It is a sorry comment upon American civilization that no better use has been made of our resources of law, education and religion than to have allowed that population to have become, in large part, so depraved that the new race of white barbarians...trust no means of protecting themselves from them except the blood and fire of extermination. [216] After he was dead, the mob mutilated his body, riddling it with 30 bullets, slashing it with knives, and attempting to set it on fire. The per capita income for the county was $28,394. They discussed James' case all morning, with county and state officials stating they were prepared to convict James "beyond a shadow of doubt. I think it was James' shoes, and just then I saw a dark form rush around the house and strike my husband who was on the end of the porch...and then they fought. [290] Most of those arrested lived, or had businesses in, the politically influential Levee District. Belfast woman Lucy McIlhatton has been killed in a crash in Belfast. [55] Children played with Burton's body, swinging it back and forth on the tree, while the mob shouted: "We've got one, hurrah! I am 36 years of age, have a wife, but no children. Everything, even life itself, stands pledged to the cause...[99], 1908 was an election year in Springfield. Following the attacks, the 350 white miners went to the president of the Springfield United Mine Workers union, refusing to work with black miners, stating that they felt "unsafe" working with blacks underground. [329] The mob was thwarted by the state militia. [44] Whites who viewed blacks as being "uppity" would often impose quick and harsh retribution against them. [218] He was reportedly worth about $15,000 (under $400,000 in 2018), and also owned his home, as well other properties, that housed some of his family members. For example, the same day the Springfield riot began, in Pensacola, Florida, "large crowds" were reported waiting outside the jailhouse with "excitement" to lynch a black man accused of assaulting a white woman. The newspaper reported that the police found "a light colored hat," and that the hat was "the only clue" to the assailant's identity. Have all the men who have made our laws for the past thirty years been elected by the intelligent white vote or by the majority of an ignorant, vicious Negro vote? [374] Following the shooting, no further news stories on Rolla were produced. When I came to myself the next morning I couldn't see. [5], As of the 2010 census, there were 197,465 people, 82,986 households, and 51,376 families residing in the county. "[130][394][395][115][396][397] Emma's account stood with the jury, though it contradicted Blanche's account of Ballard's alleged struggle with the assailant: My father chased the man, or rather he and the man were fighting, for several hundred feet, and then my brothers rushed downstairs. [184] Shand prepared the troops to immediately fire low, but Werner reneged on his agreement on the low fire, protested, and began giving contradictory orders to Shand's troops. [184] Shand claimed to have alerted Governor Charles Deneen, who directed him to consult with the sheriff of the area, Sheriff Charles Werner. I want you to try to do your best for me. Edward H. Morris, a prominent Chicago black lawyer, did purchase a ticket to the event. [217] He had given "a lot of conflicting statements", Authorities suspected him of being an anarchist, which he denied: No, I am not an anarchist...Someone has said that I slashed Donnegan's neck. Following the attacks, 10,000 tourists traveled to Springfield to see the aftermath. Sangamon County is located in the center of the U.S. state of Illinois. [221] The mob had also broken skin in several places, which the militia physician attended. [175] For example, the mob chased a black man to a political speech where Prohibition Party Candidate, Eugene W. Chafin, was speaking. This also meant that blacks were abruptly deprived of casual neighborhood gathering places. "[111][118], Ballard reportedly fought with the attacker around the house, up onto the porch, out into his yard, and "across those [yards] of his neighbors for a distance of fully 100 feet. Early July 5, after the police learned of Jamison's attack, they made a "strenuous effort" to find Jamison's attacker, "believing that he might be the same negro that cut Ballard. Sarah Donnegan, William's wife, was a key witness for the state. [184], The following morning, the city was littered with the bodies of drunken mob members who had passed out in the street. She testified that Raymer was one of the men who dragged her husband from the house. However, after the Panic, the rate of arrival began declining by nearly 40 percent. One of the blacks who did live there was William K. H. While Homer picked up father, who by this time was almost unconscious from the loss of blood, papa said, pointing to the direction of the watch factory, 'There goes the black ––.' [341], Realizing no convictions would occur, the state attorney proposed to "lump" the last 35 indictments into a single "conspiracy" charge in order to save the country $10,000 from individual trials.