The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-05-31
GAS BOMBS FAIL TO SAVE
NEGRO FROM MADDENED MOB
Prisoner Shot After AL Night
Battle With Troops at
Chickasha, Okla.

Evading a guard of National Guards
men called to protect Henry Argo,
negro, alleged attacker of a white
woman, a member of an angry mob
early today shot the prisoner. prob
ably fatally. after either gaining en-
trance to the Grady county Jail or
climbing a tree and firing through a
prison window.
G.. w. Skinner, husband Of the
woman Argo is alleged to have at
tackled. stabbed the wounded man
after he had been returned to the
jail from the norgue. The victim
still lived. Skinner was arrested.
The negro later died at a hospital
at Oklahoma city, to which he was
spirited after the shooting.
Three alleged members Of the mob
also were under arrest in connection
with the disorders. Six National
Guardsmen and several citizens were
injured, some seriously.
It was reported here that the negro
died Immediately after the shooting,
In order to give officers an opportu-
nifty to get him out of town.
Climaxcs Reign Of Terror
The shooting came as a climax to
an all-night reign Of terror when
several attempts were made by hun
dreds of men and boys to gain en-
trance to the Jail after the door was
battered down with rams.
Local National Guardsmen par
TALLY quelled the mob spirit in the
night by setting up machine guns
and threatening to fire at the
limbs" Of persons who attempted to
approach the building.
Tear gas also was used against the
rioters by the guardsmen, who we're
said to have fired their rifles and
machine guns into the air. The
negro was taken to q morgue soon
after the shooting was discovered,
DR.. H. G. Antle, city health officer,
said he believed the victim would not
live long.
Refused At Hospital
The negro wrapped in a sheet. was
taken from the Jail soon after it was
discovered he had been shot. The
bullet pierced his skull. Members OF
the mob, believing he was dead. made
no effort to modest him. He first was
taken to a hospital. where it was said,
attendants declined to receive him
He then was carried to a negro
owned undertaking establishment In
the negro section.
After a time. Argo a carried
back to the Jail. where he was
stabbed. The mob apparently had
dispersed at that time. and a handful
Of persons who were believed only to
be curious, were permitted to loiter
about the Jail.
The tear bombs proved Intellectual to
dispense the mob at the Jail, which
through the night battled county Of
ficers, national guardsmen and regu-
lar army troops.
Batter Down Steel Door
After about 100 leaders of the mob
Of 1000 me- were forced from the
jail after they had battered down a
Dwell OVOAs tAOOPo AAOAA 3OAV 0AAS
Okla, arrived with the tear bombs.
Their discharge thinned the ranks Of
bowling rioters, but the situation re-
manned acute.
Guardsmen and rioters, who again
had invaded the building, were forced
outside by the gas. only the negro
remaining in a second story cell.
First Shots Miss
AS the gas cleared somewhat groups
Of rioters entered the jail and made
sporadic attempts to saw the cell
bars protecting the negro. Earlier in
the night Argo had been fired at by
a rioter, the shots going wild at close
range.
Besides attempting a dozen times to
fire the jail the mob cut light wires
to the Jail and burned q national
guard truck upon which a machine
gun had been mounted.
Skinner and three members Of the
mob arrested early today. later were
released without bail.