Duluth's Deep Regret Over Horrible Crime Expressed by Citizens.

Duluth’s Deep Regret Over Horrible Crime Expressed by Citizens

(By Associated Press)

Duluth, June 16,–Deep regret that such a crime could have been committed within Duluth and severe criticism of the manner in which the situation was handled characterized comment of clergymen, leading business men and lawyers relative to last night’s hanging of three Negroes suspected of having assaulted a young white girl in West Duluth. However few gave their names to public print.
Clergymen were among the most fearless in this regard. The statement of Dr. O. W. Rian, prominent priest follows:
“We are all humiliated by the disgraceful violence of the mob last night. We sympathize profoundly with the girl in the case, with her unfortunate escort and with her parents. But there is no excuse for the utter anarchism of such blind violence. No one can be sure the victims were the guilty ones. We feel that our police failed lamentably in thir duty. It is not good policy for the guardians of the law to be unduly officious, but here was plenty of warning; here was the dignity of the law to be upheld; here was opportunity to quell any unrestrained spirit which might break forth any time and certainly has wide opening now to do so, since they need not fear any immediate consequence. Further, there would be no doubt but that justice would be meted out by our judges and prosecuting attorneys.
“All honor to the Roman Catholic priests who tried boldly to face and overcome the mob.
“We brought the Negroes to this country we have shamefully neglected their education and religious training; there are a host of most respectable men and women among them. How little does such an act as this tend to smooth out racial antagonism and race friction.”
STRONG WORDS FROM PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER.
Duluth, June 16,–Rev. Geo Brewer, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, made the following comment:
“I am appalled at the situation Duluth finds herself in today–humiliated among the law-abiding, order-loving citizens of our land. No defense can be made for the work of this mob. Every brute in human form who criminally outrages a woman deserves the extreme penalty of the law, but never administered by a lawless mob. Every member of the mob that does violence to any human life is a murderer and I hope will be speedily brought to justice.
“No more deadly blow to virtue and civilization could have been struck than by those misguided citizens who took the law in their own hands. I look upon this tragedy as a call to all sober minded men and women who have the best thing of our common wealth at heart to redouble their efforts to rescue our people from the drift of the times, away from character-making forces and moral restraint–a drift that is leaving many of our fellow citizens as indifferent to God’s law and moral standards as the men they lynch, even if guilty of the alleged crime.”
POLICE FORCE WAS TOTALLY INDEQUATE.
Duluth, June 16,–The police force of Duluth was totally inadequate to handle a situation like that which developed last night, was the assertion of Commissioner of Safety W. F. Murnian today, regarding the lynching last night. Every effort was made to control the mob, but it was so large that the police as well as the sheriff’s forces were handicapped from the start. Strict orders from Mr. Murnian that under no provocation were the police to use fire arms, doubtless prevented much bloodshed, although many of the police were injured by flying stones. None of them were handled by the mob except Lt. E. H. Barber, who strove to the last to prevent the mob from reaching the prisoners.
JUDGES AND PRIESTS APPEALED IN VAIN TO MOB
Duluth, June 16,–Efforts of Judges of the District court, two priests and other well known Duluth citizens to stem the fury of the crowd bent on the lynching of the Negroes suspected as assaulting a frail white girl Monday night, proved fruitless. The mob pushed the speakers aside and hooted them down with cries of “lynch the black snakes.”
District Judge W. A. Cant made an appeal to the mob at police headquarters. He appealed to the fairmindedness of the citizens to observe the law and order.
Judge Bert Fesler asked several reputable citizens who were in the crowd to assist, and some responded, but most of them would do nothing Judge Fesler said.
Rev. Powers of Sacred Heart Cathedral, met the mob as it brought the Negroes from the jail. He climbed a telegraph pole to talk.
“The crime committed is most horrible,” said the priest, “but, men, you do not know that these Negroes are the guilty men. I appeal to you to allow the law to take its course. In the name of God and the church I represent I ask you to stop.”
He was howled down.