Description
Weston had a race war Saturday night that resulted in one fatality, and the end is not in sight. There is a settlement of negroes there and the Missourians charge that during the recent election these negroes did an unnecessary lot of “butting in.” No one knows exactly what this means, but it is plainly serious for a negro to “butt in” in a Democratic stronghold like Weston. There have been a number of scrimmages, none that were serious, but on Saturday night last there was an encounter on the road bridge in Weston between a dozen white men, and as many black, that was serious. The combatants were finally separated, and nothing more was thought of it until on Sunday morning when the body of Tom Mitchell, colored, age about 51 years, was under the bridge. The man had been dead many hours, and his body was left there all day Sunday until the arrival of the coroner late Sunday afternoon. There were no marks of violence, and no one is talking today. It is presumed that he “fell off” the bridge and was killed by the fall. It was a distance of fully 25 feet to the bank where his body was found. No arrests have been made. There are about 150 negroes in Weston and the whites have made several attempts to get them out, but have failed. The negroes own their property, and refuse to sell at any price. Still, if we were a negro living in Weston we would not be greatly attached to the town under the present circumstances.Date(s) of Creation
11/19/1908
