Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-10
THREE ENEGROES SHOT
LvNcHEp FOR LEADING m THE MAS
SkcRG OF OFFICERS.
usnphis the Scene Of . Fearful Wreaking
Of vergeance-The Dstails-Mors
Trouble Feared.


MExPHrs, TENN, March 9.-Three ne
eroes were taken from the jail here at 3:l5
A. n. to-day and hurried of by Q mob,
which was not large. There were twenty
seven in Jail charged with assault with In.
tent to kill for smbushing and shooting
down four deputies who tried to arrest
negro Saturday night at "The Curve" for
o minor offence.
There were but seventy-fve in the mob.
all being masked. The men secured CAL
vim Mcdowell. Tom Moss. and Will Stuart.
the leaders of the negro gang" and,
taking them out of jau. quickly disap-
peared with them. Daylight disclosed the
dead bodies of the three ringleaders about
quarter of mile north of the jail. The
mob took the negroes up Wolf river to q
point near the old water-works and shot
them to death.
HOW THEY GOT INTO THE JAIL
The mob gained admission by the. old
trek OF two men ringing the bell and an
swering the challenge by giving the name
of well-known officer, Hugh Williams, of
White Haven, and saying they had 9
prisoner for the jail. Wstchman O'Donnel
opsned the outer door and two men pushed
in, when ODonnel saw they were masked,
and attempted to draw pistol. They seized
his arms and immediately others OF the
party came through the gate. O'Donnel was
bound with rope and two men were left
to watch him. The others made their way
through the Jail and the men wanted were
soon found. Nobody else was molested.
The negroes were gagged and bound.
When they reached an open field near
Wolf river the gags were removed and for
AZ QnoQK
As the gags were removed Moss said: " If
you are going to Kill US, turn our faces to
the West"
THE NEGROES SHOT TO PIECES.
The words were scarcely out of his
mouth when the firing began and the ne
groes were shot to pieces. The mob turned
about as soon as it had completed its work
and at the first crossing separated and dis
persed as silently as it had assembled.
The bodies of the dead negroes were
brought to Walsh's undertaking establish
ment about half past this morning,
In less than fifteen minutes the place was
surrounded by about 200 negroes. All
were afraid to talk, however, on account
OF tho near proximity OF the whites, but
on the edges of the crowd were heard
many mutterings and curses. One negro
aptly expressed the feelings of the majority
stand this we's done up, suah."
The inquest was held at ~ A. Nj. and the
bodies were then sent to their homes at
"The Curve"
MORE TROUBLE AT THE CURVE"
At 1915 word reached the city that the
negroes were assembling IN large numbers
aiely equipped $50 men with Winchesters,
and thav bava laft for tho lOcalitv
WHAT THE SHERIFF SAYS.
Sheriff McLendon was seen this morning
ii his office. He said - Yesterday after
noon and again last night was out in the
Curve neighborhood with some of my
deputies seeing what l could find out and
looking for some negroes implicated IN the
trouble. did not get home till nalf- past
IL last night"
"Had you heard no rumors of trouble
being expected?n asked the reporter.
mot a word. was at the jail late last
night. but never gave a thought to any
thing like this. 1t never entered my
mind. Fit had. this thing would not have
happened. My oath of office compels m,
10 protect prisoners under my charge, anc
have always done it,
Are you going to take any steps to
wards aIresting the ringleaders of th'
mob?"
II suppose so. Yes. of course; my
oath OF office demands it, and will take
posse out and do ali can"
coRoSER's VERDICT.
The following verdict was rendered b.
.he coroner's jury: I'VE find that the de
ceased were taken from the Shelby count,
Jail by masked mob of men, oyerpowered
and taken to an old field and shot to destl
by parties unknown by the jury"
All has been quiet at THE Curve" to
day, although the city was full Of alarming
rumors to the contrary.