The Omaha guide., 1935-01-26
LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMITTEE
PRESENTS PETITION

On MondaT, January IA, 1895, a
group of citizens representing twenty
(25) religious, social, civic, business
and professional interest of Negroes in
this city, met for the purpose of max
ing proper representations to the
authorities entrusted with the task Of
enforcing the law and to make a for
NAL protest against the increasing
wave Of crime particularly the homi-
cides Of Colored people against Col
ored People.
According to the statistics taken
from the Coroner's office, twelve Ne
groes were killed by Negroes in Oma-
ha during the twelve months of 1894.
The committee feels, in spite of the
seeming preponderance of evidence
against the perpetrators, these per-
sons have been lightly dealt with or set
free.
The Committee in presenting this
petition is not attempting to act as
Judge or juror in these cases, nor are
we offering undue criticism of those
handling the cases, we are interested
however in having all possible evil
dence secured in these cases, and to
have such cases prosecuted with as
much zest as though they were COM
mitted against persons Of another
race.
The committee represented is cogni-
zant Of the fact that crimes of VIC
lence have become more prevalent dur
ing the last few years among all peo-
pie, we are likewise in sympathy and
cooperation with the President in his
expressed desire to have all citizens
interest themselves in supporting the
law enforcement agencies in their re-
spective Communities. The group as
sembled in this meeting expressed
opinions that the lack of vigorous
prosecution and the evident laxity of
enforcement of the law to those
charged with such crimes is largely re-
sponsible for this increasing number
of homfcides.
This representative group to be
known as the Citizens Law Enforce
ment League is willing and anxious
to cooperate with the local authori-
ties toward ~suppressing crimes of
violence and other crimes. In the
furtherance of this cause the follow
ing resolution was passed:
"That we express our utter. con-
demnation of all acts and crimes
against property rights as we'll as the
human rights against people, and we
do hereby petition the law enforce
ment agencies of Omaha and Douglas
County to use every energetic and
honest means to properly punish the
offenders and perpetrators of these
crimes, and we do also pledge to them
our support and assistance"
Respectfully submitted by the fol-
lowing named citizens: Sergt. Isaac
Bailey, 2816 Pratt Street; M. L. Har-
ris, 2219 Ohio Street; J. Harvey Kerns,
2213 Lake Street; Geo. B. Lennox, M.
D., 2 22h No. oath Street; Rev. J. S.
Williams, Hillside Pres. Church; Rev.
L. P. Bryant, A. M. E. Church; J. L.
Taylor, 2407 Lake Street; R. C. Price,
Past President N. A. A. c. P; Jack
White, 2530 Charles Street; Rev. T. E.
Williams, Pill North 26th; T. C. Ross,
Druggist, 2122 North oath Street;
A. L. Hawkins, M. D., 2120 N. 24th St.;
I. P. Mahammitt, 2116 N. 18th Street;
M. z. Johnson, Druggist, 2227 Miami
Street; M. C. James, 1851 Writ Street;
R. S. Simmons, 1892 Lake Street; H.
W. Smith, 2015 N. 22nd Street; j. D.
Crawford, 2214 N. 18th Avenue; Thos.
P. Chandler, 1904 N. 25th Street; G. G.
Robbins, 2814 N. Both Street; Mrs. ].
S. Turner, 2514 Corby Street; C. A.
Burnett, 2510 Corby Street; DR.. w. W.
PEBBLES, 1905 N. 25th Street; H. W.
Black, 1928 N. 25th Street; A. B.
Young, 1924 Binney Street; J. C.
Carey, Past Commander American
Legion, 1886 Binney Street; Gertrude
E. Lucas, 1853 Binney Street; Rev. N.
K. Curry, 1920 Grant Street; Evelyn