KU KLUX KLAN RIOT.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 April 1926, Page 9

KU KLUX KLAN RIOT.

BATTLE AT AN ELECTION. LAST STAND IN A GARAGE. STATE MILITIA MOBILISED. By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Received pril 14, 7.5 p.m. New York, April 13. Several machine-guns were used and hundreds of shots were exchanged between Ku Klux Klannlfcn and antiklansmen at Herrin, Illinois. The disorder was the result of an election, at which two ’bus loads of anti-klansmen drove up to the Masonic Hall to vote. Within a minute they were fighting with the klansmen gathered there. The klansmen made a last stand at a garage, where four of their number were kiled. This garage was the centre of a similar fight in August, 1924, when seven klansmen were killed. The chief of police was killed, and the militia have been called out to suppress rioting. Six men were shot dead and another man is nearly dead as a result of a renewal of the trouble late on Tuesday. A brother of the former chief of police, two constables and three deputysheriffs were also killed. State troops have been rushed to the scene of the rioting, and it is likely that the city will be placed under martial iaw. Troops are guarding the homes of two Ku Klux Klan clergymen, where the trouble started. No arrests were reported.