Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-31
TALLAHASSEE TOPICS.
THE KILLING OF SAVAGE AND
JAMES.
The Affair Greatly DeplOred-PFe"
VIOus Efforts 10 Protect the MUIR
derers-A Train Fired UpOn-The
New Cotton CrOP-Further HOSel
ROom-RaiIrOad Gossip.


TALLAHASSEE, August 2S. S.-Edit0r Morning
Meas: The killing Of the negroes Savage and
James, at Madison, on Friday last, is de-
pIored by all of our citizens. Though the
deceased had been tried and convicted of
murder, though the Supreme Court had
granted new trial, and it appeared to many
that the laws delay might eventually result
in their escaping the gsllows, yet judge
lynch has but few followers in this commu-
nifty. Better that one guilty man escape
through the technicalities of the law, than
that an innocent man suffer occasionally. 1t
sometimes happens that when the admins
tration of justice Is defective, the people
vindicate infraction of the law by assuming
the functions of Judge and Jury. Particu-
larlY is this the case in all frontier settle
ments. The desperadoes who abound In
such communities, the facilities they enjoy
for eludtng justice, may perhaps justify the
resort to summary punishment. But In
this instance no such excuse existed.
Savage and James were to have been tried
for the killing of young Patterson at
special term of court in Hamilton county
this week. For safe keeping they had
been lodged in the jail here in Tallahassee,
was committed. For fear of q rescue, it
was determined to remove them quietly to
Hamilton county before the special term of
court. Accordingly the proper officer, with
guard reached here on Thursday night, oath
inst, and left with the prisoners the next
morning. The sequel is known to your
readers. The people of Madison are blame
less in this matter-it was the outsiders
the crowd that had assembled to witness
the execution of the murderer Bryant-thst
did the work. Learning that writ of error
had been granted by the Supreme Court,
which indefinitely postponed the execution
of Bryant, the crowd determined that as
Savage and James had been condemned to
die, they should die accordingly. The train
was boarded, the guard overpowered and the
poor wretches riddled with bullets.
As every occurrence of this kind is dis
torted and harped upon by the partisan
press OF the North, it is calculated to pro-
duce the impression in the minds of some
that we Of the South are not law abiding
people; that life and property are not safe
in consequence. Immigration to this sec
tion may accordingly be affected by 1t.
Throughout the State we are encouraging
immigration. We welcome new corners Of
whatever section or politics, for
they bring labor and capital and
thus help to develop resources. We
know that we are law abiding people, that
the lives and property Of those who settle
among us are safe, and hence we deprecate
the resort to lynch law. Governor Bloxham
has, throughout this affair, from the time OF
the killing of young Patterson in the early
part of last year, to the shooting Of Savage
and James last week, displayed commenda-
BILE promptnesz in endeavoring to protect
the rights of all, even of those supposed to
be guilty. As soon as he was informed of
the killing of Patterson the arrest of
Savage and James, and that their
lynching was imminent, he promptly
ordered three companies of our volunteer
soldiery to guard the jail in Madison, until
an act was passed by the Legislature, then
in session, by which the prisoners could
be removed for safe keeping to the jail here
in Tallahassee. On being informed of the
recent shooting. he promptly issued proc
lamation Offering reward Of 5000
cient 10 convict, the perpetra-
tors. On the other hand, considerable
excitement exists among the negroes.
Many of the ignorant among them
consider that it was because of
their color that Savage and James was
killed. An indignation meeting is called
for here tomorrow, but It is hoped that
wise counsels will prevail among their lead
ers, and no incendiary resolutions will be
passed, or speeches of that nature made.
The train that left here was fired into near
Madison on Saturday night, soma three
shots in all, one or two passing through one
OF the coaches.
Cotton is coming in daily, but, as 1
have before remarked, the prospects
of a good crop are by no means
fattering. One planter assured me that he
had already completed his first picking, and
that there was but little more opening. In
this connection, the types, or my own mis-
erable chirography, caused slight blunder
in my last communication. | was made to
say that "the heat is destroying the cotton"
when for heat the work 9aGSt should have
been used. Old planters, doubtless, smiled
at the mistake, but others may have thought
1t was all right.
AS the business season has again set In,
signs of improvement are visible. Every
master mechanic has his hands full. mime
host" W. P.Slosser, Esq, of the City Hotel,
seeing the vast proportions of the now COM
pleted hotel on the old court house square,
is determined not to be behind. He is
therefore enlarging his hostelry blythe cree
tion Of wing on the south side, two and
half stories high, and by adding other i'm
provements. Among them will be a
sample room for the use of
drummers. There they can exhibit their
wares in eXtenso, and expatiate on
superior samples to their hearts content.
Madame Lamb, too, of the Lamb House,
has caught the spirit Of improvement. She,
likewise, Is "enlarging her bordersn by
adding story to the brick edifce occupied
by her. Soon she will have handsome brick
three story structure, with glass front.
From boarding house it will be converted
into a hotel, and known as the
st. James. Among the merchants,
also, the same healthy signs are ap-
nQrnnf
remodeling the fronts Of their respective
business Dlaces-indeed among all classes
there seems to be a disposition to brush up
One of the first to have an attractive front
to his place of business was Mr.. f. G. Gil
more, young merchant recently settled
among us. Purchasing piece of property
in desirable location he Immediately began
to make improvements by having q glass
front and other additions made Others
caught the spirit and soon Tallahassee will
boast OF quite number of attractive places
OF business. Indeed such a metamorphosis
Is taking place that a former old resident
on coming back to his old haunts would find
1t difficult to recognize once familiar locali-
ties.
For the first time in long years, the season
has nearly passed without any Excursions"
on the part of the colored element of our
community. "Our brother In black" will
eat sweet things and travel. Gingerbread
and railroad excursions are the sweets of
life to him. But this season, strange
to say, there have been no fam
ing posters signed by "The Commit
tee" announcing q cheap excursion to
Jacksonville or elsewhere. Even the
Fourth Of July was suffered to go by uA-
observed in this city. What can be the
cause know not-pOssibly the dear school
OF experience has taught him that it doee
not pay. AS cotton picking season has com.
menced, this is no time for such amuse-
ments, and the probability is that the season
will pass away without solitary colored ex-
eursi0n.
1t is rumored, and even believed by some,
that the T. @. and W. Railroad Company
have sold this end of their line-that is,
from Baldwin to the Chattahoochee-to
the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Com
pany. On the other hand, It is alleged that
the Louisville and NashVille's ramifcatiOns
are so extensive that this company has be-
come considerably embarrassed, and there
fore unable TO make the purchase reported.
We of Tallahassee want connection with
ThomasvIlle, and we care not what eorpo-
ration may effect it, so it is not the one con-
Meeting with Jacksonville. The present
monopoly, though not so bad as formerly.
bears hard on our people. It is believed by
many that the company for which Mr.. Page.
of Albany, n. T., obtained charter will
build this road so as to make the above con-
nection. sincerely hope that these expec-
tations may be realized. LEON.
-p--o-+%
GENERAL GORDON IN PARIs.-A distin-
guiShed American, General Gordon. al