Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 August 1908 — MANY ARRESTS ARE MADE [ARTICLE]

MANY ARRESTS ARE MADE

Also Much Loot is Found—Real Cause of the Mob Outbreak. The gathering of evidence has begun tn earnest. Policemen in plain clothes have been sent to search the houses of prisoners and suspects, and as a result the police station looks like a general s|ore. Groceries, hardware, men, boys and women's clothing, dry goods and shoes, were recovered in great quantities, most of them bearing the price tags of the looted business houses. Naturally many arrests followed. Eighty prisoners were crowded into the small cell room at the police station, the lack of comfort being such that only the cement floor is available for sleeping space. “That will take some of the rioting out of them,” was the comment of one policeman. Five of the arrests are considered Important by the police. It was in the homes of these men that most of the loot . was found. A sixth person is being sought by the police who aver that when lie Is arrested practically all of til»e ringleaders of the mob wiil be in custody. “We have the thugs on the run,” said Evan Jones, chief of detectives here, and he added that many suspects are leaving town to avoid arrest.

Roy Young, one of the prisoners, has confessed starting a number of fires, the police say. Young, who is twentytwo years old, came here from Missouri about a month ago. A search of his rooms at 216 North Seventh street revealed a quantity of overalls, shoes, boys' shirts and other articles of apparel. The feeling against the colored cltlzens is of one of years standing. The present riots, according to old citizens, is the result of years of racial antagonism. Each year has seen an augmentation of the colored .population. '•They were getting too bold and impudent,” said a well-known hotel man. “Personally, I think Governor Deneen’s stand for the protection of the negroes la correct, but the average workingman has little sympathy with It.” The tone of this interview is similar to that of others had by newspaper men. Barbers, street car men, miners, laborers, and the common_ruD of people -net on the street talked in a simitar vein. Governor Deneen has issued six proclamations, one for each violent death during the riot, offering a reward of 8200 for evidence which will lead to the conviction of the guilty persons. The governor has also issued

•n address to the citizens of Springfield tn which he says, referring to the riot causes, that a special grand jury has been called to investigate them, and that “all evidence relating to these crimes should be presented to the grand jury at once, and I urge upon all good citizens of this city to present such evidence • • * to the Hon. Frank Hatch, state’s attorney of Sangamon county, or to General Edward C. Young, in charge of the military forces here.” The governor adds that this Is the duty of citizens, who should exert themselves to see thait all who committed the crimes, whether aiders and abettors, are brought to speedy justice.