The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-03-10
AYtHsnS The Killing Of the Deputies Last
Saturday Hight
THE BODIES RlDDLED WITH BULLETS
A Large BODY OF Negroes are Reported to be
ConcreGating at "Tho Curve and Arm
ing ThemseIvcs for an Attack on the
Whites-PrOmpf Action of the
Authorities End Nav
Not be Yet.

NJ srr1s. Tr,,v.. March 9.-The dawn OF
bright spring morning as 1t cast It's hght
across Tennessee's metropolis disclosed the
dead bodies o. three negroes rddled with
bullets and partially covered with brush ly-
inc in an open lot about one and half miles
from the heart Of the city. The bodies. as
tbev Law outstretched with faces heayenward,
we're mute reminders OF the terrible work of
seventy-fyo masked men in this city at
o'clock in the morning. The names Of the
negroes whose bodies were literally shot TO
uieces by this mob are Calvin Mcdowell. Wll-
liam Stuart and Theodore Moss.
The crime for which this summary ven
ceance was wreaked upon them was the am
Gushing aud shooting down on Saturday
night last of four deputies IN bagnlo known
AS The Curve" while the officers were full
filing their duties by looking for a negro for
whose arrest they had warrant.
About o'clock this morning seventy-iive
men, All wearing masks, appeared suddenly
OF Front street near the lGil. From whence
they came no one viii this morning hazard
even guess. No one saw them assemble,
no officers Of the law noticed their passage
through any street nor did any person inter
cept them in their quick and quiet march TO
the Shelby county jail.
RING FROM TIE OUTER GATE
Al this time Watchman O'Donnell sat in
the Jail office having chat with friend.
Suddenly q ring was heard coming from the
outer gate Hastily arising and leaving the
Office Mr.. O'Donnell walked 10 the door of
the jail
Who's there :" demanded O'Donnell, his
voice ringing loud and clear in the frosty air.
Hugh Williams of White Haven" came
the reply. Il have prisoner
An right" sad ODonnell, this IS the
place aud / am always ready 10 receNe them"
With that ODonnell hurried TO tho gate
and unlocked H. Two or three men pushed
in immediately O'Donnell did not then
notice them closely as they showed through
the gates. but moment later when he turned
10 inquire for the prisoner be saw that he had
boCn trapped. The men we're mos. --
What does this mean =. Queued the watch
man as he reached for his pistol.
No. you don't exclaimed the masked
men loudly. as they seized the arms of 1lr.
ODonnell and forced him against the high
and thick walls surrounding the Jail. The
three men who seized Mr. O'Donneu had
enoken loudly as they grasped him: their
voices had scarcely died away when there
was tramping of many feet and fully sew
entv-fve men all wearing black masks,
rushed through the gate and confronted the
astounded watchman.
What DO you WANT asked O'Donnen.
we want the keys to the cell IN which the
negroes are confined. came sternly from the
leader of the masked strangers
"l have not got the keys replied Mr..
ODonnell.
leader. and in "A minute two men were going
through the watchman's clothes. bent on Sc
curing the keys. But they were not IN his
pocket.
rHKY ENTER THE JAIL.
There was q hurried consultation among
the leaders. wait of minute. and soon "a
rope was produced, with which the watch
mans hands were bound. Two men were
then called forward through the gate and
were put over O'DOnnell AZ guard. the other
two hurTyng into the Jail Office. All this was
going on while Jailer Williams slept peace
fully upstairs. totally unconscious Of what
WAS going on below.
soon came the cry, IAN right, boys, here
they are aud IN moment after making
sure that ODouuell was safely pinioned the
men fled silently and swiftly past hlm into
the Jail. and in minute were IN the cell
room OF the negro depHtmen Now began
search. There were twenty-seven negroes
there, all under arrest Tor completely IN sat
urday nights q lair. and it was no easy task
for these men % distinguish their much
wanted negroes from the other blacks there
Incarcerated ln the dark of the night. They
went from cell 10 cell, the thoroughly
alarmed inmates coming to the cell doors and
uuWttngly aiding in the search.
Alice Mitchell. who is confined for killing
Freda Ward. heard the noise and from her
cell on the upper tier peered down on the
strange and silent crowd. Not word was
spoken as the men proceeded quickly and
cautiously along the rows of cells.
THE NEGRoEs TAKEN.
Suddenly the click Of key going into a
lock is heard the men stop ior an instant
there is a little scuie, hand is clapped over
g. ncgro's mouth until be Is bound. and Moss
the mall-caIrler. IS III the pOssessll of tho
mob.
II. Clay KING, under sentence Of death for
the murder OF David POston. hears the scuihe
aud appears at his cell on the opposite upper
tier for an instant but quickly retired.
Soon Mcdowell is found and then Stuart.
and the party is ready TO start. The captiVes
being ready. they are dragged. pushed and
hustled ont the Jail IN hurry. OGt INTO the
raId aud past O'DOnne!l, stiii securely bound,
tlog 20 and in minute are upon the street.
no halt is made and quickly they reach the
corner. Turning into Auction street, they
start toward the Mississippi river: stopping
however as they reach the tracks OF tho Ches-
spcake and Ohio railroad.
A lew words IN an undeTtOne IS taken as an
order and the men start north along the
tracks. The night is pltchy dark. but no
tagging WAS a.loWeJ. The prisoners III mont,
securely bound were kept moving at hot
pace.
in few minutes the suburbs of the city
river the negroes met their doom.
Tor the first tino they arc allowed to
speak
AS the gags are removed Moss said: III YOU
a'o going u Kill US. turn our faces TO the
west
TfT DEADLY y0LLEY
Scarcely had no uttered TIE words when
the crack of q revolver WAS heard and "A ball
lahcd through his cheek. This WAS the
signal for the work. A terrible voley was
poured in upon the shiyering negroes. who
instantly iell dead in their tracks.
Mcdowell fell face downward by himself.
but Moss and Stuart fell over each other. and
when the bodies were found this morning
they lay close together The bodies presented
a horrible sight. McDowells jaw was on
trely SHIT away and back of his right ear
taefe Was q hole large enough 20 admit II
mans list HIS right hand. too. had been
hall blown away. us il ia defense he had
grabbed the muzzle of shotgun. Stuart
shot IN the mouth and twice ia the back Of