Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-04
RIOT IN CHICAGO
BLAMED ON REDS
z4e4 E1
Three coIored Men Killed and
Another Wounded as Mob
Protests Evictions.

nsths Associated Press,

8ythe Associated Press.
CHICAGO. August 1.-Communistl
were blamed by police today for briet
but sanguinary riot on Chicago's South
Side, In which three colored men wer,
slain and one, was seriously wounded
Three policemen who helped put dowr
the disorder were injured. Severa
score Of the participants were arrested
THREE were said by police to have beer
Tin91eAders.
Immediate steps were taken by ON.
Gals, including Mayor Anton j. Ger
max and Corporation Counsel william
II. Sexton, to prevent repetition of the
disorder, which began late yesterday
afternoon when several hundred eoloret
persons started demonstration In pro-
test against the eviction Of Q colorec
family for non-payment Of rent.
Crowd shouts Defiance.
A crowd, estimated by police al
1000, gathered and shouted defiance as
two court bailiffs started to move II
the street the household furnishings Of
Mrs. Diana Gross from q nat at Dear
born and Fiftieth streets. frightened
the bailiffS telephoned for police. Cries
of Put that furniture backl' and 1--WE
want something to eati" were heard
and some of the crowd started to put
the furniture back.
A patrol wagon, manned by Police.
man. Fred Graham. colored; Martin
Ernst and John McFadden, arrived, but
the trio was quickly surrounded by tbs
rioters, many of whom were armed
WITH knives clubs and pistols. Ernsi
suffered q skull fracture His COM
panions were cut. When the reserves
including Sergt. Henry Lyons, came &c
their aid, colored man pulled Lyons
pistol from his holster and threatened
to shoot. AS he did so, Policeman Will
liam Jordan fred. and the colored mar
fell dead. A few minutes later Lyons
who had recovered his pistol. paid his
debt to Jordan by killing q colored mar
who was firing at Jordan from nearby
doorway.
The manner of the third mans death
could not be learned, and only one OF
the three dead was identified, He was
John O'Neill, about 30 years old.
Orders No More Evictions.
While the flght was at its height q
group of policemen, led by Sergt. James
Mcmahon, became separated frem the
main body Of the achievements and
store In the aazae block. They were
attacked by at least hundred men,
some Of whom broke the stora windows
with bricks. shots also were fred OF
the policemen, but they we're able 70
defend themselves without injury until
help arrived.
Mayor cersnak was at Little Cur
rent, Ontario, but, when told Of the
disorder. ordered that no more fani-
being given to him and to an or
ganized charity. Ne said he would
establish special fund TO aid evieted
families. At the same time Corpora
ton Counsel Sexton met with colored
leaders to discuss means Of averting
further trouble. He said he was SUR
prised when told by some Of the eolnred
people that there were between 10000
and $4,000 colored Communists In
Mayor Cermak ordered q conference
Of police oficials, his cabinet and lead
ers Of the Negro race, at which II
was agreed that there was no antag-
onism between the races and that the
trouble was due solely To Oolnrnunistic
propaganda. The arrest at Lovekk Fart.
Whiten1an, colored and former student
In q Soviet school In Russia. was
asked. Meanwhile It also was agreed
Court, hold up all eviction orders for
the present
FOR several weeks, the police dis
closed, special details have been kept
In the colored district because Of fire.
quent minor disorders resulting from
the eviction Of colered people and
Communists have been heldin9 meet
ings In washington Park nightly. Cora
naunists gathered there last night. but
no disorder developed.
Yesterdays riot was the third I'm
Chicago in recent years in which col
cred people were involved. In 1919
is white persons and - eolored people
were killed in race riots, In 1890 TIVE
their lives In disorders which resulted
from . demonstration by . colored
Freedom" cult.