Sporer, Frank c1871 – 1909

SPORER

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 10/1/2019 at 08:44:42

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer Dec. 24, 1909, 2, C6

RAGE FEUD ENDS IN DEATH OF OFFICER
Constable Frank Sporer of Polk County Killed at Miners’ Meeting at Oralabor.
Constable Frank Sporer of Crocker township, Polk county, was shot and killed by an unknown person at a meeting of coal miners, which broke up in a riot at Oralabor, nine miles north of Des Moines. Since then the two factions of negroes and whites in the mining camp have gone armed and a race riot is feared.
Until a short time ago the negroes held the offices of the miners’ union. When the whites captured the offices, the negroes lined up against them and trouble has been feared for some time. A motion was being voted upon at the meeting and a negro and an Italian got into a quarrel. Sporer tried to arrest the negro, when he was shot from behind, probably by another negro, as all the colored men were armed. Then the riot followed.
J. Moran, member of the state board for this district, is trying to settle the trouble, but it is doubtful if he will succeed, as both sides arc dangerously angry. Sporer was a Bohemian and much beloved by his countrymen.

Transcriber’s Note: Find a Graves shows this was Franjo who was 38 years old. He is buried in Saint Ambrose Cemetery.