Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-11
NCENDIARIsM IN BULLOCK.
The People In state of Frenzy-Sus-
poets Arrested snd Released.

From tie EecslSj0r Gd.) Ed9ks.
The Baptist church house at Statesboro
was burned to the ground by an incendi-
airy on Tuesday night at - O'Clock.
We made mention of the burning of Mr..
W. j. Nj. Griuer's barn last week, and
now we must record the destruction of
public property. On Saturday evening
last the woods were set on fire near Mr..
A. K. Lanier's, and it was with difficulty
his plantation was saved. There can be
little doubt that the same party or parties
have burned six or seven houses in little
over a year, and still the tiendsh work
goes on. What is our county coming tor
Who is safeg and what?
Suspicion rests on Edmund Brannen
and Jack Bowen, and after the burning
of Mr.. Griner's barn last week an indig-
nation meeting was held and all the citl-
Zens in the community came together TO
decide what had best be done. They
finally decided to give them notice to
leave the county by Monday morning
sunrise, and in case they did not they
might abide the consequences. The writer
accidentally passed the place Of meet
| ing, aud learning the state OF
affairs, and finding the people excited
almost to desperation, endeavOred to per-
suade them to keep the law on their side
and commit no rash act. The meeting
was composed OF peaceful, law-abiding
citizens and they justly felt that steps
would have to be taken to put stop to
| this dIabolical work. They desisted from
! the execution of the threat made. and
warrant was issued and Bowen and
Brannen were placed under arrest. Tues
! day morning the Sheriff, however, re-
! leasing them on their promise TO appear
I for trial ON Thursday. That night the
| church was burned as before stated. Sew
/ eral circumstances point to the suspected
| parties, but as yet there seems to be no
| positive evidence against them.
The trial of the parties arrested is set
for to-day, but it is doubtful if they APP
pear, and why the Sheriff released them
without bonds we do not understand.
1t is doubtless the same parties that
burned the church, for Mr.. Griner is a
member of StatesbOro church, and the
mem bers live mostly in his neighborhood
and are interested in the prosecution OF
the case. 1t is easy to conceive how the
church was burned as retaliation for ar
rest.
While feeling is very high let nothing
| be done unlawfully, and ii is hoped that
! whoever is guilty will be brought to JUS
tice and made TO drink the fun penalty OF
the law. If something is not done, and if
the burning of buildings is not stopped,
we fear there will be tale Of sorrow to
record, for the people OF this county have
| borne all they can.
six hundred and fifty dollars reward has
been offered for the arrest, with proof to
convict, the party or parties who burned
Mr.. Griner's barn and the church at
Ststesboro: $3.50 for the barn and $500 fol-
| the church.
The peopleof Statesboro suffer a great
loss in the church house, they having
made great exertiOns TO build it, and now
| before tine ashes are cool, we desire to APP
peal to the people everywhere to aid The
l people of SCatesboro in building another
church, also tor contributions in subserip
tions to increase the reward offered fol-
She arrest and conviction of the inc endia
ries. Forward names and remittances t
J. A. ScarbOro, Excelsior, Ga.