Show MAYOR KERN EXPLAINS ACTION statement from the chief executive of belleville illino s in answers to criticisms of his action annot innot in not using more forcible means to disperse the mob which lynched the negro wyatt at belle ville ill on the night of june 6 mayor kern said it is true that I 1 requested the 0 cers not to use their guns I 1 did so after careful reflection 1 1 I was con vinced in my judgment that to do so would not stop the citizens in their determination to get watt but that such a course simply would fan the flame of their insane fury I 1 was con vinced that to do so would precept tate a battle I 1 was convinced that many citizens would be killed or maimed malmed in the encounter I 1 did not want to see innocent blood flow on account of the guilty wretch in the jail he was not worth the sacrifice which would mould have fol lowed and which would have been simply awful to contemplate in its ito fearful scope the officers did their full duty they arrested the assassin they locked him up in one of the strongest and most modern jails in this or any other country they exhausted their possibilities in defending the prison er they could not be asked to kill and lay down their own lives to save a murderer the men actually on the ground were the best judges of the critical situation you ask me who is to blame for the lynching the negro wyatt who came into this community armed and with murder in his craven heart is to blame for it the negro watt who buried to murder the county of schools is to blame for it first and last I 1 don t approve of mb law I 1 do not wish to be understood to condone the offense of the mob but there was a reason for the fury which burst forth murders have been too frequent in our county of late too many murderers hav been able to get away by flight or to conceal their crimes A vicious negro the rev mr thomas an agitator has been busy in belleville under the equal rights act the assault on mr hertel was sin atrocious in its nature it was wyatt who disturbed the peace of N REO freo f J KEN our community it was he who fired the shot which felled hertel he and he alone was to blame for the arregu lar execution of himself he suffered the consequence of his own cowardly deed L |