The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-03-10
Deeds Like the Memphis Lynching Are
1Hars to Commercial Prosperity.
Business Men Deplore that Such Crime
Should Be Committed at Time When
Blacks and Whites We're on Good Terms.
Only Three Negroes We're Killed, but
They We're Cruelty Shot to Death.
Taken to Field Near the RIVER and Rlddled
with Bulets-0ne Vas Mail-Csrrier
How the Trouble Originated.


BLOW TO PROSPERITY.
How the Business Men of Memphis View the
Work OF the Lynchers.
special 10 the indianapolis Journal
MEMPHIS. Tcnu., March a.LThe passing
stranger in Memphis would not know from
observation that twelve hours ago this
city was in the throes of awful excitement
and armed men were galloping to and fro
through the streets following bands of
negroes many of them also armed to the
teeth, ready to begin blood letting at the
slightest provocstion. Last nights bloody
business was done In o manner that was q
credit to the dexterity and skill of
the lswless mob that invaded the Jail.
Col II. Clay King. the convic ted
criminal lawyer ana author. condemned to
death for killing David b. P0ston, the law
yer and attorney for Mrs. General Gideon
Pillow, said it was magnificent, orderly
mob; that its work was SO quiet that his
slumbers we're not disturbed, though, he
was within ten feet of the crowd as it
rushed through the Jail corridors. Alice
Mitchell. tho murderess of Freda Ward.
however. was slightly disturbed. Men are
discussing the lynching in all of its phases.
Business men recognize the fact that such
acts are deadly blows to the commercial
prosperity of the new South that South
erners are 80 loudly clamorous for.
The causes of tins mornings lynching are
the same that have brought about nearly
every riot in the South. A white man
named II. Barrett owns o grocery and
crap dive. Across the street from his is
another crap den and grocery, run by
negrOea Business rivalry grew strong be-
tween the two firms. The negroes got tho
Jealous and from their chickering's 1t came
TO blows. Barrett rallied his forces
and the negroes got together.
Both were lawless set. Bar
rett found the negroes in the majority
and sought the aiG of the law. 1t was re-
ported to the deputy sheriff that the ne
groes were arming and they Ialded the ne
groes' store. The report was true. The ne
groes had guns and they used them with
terrible effect. Three deputies were shot
down, and then twenty-seyen negroes
were captured and Jailed. The negroes
then held mass-neetlnge, and were har-
sngued by their preachers. whose words
are regarded as inspired. Hearing of this,
the whites became enraged, and tho law.
less ones got themselves together. and 40
complIshed the death of three ringleaders
MAY LEAVE THE COUNTRY.
For nearly two years there has been lit
tie rioting in either tennessee or Missis-
sippi, and the better class of whites and
negroes thought the mObs and race wars
were things of the past. There has been
less politics and more business. Negroes
were cOntented and began to take an inter-
est in their own and in the prosperity Of
the white people. The two races were
coming close together Cd all quest ions.
but this mornings lynching of three
negroes. the taking OF them from u
jail iii the heart OF a city OF eighty thou
sand people, the manner OF their death, the
hauling OF the dead bodies through the
streets, have famed into blaze the
smouldering fire OF race prejudlces. Negroes
the feeling OF security and good Will has
changed into fear and hatred.
General Peters. the State attorney. say q
to-day that he would ferret out the lynch
ers aud do as much as possible to bring
them TO Justibe. Judge Uubose, OF the
Criminal Court, has also expressed u dc.
termination to bring the mob to his court
room and punish the rlpgleadsrs If they
can DO reached under tho law.
Hon. L. +. Cassells. al ex-government Of
in this city, says that the lynching will
have bad effects. 1T will place u.s." he
said, where we were ten years ago. Mobs
beget mObs, and now look tor outbreaks
ali over the South. L do not say that the
negroes were bIameless. but say this is u
terri lie comment OH our civilization
Justice Sandsrlin. another prOminen t
negro of this city. says: II am opposed
generally to mob law, but In this case If
Thomas Moss wa not one of the victims L
should fell inclined to say we'll done. Me-
lowell and Steward are bad mel. liz won't
do for colored men to defy the officers of
the law and take The law into their own
hands, as they did Saturday. That admits
of no defense all. Ii our officers cannot
be protected what are We to dot That
preacher at Macedonia Church was largely
responsible tor the whole trouble. 1t is
known that meetings were held at his
church, at which incendiary speeches ere
made, and he encouraged them in it.D
Tonight the details of the killing were
learned from one Of lynchers. I'VE stood
Mcdowell. Moss and steward side by eide.
and then paused moment or two, when
we fired on them. Mcdowell made a for.
ward lunge, and received the ontents of
four guns in his neck and head. We then
complied with their last request. turne d
their bodies toward the west, and left"
General Carnes, commander of the mill
tary OF the State. wanted to call his troops
to arms but Judge Dubose CURLY informed
him that he would see that order was
maintained