Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-12-14
LyncherS Shot Down
WHILE STOKMING AN ALABAMA
JAIL.

JAIL.
TEN MEN KILLED AND ELEVEN sERI-
oUsLY ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CITI-
ZENss AMONG THE NUMBER-OVER
FIVE HUNDRED SHOTS FIRED-MILI-
TARY IN CoNTROL-THE SHERIFF
ARRESTED.
&C.. &C.. &C.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Dec. 9.-Last
Tuesday the body of young girl was
found floating in tn lake at LakeVlew
Park, two lies from this city. The
identity of the dead girl renamed mys-
terry until Wednesday, when he remains
were identified as those of Mamie Halves
the twelve-Year- daughter Of Richard
R. Halves. lailroR tngineer. Tne
autopsy disclosed the fact that the child
had not been drowned, as was at first sup
posed, but that she was killed by means OF
chloroform. Five thousand people viewed
the body. and the tragedy caused great
excitement in the city. The last person
to see the girl alive was Fannie Bryant
colored woman and she testified that
Mr.. Halves, her father, was with her.
ARRESTED WITH HIS BRIDE.
Halves Was arrested, charged with tn
murder, Immediately on his arrival at Biz
mingham from Columbus, Miss, with a
young bride, whom he had just married
there. He denied all knowledge of the
crime. The finding of the body of the girl
brought into prominence the fact that her
mother was also missing. Thursday and
Friday searching parties secured the cOun-
try for miles around the city. The lake
at Lakeview was dragged, and about noon
Saturday the body of Mrs. Emma Halves
was found at the bottom of the lake, hall
mile from the cottage where the family
lived.
A DOUBLE MURDER.
a hasty examination gave conclusive
evidence of double murder. The back
of the woman 8 head had been split open
by blow with an axe. Securely fastened
around the neck Vas a piece of railroal
iron weighing fifty pounds. Another
weight was tied to her waist and third
to her ankles. The three pieces of iron
weigh $50 pounds. A search Of the Halves
every ROOM A. trail of blood leading In
the direction of the lake was also found.
Facts were obtained today showing that
Halves had treated his wife most cruelty
for some time past About two months
ago he beat her with large stick, break
ing one Of her arms and two ribs. He
failed to provide her with proper clothing
or sufficient money, and she told several
, persons that he had threatened on several
occasions to kill her. After the blood
stains in the house were found yesterday
the building was left unguarded for two
hours, and when the officers retur ned they
discovered that some one had entered
through window and washed away ali
traces of blood, showing that there is an
accomplice still at large. Halves had two
children. The second one is missing, and
there is no longer any doubt that she, Too
has been murdered. The search for the
body will be continued.
THE ATTACK.
The news of the finding of the body Of
Mrs. Halves spread rapidly, and threats OF
lynching Halves were freely made. The
sheriff desired to remove him to Mont
gomery for safety, but he said he prefer
red to remain in his cell. The guar6
| around the jail was increased to thirty
men. al. armed with Winchester rifles.
A crowd which had been collecting Oh
| the streets for several hours last night al
| midnight advanced on the county jail witt
the intention Of lynching Halves, charged
| with the murder of bis wife and child
| Many Of the best citizens tried to reason
with the crowd and prevent trouble, an(
some lost their lives in the attempt. When
| the crowd was within few feet of tht
| Jail door and had failed to heed numerous
| warnings, the officers opened fire on them
| killing three men Observation-Disclosures
| Maurice S. TrOckmOrtOn, j. X. Mccoy an(
| A. B. Tarrant-and fatally Woundins
seven, and wounding more or less serious
| ly about thirty others.
MILITARY IN CONTROL.
To-day and tonight the city is militia
| ry encampment. Civil authorities have
| practically stepped down and out. anG
| Col. Jones, of Montgomery. with thirteen
| military companies, is absolutely in charge
of affairs. The jail is guarded by State
| troops, with picket lines extended several
squares in every direction, and at each ap
proach there frowns Calling gun. Noun
| ted scouts are sent out of the city and al
| regular intervals acquaint Col. Jones witt
| the condition of the public mind and pros
poets Of an armed rising by the people
| Fire bells sound military alarms and sol
diers in uniforms and armed with Win
=, chester rifles have desolated the principa
| streets and driven back the thousands
who have all day been looking toward thu
Jail. The military was ordered out b.
Gov. Seay from Montgomery, and with
the chief executive Col. Jones is in regu
lar Geographic correspondence.
INDIGNATION AGAINST THE SHERIFF.
In the meanwhile citizens have not KEPT
| within doors. They have congregated ir
| hotels or on street corners and in front oil
! bulletin boards. The streets have been 6
| living, maddened mass, and very little
OratOrical pyrOtechnics could readily organ
| lze a mob whose solemn duty would be
| declared to be to avenge the murder Of
| the popular Throckmorton and those who
| fell by him. All along the walls of the
| city are posted petitions of various kinds
| signed by thousands of people. One OF
these recited at length the fact that Sher
| if Smith had hutchered in cold blood
some of the best citizens of Birmingham
I by an act as unpfovoked as unnecessary
| and asked Gov. Seay to Immediately re-
| lIeve him of his duty as sheriff. Another
petition. side by side, reads: 'This Is to
hang him." and signed by thousands Of
passers-by.
ANOTHER ATTACK THREATENED.
Great excitement was caused by the
| funeral cortege through principal high.
! way of one OF the victims of last night IS
ARRAY. The lengthy procession was head
ed by brass band playing solemn dirges
The post-ofice building is draped in
mourning and makes mute appeal to eye
~ passer by. The military were called
upon to arrest Smith and others implica-
| ted, but this was refused, and finally, at
81 eifiynp hoScro q
Justice of the peace and swore out war
i rant fer the arrest of Smith and his dep
| uties on the charge of murder. This was
served by the coroner, who found Smith
| in jail, and the coroner himself took charge
of the jail, and in his custody that insti:
tuition is al present. During Che Gay Capt.
| Peyton Bib, who is 10 charge Of the
Montgomery Blues, advised that the mill.
| tary take Smith and Halves out of Jail
and carry them to Montgomery. away
from the scenes Of riot and for safe keep