The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1890-02-05
THE TRUE FACTS
ABOUT THE MORGAN RIOT LAST
TUESDAY.
Four White Zen and Several Ne.
grOeS Wounded.

| NCh lODs
They were disappointed, as on
Sunday night Capt. p. +. Boyd
passed through Dawson on his
way to Atlanta to see the Govern
or, and on Monday night he again
passed through the city returning
from Atiqnta to Morgan with a
reprieve from the Governor for the
condemned man. Captain Boyd
Ieached Morgan Tuesday a few
moments before the execution was
to have taken pllce, and Newton's
neck was saved for a few days at
least.
The Terrell county fellows missed
seeing the hanging, but were high
ly entertained by Witnessing riot
that occurred during the day.
Many reports have been cur.
rent since the riot, but probably
the most correct is the one from
the Leary Courier, which is pub
iished in Calhoun county.
Messrs. John and Ben Arnold,
who We're wounded, are sons of
Mr.. Ww. Arnold, of this county.
The Courier says:
About 1 O'clock, a negro by
name of Mat Gregg, on the Court
House square, became enraged at II
little son Of Mr.. Paul Hill Slade,
of Dawson, and gave the little boy
a terrible cursing. For this Mars
shall Embry and Bailiff Mills I'M
mediateIy took HIM in hand and
started with him to the calaboose.
Matt Gregg at first off red no re-
sistance to the officers, but his
brother, Tom Gregg, came run,
ming up and said emo Cd d-m
marshal sho' Id arrest his brother"
He was followed by la;ge crowd
of negroes who pressed around the
officers, and INSTRUCTED them in
! their progress to the c,laboose. A
number of white men, with drawn
pistols, sprang to the officers as
sistance, and breasting together,
cleared the way so that the officers
might proceed with tneir prisoner.
The crowd of negroes, brandishing
| knives, and uttering threats
against the whites, followed close
and pressed against the calaboose
at least fifty yards, when, seeing
the determination Of the officers 10
hold their prisoner, some of the
negroes made a rush to release the
prisoner, and here the riot cons
menced. Who fred the first shot
is known, and is a neg O when
the smoke had cleared away from
lhe scene, not less thu Ii forty shots
had been fired, and the results
were found to be as follows:
Mr.. John Arnold, shot in the
bowels-dangerous aud may di..
Mr. Ben Arnold, shot in the
right shoulder flesh wound and
not dangerous.
Mr.. Rufus Lawrence, cut about
the neck and face-not seriously.
Mr.. Walter Ragan, shot in the
right shoulder-fiesh wound and
not dangerous.
Matt Gregg, shot in the should
er-not dangerously.
Another negro, name not known,
cut in the neck--not seriously.
All accounts agree that several
negroes were shot and taken away
by their friends before any account
could be taken of them.
When the riot begun a great
many of the negroes sought safety
in flight, but great many con-
tinued to press after the officers,
who having been reinforced by
about forty white men, proceeded
to return with their prisoner.
Sheriff GLADDEN. here came upon
the scene, and taking the prisoner
in charge, no further resistance
was offered. Mat Gregg and an-
other negro We're taken before a
magistrate and placed under bond
of twenty-five dollars each.
The riot took place so quickly
that many white people had not
time to appreciate the serious as.
pect of the matter, but it was not
long after the riot had been quelled
before the streets Of Morgan were
bristling with Winchesters and
shot guns.
At late hour the negroes had
all dispersed, and the town author
tiles felt pretty certain that no
further trouble would ensue.