TROOPS GATHER AT NEGRO'S TRIAL

Shannon News, 9 April 1926, Page 3

TROOPS GATHER AT NEGRO'S TRIAL

TEAR GAS KEEPS OFF EXCITED CROWDS NEW YORK, February 1. The most extraordinary trial in the history of Kentucky took place in Lexington. In sixteen minutes—quite a remarkable record in a country where such trials usually last many weeks—a Negro, Ed. Harris, was sentenced to death for assaulting a white woman, Mr. Clarence Bryant, whose husband and two children he had previously murdered. J * ' To accomolish this quick result justice was aided by tear-gas bombs, armoured tanks,' machine guns, and more than 1000 troops, most of them ex-Service men. All this imposing military display was deemed necessary to frutstrate attempts by the populace to usurp the function of justice.

Roping Off the Snipers Harris was taken from prison at Frankfort, 30 miles from the court, in the early hours, after soldiers had dispersed the crowds by tear-gas. He was hidden in the Army tank, which was surrounded by six armoured lorf The streets leading to the prison! were roped off at a sufficient distance to prevent sniping. In a short walk from the gaol entrance to the tank Harris had as his companion Lieutenant Gayle, a man of the same stature' and dressed in the same costume as himself. The tank was drawn by two lorries. It was preceded and followed by bodies of troops. •At Lexington the tobacco and livestock markets were closed for the day; inter-urban tramway services were suspended, and private motor-cars were forbidden to enter the city, whose banks and business houses were closely shuttered. At strategic points around the court whippet tanks were stationed. They were supported by machine guns mounted in such a way as to enable the gunners to sweep the streets with shot. Ready for a Siege Around the court building, which was brilliantly lighted throughout the night, 1000 troops with pistols ready to tire, formed a solid square. Inside the court sufficient arms and ammunition were dumped to enable its defenders to withstand a long siege. Harris was tried, not for the murders, but for assaulting the white woman, which carries with it a death sentence. He was condemned to be banged on March 5. He was taken back to gaol with a huge military display, and he will have a strong military guard for the next four weeks.