The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-12-12
A BLOODY LESSON IN LAW.
TERRIBLE SLAUGHTER OF LYNCHERs IN
BIRMINGHAM.

BIRMINGHAM.
A Dozen Men Killed OF Fatally
Wounded. and Some Thirty Less
Seriously Injured-Attenipt 10 Take
from Jail u Man Accused Ofthe Muir.
der of his Wife and ChiId-The Mob
Rush to their Death Needless OF
Warning-A Sheriff who Knew his
Duty and Did 1T.
BIRMINGIIAM,'ALA, December 9.-Special !;
4 terrible tragedy was enacted in this city
last night, caused by an effort on the part OF
crowd of2 1000 men to reach the county jail for
the purpose of lynching r. 4. Hawes, charged
with numbering his wife and child. Not Till
the roar of guns was heard and the deadly
vantage ground about the Jail did any one rea-
liZe how the matter might end.
Early in the evening the sheriff was told
that q mob was forming, and he accordingly
prepared for 1t. In and around the jail there
was suppressed vein OF excitement during
the entire night. Outside the guards were
located on the corner of 3D. avenue ana 2ist
street and 4th avenue and 2lst street. respecllv-
ely. These guards challengediall parties aP,
preaching in the direction of the jail; ana az
such parties were summarily ordered TO malt.
The inner guards were stationed near the en-,
trance to the alley leading to the jail, ana
there kept close lookout for all who came near
them, and who for any reason hau eScaPea
the outer guards.
In and near the jail the arrangements were
even more complete The entrance to the ola
jail on 2lst street, was well guarded and barri-
caded, leaving no possible hope OF entrance
from that point. A number of men were also
station ed near the entrance to the alley, I'M.
mediately between the wall to the Jail ana
the fence TO the new court house. The outer
door of the Jail, facing the new court mouse,
was open, and on the narrow platform and
stone steps leading to the door were gathered
dozen determined men under the lead OF
Chief Pickard and Sheriff Smith, all armed
with Winchester rifles and with numerous
rounds of cartridges. All were disclplneu
to the last degree, and the instructlon were were
as they appeared at the entrance TO the alley
leading from 21st street.
"sHooT DIRECTLY INTo.THE CROWD y
were the instructions issued by Sheriff Smith,
and the policemen and deputy sheriffs on
duty patiently awaited the onslaught OF the
expected mob with q sense OF duty TO law ana
order that could not be easily mistaken.
Before 10 o'clock all preparations were re-
ported compete, and n warm reception was
certainly in store tor those who were reported
to be coming to avenge the gross outrage on
law and society committed by a man, who
surely fiend, to have encompasssedt the death
of the wife he had sworn to honor and pro.
tect and the children 1t should have been his
delight to love and cherish. .
But ample as these preparations were, all
has not yet been told. On the roof OF the jail
O number Of men, all armed with Winchester
rifles, were stationed, and these men were
likewise under instructions to prevent the
entrance Of the crowd into the alley leading
to the Jail. Anumber of men were also sta,
toned in the second story OF the new couIt
house. A feeling OF fintense anxiety preValleu,
and the silence at times was ominous. At II
o'clock the shouts OF,
THE APPROACHING MOB
al,1 1,,yo M
closer and louder still, and the officers on the
inside fingered their guns and began making
preparations for the inevitable. mass OF
men of appeared In the entrance to the alley,
and In q loud voice Sheriff Smith ordered
them out of the alley
AT THE PERIL THEIR LIVES.
1t was very dark and impossible to distin-
guish exactly where the men at the entrance
to the alley were located. Some were evident
ly on the opposite side of the street, Again
the mass Of human beings appeared in the en-.
trance to the alley. II am going t. shoot at
three" called outthe sheriff. zone, two three"
but the sheriff and his men did not fire. 81
will fire at five" announced Sheriff smith.
could see the forms of the men creeping up
the alley way toward the Jail. Again the
voice of the sheriff called out, zone, tWo,' &C,
and when "flven had been reached be called
out,
A perfect fusilade followed, and when the
smoke cleared away the alley leading to the
jail door was blocked with dead and wounded
men. The crowd scattered In every direction,
and no further attempt was made 10 reach the
jail.
THE KILLED AND WOUNDED.
Three men were killed instantly, seven fat
ally wounded and about thirty others wound
ed more or less seriously.
Tho following is the full list of the killed ard
wounded.
W. B. Throkmorton, postmaster and a very
prominent and popular citizen; Throck NOR
ion was about 80 of years age. He was born IN
Louisville, and came to Birmingham In 1850
as agent for the Southern Express Company
About eighteen months ago he Mas appointed
postmaster. He leaves wife ana one ehiia; No.
An unknown negro was shot through the
lungs and died this morning at o'clock.
]. r. Mccoy was toward the front OF the
crowd when the firing commenced, He fella al
A. b. Tarrant was shot in the back. After
the first voley he lay down on the ground
with the hope OF avoiding the flying bullets.
Fate would not have 1t SO, however, and ball
struck him as he lay on his face and ranged
up the back. After a few minutes suffering
the young man died.
AID. Bryant was shot through the heart
He was standing rather near the front and was
doing his best to restrain the crowd going any
nearer. He fell at the first volley and died in
c. c. Tate was shot through the hip and
through the loin he is dying. He is painter,
and lived at East Lake. He Is about As years
old and had family.
Colbert Smith, colored, was shot through
the right lung and diedthis mornsng.
Lawrence Fitzhugh, civil engineer, badly
wounded. He was shot through the shoulder.
He is about 80 years old.
Charles Barley was shot through the head,
1t is thought fatally. He lived formerly at No
"a Church street, Boston.
A. s. schiede mechanic, was shot In the left
side just under the shoulder. 1t is thought he
will die. He came recently from Kalamazoo,
Mich. Several of his companions were wound
ed, but less seriously
Charles Jenkins was shot in the back OF the
heed, the ball coming outin the centre OF his
forehead. He fingered until 10 o'clock this
morning, when he died. Jenkins was 90 years
old. and lived at Smithfieid with his parents
and three brothers.
Bratdon was at the hospital, wounded In
the thigh and abdomen. He died about o.
clock this morning. Just after he was shot he
told his attendants that he boarded at the
Gadsden, and was here on business before the
United States Court.
J. w. Montgomery, wounded in the left jaw.
the knee, while sitting on the porch Of the
residence Of Mr.. w. Sddon.
Charles Bailey, brakeman on the Louisville
and Nashville Railroad shot.in the right side,
Just below the nipple. His home is in Boston
His wound, while not necessary fatal, may
prove serious.
John II. Merritt is at the hospital, shot
through the calf of the left leg.
Matt Kenerdy is also at the hospital, shot
in both legs below the knees; right leg badly
shattered, left flesh wound. He is also shot in
the left arm Just below the elbow, and the bone
is broken. He is about 50 years old and has q
wife and seven children.
j. w. owen is at the hospital, shot entirely
through the right thigh. Ho is carpenter,
about 80 years of age.
]. w. Gilmore, fatally wounded through the
bowels, is 46 years Of age. has wife and five
children living at Green Springs.