Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 June 1912 — NEAR RAGE RIOT IN RENSSELAER [ARTICLE]

NEAR RAGE RIOT IN RENSSELAER

ColoredFamilyMovinglnto White Neighborhood Causes Trouble THREE ARRESTS ARE MADE j And W. F. Smith and C. W. j Rhoades Are Fined On Pleas of Guilty to Assault and Rattery on the “New Colored Citizen."—W. J. Wright Acquitted. Rensselaer came near having a race riot Monday morning when W. F. Smith, the stone road contractor, and Clency Wood, a colored man employed at Kanne Bros, livery barn, got in a mix-up in front .of Warner Bros, store on Washi ington street. Bystanders interi sered and separated the combatants before any very serious damage rej suited to either, and the aftermath came up in Squire Irwin's court, J when warrants were sworn out by the colored man for the arrest of : his antagonist and two others whom it was alleged had also put in a few licks in Smith's behalf. The trouble originated over the colored man having moved into the | small tenant house of James T. Randle on the side street in the rear of the residence on the west side of River street occupied by Smith. The colored man's goods were hauled over from Fowler Saturday night, and the first intimation the residents of that neighborhood had that a colored family was to move into that part of town came Sunday morning when the loaded wagon was seen in front of the house, the goods not having yet been unloaded. Then W. F. Smith and W. J. Wright, who are also tenants of Mr. Randle, got busy and went and saw Mr. Randle about his renting the house to a colored family. They objected to having a colored family for near neighbors, and so informed Mr. Randle, He told them, so we understand, that he had rented the house to Kanne Bros, for their man, and while the keys to the house had been turned over, no rent had as yet been paid, and mat he would not let them have the house if they objected, and would tell the man that he could not move in; that they could also tell him so. (Mr. Randle also telephoned to the Kanne barn to this effect, it is said.)

Smith and Wright then went and saw the Kanne Bros, and asked one of them to break their objections to the colored man. This Kanne did not care to do, and told them to him themselves which they did, and he promised, so Smith and Wright sav, that he would not move in the house if they objected to it. i Along Sunday afternoon, however, accompanied by Free Wood, the barber. Wood went to the house and the goods were unloaded from the wagon and put in the house, the latter having decided to stand pat and occupy the premises.

Monday morning the colored man drove the wagon up town, and stopped by the curb in front of Warner Bros, hardware store. Smith came along on the sidewalk and spoke to him about his moving into the house, and Wood told him he was going to stay. This angered Smith and a few loud words that wouldn’t look well in print followed, while Wood got down off the wagon and Smith made for him. Several blows weer struck and soon both were down and clinched in the doorway of the store, where they were trying to beat' each other up as best they could, but they were pulled apart after a bi£"and C. W. Rhoades Jed Smith away. Smith was Weeding some and Wood was, bruised up some. Wood after a few moments, accompanied Marshal Mustard to Squire -Irwin’s office where warrants were sworn out against Smith, C. W. Rhoades the barber, and W. J. Wright, charging assault and battery. Smith and Rhoades plead guilty and were fined $1 each and costs, $4.80 in all in eacn

case, but Wright, who said he had not touched Wood at all, and so proved by a preponderance of the evidence, stood trial and was acquitted. Rhoades admitted that he had 'rushed in and struck Wood a couple of times, but said he didn't know why he did it; he was excited and thought Smith was getting the worst of it. Smith then filed an affidavit against Wood for assault and battery, but later dismissed the case. Wood, who is a cousin of Free Mood, the cot > barber, is a native of Good;3t:d where his father, Xed Wood, still lives. He lived Goodland for several years, but the past year has been living in Fowler, we understand. He has a wife and three children, we are told, and his advent to Rensselaer swells the colored population to three families. The other two families live in the east part of town, and had Wood located there — which he no doubt would had he been able to secure a house—there would have been no trouble. Now considerable bad blood has been engendered and, as it is understood that he proposes to stay in the property he rented, more trouble may result, although it is hoped not. It has been the custom for the tenants in the house occupied by Wood to get water from the Smith premises, there being no water piped to the former house.an d the avowed intention ot Wood to carry water from Smith's is the principal cause of the difficulty. After the trial was oyer Wood declared he should get water from the Smith hydrant, as he had been directed by Mr. Randle, and Smith declared that be should not; that he was in control of the premises—-no reservation of water right having been made by Mr. Randle, it is said — and if Wood persists in this determinate nmore blood may be spilled. ■i Rensselaer, until the past few years, has never encouraged colored people to locate here, but the encouragement that has been given them in certain quarters recently has, of course, induced other in coming. The two families already here are well behaved and there can be no objections to them except a prejudice against having aj colored family for neighbors. The! newcomers are also said to be; well behaved and good citizens except for this prejudice.