[368]. Prior to the trial, Assistant State Attorney, William St. John Wines, expressed confidence in securing convictions against both defendants, stating: I have known lots of guilty men to go free, but I have never known an innocent man to be convicted. [192] – William F. Lee, Loper's Restaurant Looter, At 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning, Shand and some troops accompanied Sheriff Werner to Twelfth and Madison streets, where Werner asked the crowd to disperse three times, but was ignored and jeered. "[151][110] The police decided to wait until the swelling around his mouth had gone down before "sweating him," noting that the "interior of his head still seem[ed] to be very badly muddled as the result of the beating. When James left work, he encountered, William Burton and James Loomis, two of the city's four black police officers. When I reached the front porch I saw my father about 40 feet away staggering as if he were drunk. [346] Raymer's lawyers, John G. Friedmeyer and Stephen H. Cummins, who was threatened with disbarment by Judge Creighton for his treatment of witnesses, attacked Donnegan's credibility, based on her being in an interracial marriage. Springfield mass shooting linked to gangs in Decatur (Springfield, IL): A party that turned violent this past weekend is still under investigation. "[305], In an interview, Howard said her actions were inspired by observations during a trip she'd taken to the South with her brother. However, newspapers questioned the logic of the reported event, and admitted finding his motives to be "difficult to understand. [417], In the month leading up to his death, James maintained his silence. "[130][131], Jamison reportedly fell, and his attacker, whom he described as "a light colored negro with a slight mustache," ran away. [120] His cap, found at Ballard's home, was said to be a winter hat made of brown wool. [410] James disputed their testimony. [169][174] – George Richardson, August 15, 1908, However, the police claimed that his coat was "torn" and that they found "a trace of blood" on his coat. [427] It had been provided at the urging of a white religious inmate volunteer, Mary Hickey, who pressured the young man to confess so his soul would not be damned. I don't remember. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - A Springfield man was arrested on drug and gun charges Tuesday morning after the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office … Mattie Hale recalled her family took people in:[203], We sheltered, I guess, above twenty or twenty-five. The river was named to honor "St. Gamo", or Saint Gamo, an 8th-century French Benedictine monk. [114], Prior to James' arrest, the police thought the assailant, who had robbed the victim of a coat the night before, was probably "the same negro who cut Ballard. "[112], Blanche returned home shortly after midnight. [47], But when arrested and facing 10 indictments, Howard said that she was not guilty. [350] He was acquitted because the jury believed the defense claim of police brutality, saying that his confession was "sweated out" of him by police. [175], Houses and businesses owned by whites were spared damage, so long as white clothing was hung from their windows to signal that the home was "white-occupied." However, the mob did not have any rope on hand. The careers of these men and the people with whom they collaborated helped to shape much of the history and development of Sangamon County, Illinois. Both of Illinois’ senators have sent a request to President-Elect Biden to designate the site of a 1908 race riot, which inspired the creation of the NAACP, as a national monument. [307][210] When Deputy Sheriff Kramer arrived at her home to arrest her on the murder charge, she excused herself to "change her clothes." I think the man must have cut my husband ten times with a knife. They said: What do you think of this woman – a white woman – marrying a negro forty years older than herself, when she herself was in the bloom of youth? Social tensions rose due to the swelling immigrant population, the decrease in job stability, and the movement of a few upper middle class blacks into white neighborhoods. We went east on Washington Street and the fighting got bad. [249] When the firemen came, the white residents stated they were looking for protection as they were "frightened by the presence" of the women and children. With costs to transport and feed the state militia, during the violence, the total cost to the state was $265,000 (about $7 million in 2018). [215] The mob, including Mabel Hallam's husband, William, sought to lynch Burton, with one of the mom participants calling out, "Get the rope." "[342], When Raymer confessed, he insisted that he was not "first leader" of the mob, nor had he cut Donnegan's throat, attributing that to a man named "Red" Davenport. 12 Duelim makbilim! In some cases, the militia joined in mob activities. "[193], Mayor Roy Reece arrived at the scene and begged the mob to disperse, but they threatened to "throw him to the fire too! The houses were hovels, mere make-shifts for coverings. [104] However, one year later, after Decatur had become "dry," it had 80 percent fewer drinking arrests, and every man who had been arrested for drunkenness had obtained his liquor in Springfield. [4][5][6], As a result of the rioting, numerous blacks left Springfield, but it is unclear how many moved away permanently. [8] Illinois is often considered a microcosm of the U.S. and Springfield, with about 45,000 people at the time, most of whom were working class, was described as an "average American community". Assistant State Attorney, William St. John Wines, said of Raymer's murder acquittals: If there ever was a man in Sangamon County who deserves to hang, it is Abraham Raymer. [217] They dragged Donnegan out. The French pronunciation "San-Gamo" is the legacy. [11], The median income for a household in the county was $52,232 and the median income for a family was $66,917. I could then see that the negro was dressed in a black coat and had on light trousers, and I got a good look at him. [409] Nina Collins, a woman who had "long since lost all that modesty that is woman's finest quality," testified that she saw James playing the piano and take several drinks at Dandy Jim's before he left around "11:30 or 12 o'clock. [190] But as the crowd descended upon the premises, Loper retreated further into the building, where he