The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-27
WHITE ECAPS In HOUSTON.
ONE OF THE MOB KILLED AND
ANOTHER CAPTURED.


Fired by Negroes Who Were
With Their Employer When He
Caught Bryant.
FORT VALLEY, GA, March 26.-Intense
excitement was created here last night
about midnight when a flying messenger
came in from the plantation Of s. II. Bas-
sett announcing that the white caps had
attacked his negro laborers again and that
a regular war was being carried on about
three miles from town. The MORNING
NEWS correspondent arrived on the scene
about 3 O'Clock this morning and found
that there was considerable excitement
aud as the crowd augmented the excite
ment increased.
Some weeks ago white caps visited Mr..
Bassetts place and shot one of his negro
laborers. Gov. Northen promptly offered a
reward OF 800 each for their arrest. This
ATTRACTED the attention of detectives and re-
ports have it that several have been giving
that section special attention for some time.
Yesterday some OF Mr.. Bassett's hands
were fishing at Barnes mill and Marion
Bryant, with gang of his friends, came
upon them. Bryant called Bill Brown, the
negro shot some weeks ago, to one side and
said with an oath, "You have been accus-
ing us of being white caps and have put
the detectives after u.s. We will kill you
for it tonight"
THE NEGROES FRIGHTENED.
Another negro fishing near by heard this
threat and when Bryant joined his friends
the negroes slipped home, fearing a row il
they remained, and Informed Mr.. Bassett
of the threat. Mr.. Bassett paid little or no
attention TO the story and tried to convince
them that there was nothing in the threat.
The negroes. however, thought differently
and were uneasy. The climax came about
II O'Clock last night, when negro named
Lewis jackson heard the white caps COM
ing He jumped out of bed aud ran a
quarter of a mile to Mr.. Bassetts residence
aud Informed him, bus Mr. Bassett thought
that there was nothing in IL.
In few minutes, however, he
heard the reports of guns, aud before he
could get out OF the house another negro
ran up, telling him the white caps were kill
ing the folks down in the quarter" Mr..
Bassett then went toward his quarter, meet
ing three of his hands in a small grove
lie heard the threats Of tue white caps and
would get behind the we'll and await de-
| velopments.
HIS WAIT A SHORT ONE.
His wait was q short one, for he had
hardly fixed himself before he heard them
| getting over the fence coming toward
| them. One of them spoke aud Mr. Bassett
recognized him. When he came out from
behind the well and said to them, "HsntIe-
men, you must stop; you are on my prem
ises and you must not advance any farther" +"
| Marion Bryant, the man whom Mr.. Bassett
recognized. said: "Yes We will come far
ther. You have put detective after US
| and we are going to settle It.n Mr.. Bsssett
| then grabbed Bryant, and as he did his ne
| Rroes fired on the other leader, killing him
in his tracks, when the third one
Of the advance guard turned upon
his heels aud departed. The man
| killed was William Hatchett, whose father
is a good citizen aud a master Mason in
good standing. In the excitement, and
kno wing there was crowd back of these
three Mr.. asset let Bryant get away aud
summoned help from his neighbors and
from Fort Valley. They knew the woods
we're full of white o4ps, 30 they laid IN am
bush &c await developments.
BRYANT A PRISONER.
| In about two hours time Bryant and John
! Hatchett, a brother Of the dead man re-
LuTubns IL Is tIOhSub W EbLiDN6 I1htCuSBL'd
| body, but on approaching the spot In the dark
Bryant ran into Marshal Cooper's arms and
| was quickly secured. On being questioned
| he said he returned only to remain with the
| corpse until the coroner arrived. This yarn
| did not serve his purpose, and Marshal
| Cooper held him. just as the sun was
| rising this morning the coroner impaneled
jury TO investigate the killing. A. 8.
| Martin was foreman. The jury had DR.. j.
| w. Mitchell TO examine the dead man, and
! his report was: "The mans death was
| caused by "a Runshot wound The Jury
then divided the witnesses. and for over
| two hours piled them with this
most searching questions. Great
stress was laid on the fact that Marion
! Bryant refused to answer the question
about his threatening the negroes yesterday,
and admitting that Mr.. Basaett told him
several times to stop and not intrude on his
| premises. As TO who killed Hatchett the
| Jury did not determine. but the verdict was
| that he came to his death from guushos
wound inflicted by one OF the following
| parties. viz: Bill Brown, Douglas Taylor or
| Clark Taylor, all oolored, and In their
| Judgment the same was justifiable homicide.
GREAT EXCITEMENT IN TowN.
When the news became generally known
| In town there was great excitement and by
| O'Clock fully 500 people had visited the
scene of the Killing Every one, even to
| the murdered mau's father, expressed them
| selves as satisfied with tue verdict OF tho
| Jury Young Hatohett was wayward
| young man and has given his old father,
| who Is a law-abiding citizen, a great deal
Of trouble. Marion BryaBt was held on
warrant charging him with assault with in
| tent to murder and is confined ia jail here
awaiting his preliminary trial.
Sheriff Cooper was wired about the kill
ing aud was soon on the scene. He left
with a reliable deputy aud warrants for the
arrest Of other parties whom there il some
| evidence against, but be would not reveal
| the names. The streets have been crowded
ell day with anxious people waiting to hear
| the latest news The MORNING NEWS cor
respondent has tried 10 interview Bryant
several times since lass night, but he re-
fuses to give any further light than is above
| stated.
Mr.. Bassetts negroes are considered very
| orderly and it is known that they have not
| been guilty Of any offense against these
! parties. While the people sympRthize with
! Mr., Hatchett over bis wayward sons tragic
death every one thinks the action Of the
| negroes was justiiiabie.
| Sheriff Cooper is expected every moment
| with another batch Of white Gaps, as it is
| known there were more than three In the
| crowd.
Every one ia on guard at Mr.. Bassett's to-
night expecting the dssperedoes TO attempt
to aveuge the death Of their lawless com
| panioD.
TWO Warships at Fort Monroe.