The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-02
A LYNCHING IN GEORGIA
GOV GORDON THIRD RESPITE
LEADS TO MOB LAW.

Night to Find Himself Surrounded
by Masked Men With Guns-The
Negro Swung From the Court-House
Banister.
ROME, Ga. May Henry Pope, the
negro who was convicted of assault with
attempt to commit rape. at the last term Of
court i'll Chattooga county, was taken from
the Jail at Summerville last night by an
armed mob and hanged. Gov Gordon had
issued respite for sixty days and given it
to the Principal Keeper of the Penitentiary,
Col. J. Il. Towers. He came to Rome yes
terday and gave it to Sheriff J. c. Moore,
of Floyd county, with instructions from the
Governor to proceed to Summervile and
bring the prisoner to Rome, for the purpose
of having him taken to the Fulton
county Jail in Atlanta. Sheriff j.
c. Moore, with an assistant,
Charles Randall, left at Q O'Clock this after
noon, and arrived at Summervile at $50
O'Clock tonight. The night was rainy
and very dark. On their arrival they pro-
ceeded to Judge Maddox's house. After
consultation with the Judge, be said
he was satisfied that they could not
take him away that night, and he said he
at the Jail with two guards, and that he
would himself accompany them across the
mountain The Judge then sent for Sheriff
Worsham, Of Chattooga county. Upon his
arrival he also advised waiting until morn
Ing before taking any action.
THE LYNCHING.
Sheriff Moore and his assistant then went
to the hotel and retired at II O'Clock, and
about 2 o'clock Sheriff Worsham came and
awoke them, Stating that be had been
awakened by a crowd and found the door
of his room, which is in the jail, fastened
and guarded by about fifteen armed men.
lie stated that mob of about fifty masked
mon went to the Jail aud demanded the
keys and the rope that was purchased at
Rome few days ago. They then secured
Pope, and, putting the rope around bis neck
and putting ou5 the lights, led him to the
court house, about 1850 yards distant, and
hung him from the banisters at the top of
the stairs. The Sheriff stated that crowds
of armed men stood at the corners of each
street. Judge Maddox went to the court
house, and sent for a doctor. They cut the
rope and took the body Of Pope down and
carried it into the court house. A doctor
arrived and found life extinct. The news
Of the respite published yesterday was car
rled TO Summervile by parties who arrived
about two hours before the Sheriff.
Henry Pope had been twice convicted of
an assault upon Miss Minrie Kendrick, in
Chattooga county, on February 3, 1887, and
was respited by Gov. Gordon Saturday
! night upon the affldavits of five repecta-
BILE men that Pope was fifty miles from the
| scene OF the crime on the day it was com
mitted. It was known 10 Gov. Gordon
that there was intense feeling against
Pope in Chattooga County and he endeav-
al
Towers would have had time to get to Sum-
merville and bring the prisoner out Of the
County. Sulnmervllle is in the country, 25
miles from Rome, but there is telephone
line from Rome to Tryon factory. The
latter place is only miles from Summer
vile and people are passing from one place
to the other often. IL is very probable that
in this way the news of the respite reached
Summerville early in the afternoon.
HOW HE WAS SWUNG
Sheriff Moore says it looks as though the
rope was put on Pope's neck and he was then
thrown Off tue balcony. His neck was not
broken The Sheriff was sleeping in the
Jail and was awakened by a demand for his
keys, backed by about fifteen shot
guns There was nothing for him
to do but to give them up. The
crowd then took rope and hung Pope
Miss Minnie Hendricks was going through
some woods between her home and the home
of n neghbor in Chattooga county Thurs
day, Feb 3, 1897. In the woods she met
negro who assaulted her. When she es-
capped from him she gave an alarm, and the
country was secured for miles around. Sew
eral negroes were arrested and brought to
Miss Kendrick, who promptly declared as
each one was brought that he was not the
man.
HIS CAPTURE.
IN Nav 1897 Hauru pfy,a , ,rraetad
in Cherokee county, AlabI ma, and was
brought to Summerville May7. The popu-
lar Indignation was so great against him
that a special guard was organized for the
prisoners protection. A special term was
called and held May 9, 1887, and Henry
Pope was convicted and sentenced TO be
hanged July l. In the court room. as in the
jail, the prisoner was guarded by armed
mel TO protect him from the people, who
were infuriated against him because Of the
crime, which they thought he had CON-
mitted. After the announcement Of the
verdict the Judge advised the counsel for
the defendant not to make n motion for a
new trial, because he was apprehensive that
in that event mob would attempt to hang
Pope, and good men would be killed in an
effort to defend him. The Governor,
on June 2S, issued an order
respiting Pope till Sept. Q, 1887.
On Aug. 90 a further respite was granted
until Nov. A. Pending his second respite
Judge Maddox granted new trial on an
extraordinary motion. The trial took
place during the first week in March, 1888.
Pope was again convicted and sentenced to
be hanged on May 2 (to-morrow). Gov.
Gordon was again petitioned TO respite
Pope, and the petition was acc Jmpanied by
such strong evidence 10 prove an alibi that
a respite was granted for sixty days.