Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1889-01-10
BIRMINGHAM'S WOE,
MANY KILLED IN ATTEMPTING
TO LYNCH HALVES.
SHERIFF SMITH CAUSES LONG DEATH
RoLL-IMPosINe FORCE OF MILITARY
ON HAND--MYsTERIoUs TRUNK FOUND.

bolt m OF Lake View, Birmingham, Ala,
caused tremendous excitement, and at
once steps were taken by many
citizens to lynch the incarcerated man.
The body Of Mrs. Halves was found
lying on the bottom of the lake at the
deepest part, about two hundred feet
from the shore. A hasty examination
was made and there was found the final
evidence OF double murder. The back
of the woman's head had been lail open
by terrible blow with an ak. There
was a frightful gaping wound, from
which the brains of the woman had
flowed out with her life blood Securely
fastened around the womans neck was
piece OF railroad iron, which would
weigh fifty pounds. Another piece was
tied around her waist and third piece
around her ankles. The three pieces of
IRON will weigh $50 pounds. Two hours
after the finding of the body, two officers
went to the jail and informed Halves of
the find. He did not change color, and
had little to say except deny all knowl-
edge of the crime. The sheriff thought
1T would be best to remove Halves to
Mont gomery, and he was asked if he
would be willing to don the uniform of a
policeman and walk through the streets
to the depot. When told that it was
risky, he replied he would prefer to re-
main in his cell rather than take the
chances of showing his face on the street.
About thirty officers were stationed
around the Jail, all armed with Winches-
ter rifles. The other child which has
been missing has not been found, but
there is no longer any doubt that she,
5 too, has been murdered. The search for
the body will be continued. The evil
dence against Halves, secured is most
damaging, and it is now certain that he
had one accomplice, perhaps more than
one. Every statement he has made in
connection with the matter has been
proven untrue.
A search of the Halves house disclosed
blood stains in almost every room. A
bloody trail leading in the direction OF
the Lake was also found. Facts have
been obtained showing that Halves had
treated his wife most cruelty for some
time past. About two months ago he
beat her with large stick, breaking one
of her arms and two ribs. He failed to
provide her with proper clothing or suf-
ficient money, and she told several par
ties that he had tn eatened on several oc-
casions to kill her. After the blood
stains in the house were found, the build
ing was left unguarded for two
hours, and when the officers
returned, some one had entered through
q window and washed away all traces OF
blood, showing that there is an accom-
still at large.
At about o'clock Sunday morning,
about 5000 citizens proceeded to the
Jail with the intention of taking Halves
out and hanging him. The Jail is To-
Gated in the center of the city, and is
approached through an alley. The alley
is about fifteen feet wide, and hundred
long. The guard at the Jail was ar
ranged up stairs at the window end
down stairs at the main entrance. while
those who were in the court house were
only few feet away. AS the mob en-
tered the mouth of the alley, Sheriff
Smith advanced and, in clear voice,
called out, "Stop!" The mob moved on.
Then the sheriff called out: ''If you
don't stop before l count three, I'll order
the guard to fire." The mob did not
stop. "I'll give you another chance"
cried the sheriff. 'srll count five, and
then order the guard to fire." Persons
block away heard the order, but the
mob apparently did not The leaders
kept advancing, and the crowd pressed
close behind them The sheriff, seeing
that the critical moment had come.
turned quietly upon his heel and started
back towards the Jail. He had been
standing ten feet from the main entrance,
and as he turned, the crowd took it as
signal for victory, and with a yell began
TO move faster. The sheriff halted in
\ the Jail door second, and raising his
hat yelled. "Fire, ald fire quick and
fast Instantly the sharp report of the
4 Winchesters rang out and men iell TO
the ground, showing that the guard had
6red with deadly effect. The falling
men stopped the crowd. For second
Il hesiiated, and then as quickly as it
came it turned and went back. With
he mob out Of the alley, the wounded
csuld be seen lying upon The ground.
Then the officers, or some OF them, left
the jail. and picking up the wounded,
: carried them out. The city ambulunces
were summoned, and the wounded borne
awav. Some were taken to one place
and some another. Bar-rooms and res
taurants close by were alike converted
\ into hospitals. In one restaurant three
wounded men lay upon the floor. In
4 saloon less than block away were two
more, and in drug store near by an
I other. An undertaker's place was made
i i retreat for another, while others were
scattered about generally, some at their
homes and some in strange housts.
information WIS at once sent to Gov.
Say, and the + flowing military com
panies were ordered to the scene: Com
psny ., Montgomery Greys, twenty-nine
ine1; Company @, Greenville Light
= Guards, twenty-five men; Company d,
Montgomery True Blues, twenty-foul
men; Company z, Birmingham Guards
Company r, Warrior Guard, thirty nine
nen: Company G, Jefferson Guards;
Company X, Birmingham Rifles, twenty
eight men; Company Y, Butler
\ Riles, thirteen men; Battery y,
Birmingham ARTILLERY, seven men !;
Troop a, Montgomery Mounted Hnes'
twenty-five men; Admission Rifles, thirty