Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1893-05-16

was the indictment for arson, setting
fire TO an occupied house, which is
hanging offensc. and which had been
mol pressed when Martin Moak and
others plead guilty TO the other indict-
ment against them.
The forty-seven men we're then re-
quired to come forward and each man
gave the required bond.
The courtroom was packed during
the hearing of the case, and when the
Judgment of the court was pronounced
there was
A GENERAL SIGH OF RELIEF,
as it was felt that what had been the
most exciting and remarkable chapter
in Lincoln county's history was practi-
cally at an end Men who a few days
before were armed to the teeth and
ready to shoot each other, shook hands
and there were many mutual con-
gratulations.
\ good many have expressed disap-
pointment at the leniency shown by
Judge Chrisman, especially toward the
leaders of the mob and those who drew
weapons on the court, but decided
majority of those heard to express
opinions thinks the conservative course
adopted will restore peace and quiet
and work better results than harsher
policy. The men are not finally dis
charged, the indictments still hang
over them, and much desends on their
conduct hereafter as to how they will
| finally come out.
Much of the sympathy for the in
dicted whitecaps the mob came to re-
lease was undoubtedly aroused by
the belief that they were innocent and
and were being prosecuted. All sorts
of lies had been circulated about the
court and the grand jury by members
of the White Cap gang, and the fur
ther they travelled the bigger they grew.
! The forty-seven men who threw
themselves upon the mercy of the
court. were either farmers or men who
work about the sawmills for a liveli-
hood. All are poor and some looked
as though they were often acquainted
with the extremes of poverty. Men of
middle age and young men were about
equally divided. Not a single man
among them has county reputation;
and few, if any, are known to any eX-
tent outside of their immediate neigh
borhoods. A good proportion were
from Pike county.
A LEADER representative talked with
number of the most intelligent and
prominent members of the mob in.
Guiding Messrs. n. B. Brewer and
questioned them as to their move
ments after the hostile demonstration
on the 4th instant. Every one solemn
ly asserted that the mob disbanded af-
ter leaving town that day and was new
er organized for the purpose of renew
ing the attack again, or even enter
tanned such a purpose, all reports to
the contrary Notwithstanding. Some
times after that there would be a squad
together of eight or ten armed men
whose purpose it was to resist arrest
if an attempt was made to arrest them
but no movement was made at any
time, they said to reorganize or re-en,
force and return for second attack
They further solemnly alleged that
they did not come to Brookhaven on
the 4th with the deliberate intention
of making an assault. They came pri
marily, they said, to secure bail fol
their friends in Jail, whom they had
learned Judge Chrisman arbitrarily
held, and having also heard that they
would likely be arrested and locked uI
in Jail themselves, as the grand jury
was indicting nearly everybody sus
pected of being a white cap without
hearing but one sjde) they brought
their guns along to resist aEresSssin
case an attempt to arrest them was
made
This is in substance the mob side OF
the story, as they give it.
The following members of the mob
have come in since Friday and sur,
rendered to the Sheriff and been re-
leased on bond like the others: G. c.
Rawles, J. Q. Neal.