' and was
taken by the police to the garage Of
John Smith to be held as evidence.
1.-TWO weeks ago the Herrin city
court convened for the trial of sew
eral Klansmen indicted for various
offenses alleged to have been COM
mitted during some of the raids
The case against the Sheltons for the
murder of eagle was also called. but
was dismissed when the witnesses
for the prosecution could not be To-
Gated. Glenn Young failed to appear
and his bonds were ordered forfeited
His attorneys claim affidavits of
physicians showed good cause for
his absence.
THE sheriff armed several deputies,
among whom were Orc Thomas, who
became a deputy the next day after
being released from Jail, where he had
served a sentence for bootlegging. Bud
Allison. who is commonly regarded as
an ex-convict, and other men of this
type. A number of leading citizens,
wishing to prevent the bloodshed,
which they feared was imminent, wired
the governor for help, but without
effect
Last Saturday afternoon, accord
ing to the best information available,
the sheriff went to Smiths garage,
as he says. to take possession of the
automobile placed there by other Ie-
Herrin, president Of the Board of
Health, and a companion came along
and were attacked by the sheriff and
his men. In a few moments Charles
Denham, a dry alderman. who had
assisted in raids, came along with
three other men in an automobile.
They were stopped by the sheriff and
his men, who opened fire.
Six Men Meet Death.
I'm the fight which followed the
three occupants of the rear seat were
killed, the ten others were wounded
and three Of the men who came with
the sheriff were killed. fourth
deputy was wounded. AS above in
dicated, we do not make this as a
positive statement Of the facts. but it
is only our belief after careful in
vestigation.
What is the remedy? The impris-
onment Of innocent men upon un-
founded charges must cease. The
persons guilty of these outrages must
be brought to justice without favor
or partisanship. Honest witnesses
must not be so cowed that they will
fear to give evidence. The courts
must dispense justice, furnishing the
guilty and protecting the innocent
To do that we need a States attorney
who will enforce the law and
sheriff who will apprehend the real
criminals. We have neither"
The preliminary hearing Of DR.. r. ].
Black and Claude Craig, charged with
murder in connection with the killing
of six men here Saturday was con-
tinued until September II. Failure of
Assistant State Attorney Roy Henson
to appear was given as the reason
for the continuation. The hearing was
set before Police Magistrate Abe
Hicks, by whom the warrants had
been issued