would escape through a hole in the brick wall. [288], Six months later, the city held a Centennial Celebration in honor of Lincoln's birthday. [358], Following his acquittals, Raymer moved to Boston to live near his sisters. The special grand jury said of the police: After the most diligent inquiry we condemn, in unmeasured terms the cowardly, contemptuous actions of those members of the police force, who having taken the oath of office, failed to do their duty; men who are paid from money obtained from the pockets of the people of this city to protect life and property; men who were ordered by the heads of departments of the police to go out and disperse the mob and who not only failed to use a club, handle a pistol or raise a voice against the mob on the side of the law and order, but some who are show to have assisted by act and word in doing the work that has brought the blush-shame to every law-abiding citizen of this city. [170] The police took the men, changed their clothes and, one by one, delivered them to Hallam's home, where she pointed out Richardson as her attacker:[170], Mrs. Mabel Hallam...suffered from the nervous shock today, but was otherwise unhurt from her terrible experience. Palmer. [141] When they threatened to arrest him, James, told them he would leave. to which the negro replied, 'I am drunk.' Partly cloudy skies. [143] The grand jury was composed of 23 men. She maintained that his birthday was November 28, 1890. [119], Neighbors of the Ballard's reportedly saw "a negro walking up and down, in front of the Ballard residence," during the early evening of the 4th of July. [200] Also, at least one militiaman was arrested for "disorderly conduct. [194], Around this time, Governor Deneen called for an increase of militiamen; realizing local authorities were overwhelmed. [225] His throat was rumored to have been cut by a 10-year-old boy; however Abraham Raymer, a very short, non-naturalized immigrant, who was childlike in appearance, was later suspected of being the culprit. ... Springfield, IL 62756. They then stripped off his clothes and pulled the clothesline up, over the tree, and hanged him. [90][436][437][438], Blacks were easy targets because they were few in number, had no means to fight back and, as an unprotected class of citizens, could be harmed with minimal, if any, repercussions. The Springfield race riot of 1908 were events of mass racial violence committed against African Americans by a mob of about 5,000 white Americans and European immigrants in Springfield, Illinois, between August 14 and 16, 1908. I was awakened by my sister calling and went downstairs. [240][257], As lawsuits began mounting up against the city, it refused to pay anything. To prevent this we are willing to spare the last man, down to the point where women and children begin to suffer for food and clothing; when these begin to suffer and die, rather than see them equalized with an inferior race we will die with them. For example, when a group of newly homeless and destitute black women returned with their children, at 12:15 p.m., near Pasfield and Cedar streets, the white residents sounded the fire alarm. [292] Werner responded that he could corral men by 2:00 p.m. that afternoon. When the men came to the door, they asked, 'Are there any niggers there?' Militiamen entered the Mitchell home and raised the icebox of all its food. [434] This lack of perceived power is at odds with the idea of white manhood, which in the U.S., has long been synonymous with dominance of political voting rights, dominance in the economic arena, and dominance as sexual partners, and protectors, of white women, breeding an expectation of entitlement to these things. A slash across six inches long extended across the neck. [184], Throughout the day, rumors would be reported about blacks retaliating. [120] Three deputies, who noticed the gathering crowd as it began chanting, "Kill," then stepped in, stopped the men from beating James, and arrested James. "[103] This caused the Springfield mayor, Roy Reece, a politician known to curry political favors through vice, to implement a minimal regulation to keep voters, on either side of the issue, happy, by prohibiting any saloon to operate between 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.[55][103], Despite this, Springfield remained a hotbed for drinking, as the saloons serviced both local residents, and also became a destination for visitors – including many who were unemployed or underemployed – from neighboring "dry" townships and counties. Known as "Uncle Bill," Donnegan was the most well-known black man in Springfield. [113], The Illinois State Journal, on the other hand, described the assailant as being "not very dark in color, medium sized, and dressed in rough garments. I thought I would save lives by removing the colored man. [37][45] For example, in the particularly distressed economy of 1908, many European immigrants opted for unemployment over taking jobs that perpetuated stereotypes of them, or taking "nigger jobs" that would associate them with blacks. I'm pretty certain this is the man who did the deed. Around twenty minutes later, close to 1:00 a.m., a 30-year-old mulatto, Ed Jamison, was robbed and stabbed near his residence, on Reynolds and Ninth streets, about six blocks south of the Ballard home. [55] However, when it was clear his effort was of no use, he fled the premises through a back alley, ran, and hid in a feed yard as the mob ripped out the front of his building and demolished the interior. Donnegan's family fled out the back of his home, but he suffered from severe rheumatism and was nearly blind, so he could not go with them. [425] When his body was taken down, the noose was so tight around his neck that it could not be loosened by hand, and had to be cut.