Warren sheaf., 1891-12-31
LYNCHED..

A Mob Wreaks Vengeance on Six Mem.
/ bers OF the Notorious Sims Gang in Ala
bama and Mississippi.
MOBILE, Ala, Dec 2S.-The finale IN
the case of the notorious Bob Sims
gang came Saturday when the leader
and three OF his partners i'll crime
We're strung up to pine trees
in the woods of. Choctaw county.
Ala. The gang was surrounded
Wednesday afternoon. After It's
members had committed the dastaralv
deed of murder and arson they took
refuge in Sims house. Sheriff Gavin
OF Choctaw county, and 900 armed men
soon gathered and called on Bob to sur
render. He refused fatty and fire was
at once opened on the house where
Sims and his family and three of the
Savage boys were in hiding. Sims re-
turned the fire. which was kept up all
Wednesday night and Christmas morn
ing.
During Christmas afternoon a flag of
truce was put out by the Sims boys,
apd Sheriff Gavin and some of his men
advanced to within speaking distance
OF Bob. He wanted to surrender. but
the conditions he made could not be
granted by the sheriff, and his offer
was refused. Then the posse retreated
again and firing commenced once more.
During the combat one of the posse
was hit by a ball from the Sims guns
and killed.
At O'clock Christmas afternoon
Gavin was called on again by Sims,
who said that for the sake of saving
the lives of his wife and children he
would surrender. The only guarantee
he wanted was that he should be
given guard of fifty armed men who
would take him to the Jail in Butler,
Ala. The sheriff granted this re-
quest and Sims and the Savage bows
came from the house. and surrendered,
Sims picked out twenty-five men,
whom he desired should accompany
him. and the sheriff selected the other
twenty-five from his posse. About 4
o'clock Christmas day the outlaws
were taken into custody and the guard
started with them for Butler Jail, a
place they were destined to never reach
dead or alive.
The party had not proceeded more
than mile from the scene when mob
of citizens residing in the section where
Sims has been carrying on his lawless-
ness organized and started after them
1t was their determination to secure
the gang and kill each one, and they
succeeded in their plans.
On the way they overlook a man
nam ed Con Savage and as he was a
great friend of Bob's and said to have
been implicated in the gangs evil
doings they threw rope around his
neck and hung him to pine tree
| They then proceeded on their way
and soon overlook Bob and the
Savages. The guard made no re-
sistance as it would have been
useless, and Bob and the three men
were taken charge of by the mob. Bob
and Tom Savage were placed in
buggy and rope put around their
necks and made fast to pine tree.
Bob was asked what he had to say
In reply he held out his right hand
and said:
Feel my pulse and see that l am
no coward. l am willing to meet my
God.'
The pair was told to stand up in the
j buggy, and as they obeyed the horse
was whipped and the pair were
strangled to death. The other two
Savages were treated in the same
style. All the Savages protested their
innocence and begged not to be killed
After the four were hung their bodies
were riddled with bullets and the mob
dispersed.
SHUBUTA, Miss, Dec 2S.-The lynch
/ ing still goes on. Two more victims,
John Sims, brother of Bob, and Nose
ly, nephew of Bob, were both
hanged Saturday night and the
avengers are in hot pursuit of
negro that was with the Sims
gang the night of the massacre. They
have burned Bob Sims dwelling and
all houses on his place. and killed every
living thing 70 be found on the place
except the family, and they had to es-
cape to a neighbours house. The Sims
family say they are going to
leave the country. The crowd
continues to en- arge and is fully
500 strong, and are hunting for Neal
Sims. 1t is reported that Neal Sims
has gotten together about forty men
and intends to burn Womack Hill. The
bodies of Bob Sims and the three Saw
ages have been cut down and thrown
over into the graveyard. John Savage,
! first hung is still hanging