Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-05-21
MOB AT NASHVILLE
After Frank Weems, the Negro
Who Outraged Mrs. Mavity
Searching Parties Visit the Jail and sta.
tion Houses for the Purpose of
Lynching the Negro.

Nashville was again terribly ex
cited last night. Early In the even
ing an unusual number OF men Wer,
seen parading the street in front 0
the Jail. At 8:45 a mob Of 500 men hat
assembled on the Square and wer'
yelling loudly, the crowd increasing
every minute. Some one in the crowt
suggested the appointment of a com
mittee to go to the Jail and demand
the negro Weems, and il he was re
fused them to return and report the
fact, and then the whole crowd
should go there and get him. A
committee Of eight was chosen. They
went to the Jail. They were told
that the negro was not there.
"Let us come in and search the Jail
We are committee appointed by a
crowd on the Square,"
"Then let your crowd on the
Square come" said Watson. 81 am
not going to let you in."
While the committee was gone to
the Jail a man got up on an ash box
in front of the store of Berry, De-
moville & Co., and was greeted with
ear splitting noises.
He said!he, was from Chattanooga,
talking In low but distinct voice.
He was cool and calm. He spoke as
follows:
"Gentlemen, our wives and daugh-
ters must be protected. If I'VE wait for
the law to take its course it will not
be justice. The negro who commit
ted this outrage In Chattanooga is, /
believe, in this Jail, and II he is, we
must get him and hang him. / know
him and will point him out to you."
The committee returning from the
Jail were met by the mob half way to
the Square. None of the crowd had
guns in their hands. One or two men
had ropes.
When the crowd reached the jail
they commenced hollering, "Let's go
In and take the negro"
Two men were allowed to go
through the jail without objection.
They were gone about ten minutes.
When they returned they reported
that they had searched every place
in the Jail, and the negro was not
there.
A man got upon the fence and said
he believed the negro was in the
house Of Jailer Willis, and asked to
be allowed to appoint committee,
including himself, to search the resi-
dence. He was allowed to do so, three
others being appointed.
The new committee went through
the residence of Jailer Willis, but
failed to find their man.
The crowd continued yelling, but
beyond this was not disorderly. No
threats were made against the Of
ficers. There were no policemen In
the Jail.
After searching the Jail, the crowd
moved on to the station-house.
Here they were met by Chief of Po-
lice Clack and his reserve, who
charged them with bayonets and
drove them out of Market street to
the square. = Here the police formed
and stood with drawn bayonets.
Two rocks were thrown; one struck
Chief Clack and one his lieutenant.
The mob was without leader.
They were told the man they want
ed was not in the station-house.
At IL o'clock the riot alarm was
sounded and every officer in the city
assembled at headquarters. All
armed themselves with Springfield
rifles and were posted on duty at
either end of Market street.
Lieut. Campbell and Lieut.. Cas-
teen were in charge Of the two de-
tachments, and handled their men
In soldierly manner.
When the mob came In view OF
the station Lieut.. Campbell was
standing in the doorway. He ordered
halt, and announced that the man
they wanted was not In the building,
and no one. would be permitted to
enter. This statement was greeted
with derisive cheers, and a hurried
movement was made for the door
way.
At this instant Capt. Clack and
his reserve made their appearance.
The surprise was complete and ret
rograde movement took possession OF
the would-be lynchers.
At 1915 O'Clock this morning the
crowd dispersed and the police were
withdrawn from the street. 1t was
then found that Officers Terry and
Bardell had been severely hurt by