The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-08-27
Lynch Law i'm Sebastian County.
Arkansas,

Arkansas.
The Fort Smith Herald gives the par.
ticulars Of the lynching of the jail-bird
Dumas and others, in letter from its
correspondent at Greenwood, dated
August 3D.
On my arrival in Greenwood this
morning found the town in deep dis
tress. Upon inquiring the cause Of
their trouble learned that one Dumas
a negro and noted desperado. had made
his escape from the Jail by precon.
certed plan between himself and one
Walls, another prisoner, who also es.
capped. Their plan was this: Walls
contracted with Dumas that he would
give him Fifty dollars if he would knock
down the jailer, Mr.. Tatum, take his
pistol, and let him (Walls) out Of jail.
Dumas, being very stout and active,
undertook the job, first putting on a
dress and bonnet Of a negro woman, a
prisoner. Mr.. Tatum had been in the
habit Of allowing the woman to pass
oat when he was in the Jail. This morn
ing as Tatum proceeded to feed the
prisoners. as usual, Dumas came in
the larder as the woman had been per-
mitted to do, and as the gate was open.
ed, the negro sprang upon Tatum and
grabbed his pistol. Tatum, thinking it
was the woman, told her to behave
that if she did not he would kill her.
After some considerable scuffiing the
negro got possession Of the pistol and
ordered Tatum to leave, saying be did
not wish to hurt him. Tatum obeyed
the order on the double-quick, and gave
the alarm that Dumas was out with his
pistol. Mr.. William Blakely, being in
his saddle en- route to Fort Smith, fol.
lowed by John McCray, ran to the as.
sistance of Mr.. Tatum, and passing him
ran upon the prisoners and ordered
them to halt; the negro, who was be.
hind, looked back and Blakely at the
Instant fired at and missed him the
negro returned the fire, shot Blakely
through the left arm, the ball entering
his body under the left nipple, causing
death on Tuesday morning.
The prisoners made their escape--but
not final. The whole country to man
turned out to hunt Nor the prisoners,
with the determination to shoot or hang
Dumas when captured. For three days
and two nights diligent search was
made, securing the country from Green.
wood to the Little Rock road, and north
to Mazzard prairie. Dumas was finally
tracked by Mr.. Hughes about a quarter
or half mile cast Of Greenwood, close
to Thos. Kersey's field, and captured
in few minutes by two negroes about
five clock on Wednesday evening. He
was again secured in Jail, the signal
was given,and the scouts came in with a
yell, and the cry went up from the least
to the greatest, Hang him!' Mr.. j. H
Carnall, sheriff, being on the ground
attempted to secure the prisoner against
the mob by summoning posse of TWEEN.
ty-five good men, such as Capt. Bryant.
James Baker, Judge Frazier, Ash Nor
ris, j. Bean and others. Anvils were
fired to bring in the scouts. All seemed
secure and quiet until about dusk, wher
an armed squad Of men surprised Mr.
Tatum at his stable and demanded the
Jail keys, saying that Parson Field want
ed to hold service with the prisoners
and that they wanted water. Mr.. Tat
um refused, but finally gave them the
outer key to be given to A. Morris, who
was guarding the Jail; and as he deliv
cred the key the scouts grabbed the 9th.
ers and left. They proceeded to the
Jail. gave the outer kew tt
Mr.. Morris, who, seeing no dan
ger. opened the gate. The scouts
passed in, gave water to the prisoners
and warned Dumas to prepare 70,
death-that he would be hanged at
O'Clock that night. About 8 O'Clock
that night one hundred and fifty o,
more armed men surrounded the Jail
disarmed the guard. fired q volley o.
about one hundred shots, took Dumas
out of the Jail, and returned the keys
to Mr.. Carnall. The prisoner was
then given fifteen minutes to comics:
his misdeeds and say what he had t.
say. His confession was brief; he sale
he had killed two men, but that h,
did not kill Blakely intentionally, H
was then led short distance back o
the Jail and executed.
Mr.. Carnall used every effort to hol.
the prisoner but without avail.
Capt. j. H. Mcclure, with severa
others. was in close pursuit of Walls
expecting to overtake him soon.
Sir Joshua Reynolds, House in Lei
cester Square.