1915 Election Mob Duty

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Description:

Photograph of the Charleston Police Department carrying billy clubs as they walk west on George Street toward King. The building in the background is addressed at 328 King Street and is advertising for Sloan's Liniment and Hummel's Menthol Cough Drops. The letter "W" is located in the right bottom corner, presumably put there by the photographer as an identifier.

After a hotly contested mayoral election on October 12, ballots were sealed in a room on the corner of King and George, awaiting a recount. During a meeting of the Democratic Executive Committee on October 15, supporters of both incumbent John P. Grace and challenger Tristram T. Hyde, forced their way into the meeting causing a riot to break out which resulted in the accidental death of Sidney Cohen, who was shot through the lung. In the aftermath, Governor Richard Manning, sent the South Carolina Militia to Charleston to guard against further violence.