DESPERATE FIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14835, 11 November 1911, Page 2 (Supplement)

DESPERATE FIGHT.

BATTLE WITH ILLICIT WHISKY SELLERS. A sheriff's posse recently raided the house at Dumas, Arkansas, of a family named Malpaes, who were wanted on account of their connection with various dieorderly proceedings. In the battle that ensued the sheriff and deputy-sheriff and two of the Malpass sons were sho:. dedd.

Tho trouble started through the receipt of evidence that Malpass poor white married to a negress—and his half-breed eons were engaged in illegally selling whisky to the negroes. Sheriffs Preston and Steil went to MaJpass's house to arrest the inmates, and the whole family opened fire on the officers, who retaliated. The battle raged some time, Mrs. Malpass and a third son assisting the others with firearms. Preston fell dead, and Steil conducted the fight alone until he also was killed.

When other officers arrived they broke down the door, and found Malpass lying on the floor shot in the leg and badly injured, and two of his sons dead beside him.

The wife and the other eon had escaped. Tho officers removed Malpass to the county gaol, where ho remained throughout the night. A mob of a hundred whites at daybreak . gathered. at the gaol and demanded admittance. This was refused, and thereupon the door was broken in, and the mob rushed to Malpass's cell. They dragged him to a water tank, tho old man crying with the agony caused by, his injured leg and pleading . for mercy." The mob took ho heed of his cries, but, putting a rope round his neck, hoisted him up to the water tank, where his body was riddled with bullets.

The mob then organised a hunt, of the neighbourhood for the wife and third son, and searched through the negro quarters. As they were not found they became convinced that the negroes were concealing the fugitives, and turned upon them and drove them at the muzzle of the gun from their homes and out of the district. Many negroes were not even given time to gather their ' portable belongings together, but were compelled to leave everything bohind. " -

Feeling is running high in the neighbouring towns, where the whites are threatening summary vengeance on all blacks. The latter are thoroughly cowed, and do not show any intention of retaliating. The officials are doing nothing to protect the blacks.