Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1925-01-25
YOUNG, THOMAS,
ENEMY FACTION
LEADERS KILLED
Several Reported Hurt
as Gangs Meet in Ho-
tel Lobby; Many Vol
leys Fired in Melee

HERRIN, ILL.,, Jan. Pas.
Glenn Young, Ku Klux Klan
liquor raider, his first assist
ant, George Forbes, Homer
Warner, another Young sup
porter, and their opponent, Dep
uty Sheriff Ora Thomas of
Williamson county, tonight were
killed in a street fight as cli-
max of many stormy months of
contention in Williamson coun-
ty.
Several other persons were
wounded during the melee and
five are reported to be in hos
pitfalls while others suffered
slighter wounds. The affray
took place in front of the Eu-
ropean hotelc and reports differ
widely as to just how it started.
The action itself was so fast and fu-
ricus that the spectators. most of whom
unable to agree as to which man fell
first or what else took place.
1t was reported that Young had walk
ed the streets during the dav as the
result Of a report that his enemies were
looking for him and that both Young's
supporters and partisans Of the other
side were keyed to a high pitch as night
came on. About 10 O'Clock Young and
Thomas met in front Of the hotel Some
one fired shot apparently from the
window Of building. Thomas ran into
the hotel, according to some witne sses,
and sought refuge behind a cigar count
er.
Young and several friends, apparently
thinking the shots had been directed at
them followed Thomas into the hotel
and many shots w.re fired in rapid
succession. Deputy Sheriff Thomas. af-
ter emptying both his revolvers sank to
the floor mortally wounded while Young
and his assistant. Forbes. dropped to
the floor of the lobby.
Spectacular Career
Probably few men can claim a more
spt ctacular career than that Of S.
three years.
Known as the stormy petrol" Of
Williamson county, the scene of fre-
quent clashes during the last two years
between union and non-union miners,
Ku Klux Klan and anti-Klan forces, and
vets and drys. Young took a more or
less important part in most Of the
troubles.
As a result of his activities he gain
ed fame as a fearless man killer,
while his activities in law enforce ment
gained both support and condemnation.
Several times his sensational activities
brought him into court on charges
ranging from homicide to assault, but
Young withstood all Of them.
Young several years ago gained q
wide reputation in various parts of the
country as a law enforcement agent, but
his first act to startlc the public was
, his capture of the noted Crawleys, a
gang of World War draft evaders for
whom United States troopers and Fed
eral officers searched for months in the
mountains of Northern Georgia, west
ern Carolinas and Eastern Tennessee.
Young attacked the draft evaders single
handed, captured them all and brought
them to Knoxville, Tenn.
Foe to Liquor
Later as an unrelenting foe Of II
quor, he won prominence and the SOU
briquet of "Man killer" through his
activities against moonshiners in the
mountains of Georgia and Tennessee.
Still later he was dubbed "Two-gun
Young" when he started carrying two
pistols. and sometimes three or four at.
ter maiy threats against his life had
been made.
In ten years Young had record of
more than 5000 arrests and all he had
to show for them were six or seven
scars. He once estimated he had kill
fConfiuued on para Cl