The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1892-10-10
MAN-HuNfIhG IN MISSISSIPPI.
Citlzens ON the Trail of band Of Black
Marauders

Marauders.
JACKSON, Miss, Oct. 10.-Fuller de-
tails of the operations of the gang Of me-
groes who were run out of the southern
portion of this county shows it to have
been one OF the most desperate ever in
this state. Many believe the ringlead-
ers are portion of the Vicksburg gang,
headed by Smith Toley, who was
lynched In Vicksbnrg two months ago.
The two negroes now In jail at Hazel
hurst state that four negroes were from
Vicksburg, and this il what gives rise
TO the snpposition that they are part
OF the desperate Smith Toley gang,
which was terror to all that section Of
the country, having committed crimes
innumerable, several murders being
among the number. Circuit court
still stands adjourned in Copiah
county, and most every man has
constituted himself q committee of one
TO do something toward running the
desperate criminals down. Excitement
has abated somewhat, but ii. is still very
high-so high, in fact, that it Is not
Thought possible to save the necks of the
negroes when they are all caught. The
two now in Jail in Copiah have been
spared so far. but the reason is that they
are held for the purpose of telling what
they know about the rest Of the gang,
and 1t is on their testimony they will be
identified. They were caught at Crystal
Springs. j. r. Sexton, prominent
lawyer of the county, happened to be
there at the time, and on his appeal
their lives were spared until some future
day. 1t is generally recognized, how
ever, that it is only postponernent
OF few days, when they and
the other five will be called on
to stretch hemp like their two part
ners in Rankin county did night before
last, without judge or jury. Many
think they should be legally tried, but
these are in hopeless minority, it be-
ing argued that the only way to put an
effectnal stop to this kind Of outlawry is
to deal ont summary vengeance to thu
perpetrators.
Besides killing one white man and ia
tally wounding another and . negro, the
gang robbed numerous stores and were
guilty of other high-handed and out
rageous crimes. They went to the
house OF q white man named Traylor,
and after kicking his wife around and
beating her over the head with their pis-
tols, took everything valuable they
could carry off and left, firing their pis-
tola In the air and making things hid
cons with oaths and obscenity. They
hare been operating about one
week the first robbery that is
cf 1rgtd ~ their account being
the one at Fannin. The next was
the robbery of an old white man,
just over the river in this county; the
third was when they relieved an old
Indian of $50. Three Of the gang com
mitted these robberies, after which the
arrest of the two negroes here seemed to
have overawed them, and no other
crime was heard of till Wednesday,
when they robbed two stores, a private
residence, and killed Davis and fatally
shot Watkins and the negro. After
shooting Watkins they beat him severely
with their pistols and left him for dead
The shooting Of the negro was as pur,
. piece of unprovoked meanness as wa.
ever committed. When the gang passed
he was standing out in the yard, inter
fering with them in no manner, ani
without warning they fired several vol
leys at him. This brought Davis ont oi
the house to see the cause Of the dis
turbance, when they fired on him will
fatal effeNt. Their object seemed tt
have been to be as bold as possible fol
the purpose uf intimidating the whites
They secured at least 81 900 in money
during their numerous robberies, be-
sides other valuables.