GOVERNOR DENEEN SUSPENDS SHERIFF

Gov. Deneen suspended Frank Davis as sheriff of Alexander County, citing as the cause his failure to forcibly resist the mob or do all in his power to protect his prisoners. Sheriff Davis was a great favorite among the people and the governor's action was highly unpopular in Cairo. In a statement to the Cairo Evening Citizen, Davis said: "I am in favor of law and order at all times, regardless of everything else. I was absolutely powerless to cope with the situation as it presented itself without endangering further life and causing further bloodshed. I believe I prevented the mob from burning James alive at Belknap. They set fire to a deserted house in Belknap in which we had previously taken shelter and wanted to throw him in the flames.

On December 1 a hearing on the suspension was held in Springfield. Former State Senator Walter Warder of Cairo acted as Davis' attorney and a petition was presented, signed by all city and county officials, asking for his reinstatement. Another petition, signed by 500 blacks, also asked that Davis be given his job back.

The main voice against Davis came from Mrs. Ida Barnett, a black woman from Chicago, who said that Davis knew thirty hours before the event that a lynch mob was forming and failed to seek additional assistance to avert mob action. She also stated that James was an industrious man, who had never before been in trouble, and the only evidence against him was that deduced from the actions of the bloodhounds. Mrs. Barnett concluded her testimony by presenting a list of names of prominent Cairo citizens who had refused to sign the petition and a letter from the negro ministerial alliance asking that Davis not be reinstated.

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