MORE VIOLENCE

Despite the urging of Cairo's citizens, Gov. Deneen had refused to reinstate Sheriff Davis. "Mob violence," said the governor, "has no place in Illinois. Instead of breeding respect for the law it breeds contempt." The governor had cause to be concerned, as in several cities in southern Illinois new public lynchings were only averted by calling out the militia.

In February, 1910 another incident occured which further tarnished the name of Cairo. One afternoon, Mrs. William Maloney was making her way through a snowstorm, her head shielded by an umbrella, when a negro snatched her purse. Being an armed citizen, Mrs. Maloney pulled a pistol from her pocket and fired at the thief; but owing to the weather conditions, she missed her mark.

The purse snatcher, whose name was John Pratt, was later apprehended and placed in jail. Once again a mob of 200 gathered on the steps, threatening to take the law into their own hands. This time, however, things went contrary to their expectations.

Sheriff Nellis, who had succeeded the deposed Davis, appeared on the steps with his deputies, some of whom were black. When the crowd refused to turn away, Nellis gave the order to fire.

As the shots rang out, five of the citizens fell--one of them mortally wounded. The man who met his death that day was Alexander Halliday, son of a former mayor and a member of one of the most prominent families in Cairo. As in the previous case, the coroner's jury failed to fix responsibility on anyone for Halliday's death.