The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-10-23
Colonel commanding % b.distrIct zee Se1
LYNCHED IN JAIL.
From the Iesun. Gu. sentinel.

From the Jesup, Ga. Sentinel
Louis Edwards was tried and convicted at
the March term of Wayne superior court, 1887,
for the murder of r.. j. Smith The Jury re-
commended him to the mercy OF the court,
and Judge Atkinson sentenced him to impris-
onment for life. His counsel, Messrs. 10. ID.
Graham and S. w. Hitch subsequently made
motion for new trial, and it was granted.
Last Sunday Sheriff j. ID. Robinson went to
Greston on the East Tennessee, Virginia and
Georgia railway, where Edwards has been con-
fined since March, 1887, to bring him back for
new trial. The sheriff returned with tho
prisoner on the II rs train Sunday night, and
was met at the train by guard he had ar
ranged The prisoner was quietly conveyed to
the jail, and after cautioning the guard to be
yigilant the sheriff went to the Jesup house
and retired.
About o'clock the guard was oyerpowed
and the prisoner lynched. Below we give the
evidence before tho coroner's jury: Messrs.
I. Reddish, T. j. Lundy, 4. A. Floyd and J.
A, Wheeler, who composed the guard, and
Sheriff Robinson were sworn.
kLUNDY's STATEMENT.
about 3 o'clock a party of men surprised
and arrested us. With presented pistols they
demanded hands up. We obeye d the
command. They then demanded tho
the Jail keys They were masked, and had rags
over their heads. / did not know any of them
was near the man who picked the keys from
Off the ground. Did not know how came them
there. | was terribly excited. did not recognize
any voice. They captured our guns A guard
was left over us, while others went into the
jail. The prisoner was killed. and the parties
went away without saying anything else. We
then sent for the sheriff"
"Did you know who had the keys?"
"No, sir; was under the impression that
the sheriff had them"
"How many men were there in the crowd2"
II could not say; saw ten or twelve"
"How were they armedY
with pistols"
GLOW were they disguised2"
"They had on Oil cloth and rags over their
faces"
THOMAS REDDIsHs STATEMENT.
1--WE were sitting around q fire outside the
Jail yard. The first thing that drew my atten-
ton was the growing OF dog. About this
time Six or seven mon rushed upon us with
drawn pistols, and commanded, Hand up and
surrender They captured our arms and left
us powerless, and we obeyed the command.
Two of the men gathered Mr.. Wheeler and be-
gan kicking him and demanding the keys.
He told them that he knew nothing of the
keys One also caught hold of me and be-
gan jerking me around. just at this moment
they fonnd the keys on the ground. / am not
positive, but think only three men went into
the jail. AS many as five stood guard over
us, one pointing pistol at my breast, and say
ing: If yon move I'll kill YOU | said: Il
surrender, and don't shoot me- I heard those
who went into the Jail. Heard noise like
breaking OF the jail door, and thought it was.
After the shooting, they came out and went
away. / am confident there were eight or
nine, andImay heye been more"
SHERIFF. J. d. RoBTNsoN's STATEMENT.
81 went to Greston after prisoner Sunday,
and arrived back here Sunday night between
ii and ~ O'Clock. / was met at the train
by the guard. ! took the prisoner to the Jail
at once. After placing him in Jail cautioned
the guard to be vigilant, and went to the
Jesup house and went to bed, but had known
there would be trouble / never would have
left the jail, although tired and worn out. L
dug hole with my foot near a pine sapling,
dropped the keys in there, andl covered them
up. placed them there SO II they were de-
manded of the guard none OF them would
have them"
WHO did you ask to meet you at the train 2"
II requested Reddish and Austin to meet
me at tho train"
"Was there much of a crowd at tho depot
upon the arrival OF the train ?"
"There were a good many, but / saw or
head nothing unusual AS / dismounted from
the car, some one said, 1Iulloa Mr.. Sheriff.
/ made no reply, but went at once 10 the Jail,
and deposited the prisoner"
The following Is the verdict Of the jury:
We, the jury aforesaid upon oath say hat Louis
Edwards OF said county, did the 18th day of
October, 1888 come to his death by number of
leaden balls being shot into Ills body by unlaw-
ful mob, with malice aiorethought, the said mob
unknown TO said jury.