Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1893-07-11
Citizens Meeting to Further
Consider the Morris Murder.
They Pledge Themselves to Vim
dictate and Uphold the
Lawful Authorities.
Some Wrong Reports Condemn
ed and Corrected.


meeting of the citizens of the 3rd dis
trict of Lawrence CO.. and adjoining
counties Of Lincoln, Pike. etc. was
held Friday. June Both, n the Topi-
saw schoolhouse
In the absence of the chairman, D.A.
Dawson. the meeting was called to or
der by the Scc'y. c. b. G. Ross, who al
so explained the object of the meeting
to be as follows: first. to hear the re-
port of the committee appointed to
wait upon Gov. Stone: second. to re-
ceive from any one present any relia-
bic information concerning the where
abouts of Owen Brewer.
G. b. G. Ross. the only one of the
committee present, reported that ID. A.
Dawson and himself waited upon Gov
Stone, made candid statement of the
murder Of w. ID. Norris, and the con
dition Of affairs in our community:
whereupon. the Gov. stated that he
! would offer reward of five hundred
dollars for the arrest and conviction
of the murderer or murderers of w. ID.
Morris, and also expressed to the com
mittee an earnest desire and determi-
nation to uphold the supremacy of the
law in our state.
No report was received giving relia-
bic information as to the location of
Owen Brewer.
Upon assembling. to our surprise it
became known that II. G. Smith had
written to our sheriff. ID. NJ. Lee, and
sheriff McNair. of Lincoln Co.. stating
that this meeting was for the purpose
of forming mob to lynch him and
asking for their protection. We were
also surprised to see present citizens
and deputies from Monticello and vi
entity for the purpose of preventing
such action on our part. DR.. &. A. leu
Nilsson. Rev. Geo. Butler. w. ID. Wilson
j. ID. Carlisle. Il. p Jones. p. Il. Jones
]. y. Hickman. and others.
Upon request. several of these gen
tlemen stated why they were with us,
gave good counsel, eXhorting forbear-
ance. and earnestly pleaded that the
law might have its course. Dr. leu
Nilsson read a letter written to him by
Sheriff Lee, stating information re-
ceiyed from Ii. c. Smith, requesting
him to attend the meeting and use his
influence to prevent mob violence
should it be resorted to, and to assure
our people should affidavit be made
against II. G. Smith and warrant placed
in his hands. he would have him ar
rested.
Rev, Geo Butler, answering to call,
made an earnest eXhOrtatiOn for law
and order and strong appeal against
mob violence. stating that those who
lynched criminal were as guilty in
the eyes of the moral and civil law as
the criminal himself
Supervisor L. p. Jones stated sub
stantially, the information conveyed
in Sheriff Lees letter to DR.. Teunis-
son.
Several citizens of this community
then expressed surprise that such "a re-
port should have been sent our sher-
if and the sheriff Of Lincoln, that no
such action on our part was cOntem-
plated. that the time for us to have
done such work. had it been our inten-
ton, would have been when there were
collected from one hundred to one
and fifty men all armed, that without
dissenting voice every one was will
ing that the law should take it's course,
that during all the excitement and
search for the murderer, mob violence
and lynch law were condemned; but,
that we demanded that the law should
have its course and be enforced with
out fear, favor or intimidation. that
the existing condition of affairs in our
community would not be tolerated by
our people, many of whom feel that
they carry their lives in their hands.
not knowing at what time red handed
murderer and midnight assassin may
get i'll his foul work, that should the
law fail to protect us, we will be forced
TO protect ourselves. as life under en-
listing conditions is no pleasure, but
burden, that we speak to the world our
grievances and determination. and that
we condemn white-capism in toto.
Dr. TeunissOn mentioning in his re
marks that one of our state papers had
published the libel upon our people
that, as whitecaps, they had expressed
their determination that no court
should be held in Monticello, August
next, requested all who were in favor
of court being held at that time to rise,
whereupon the audience rose en-
masSe.
Then, by rising vote. the meeting
denied that any one present believed
that w. ID. Morris met his death at the
hands of whitecaps for fear he might
divulge their secrets another libel up
on our people which found it's way in
to public print but that such "a re-
port was an infamous falsehoOd. con-
cocted to serve sinister purpose.
Next, by rising vote. we demanded
that affidavit be made against and
warrant issued for the arrest of H. G..
Smith, upon whom suspicion rests and
to whom circumstantial evidence
points as accessory to the murder of
w. ID. Morris, and that he submit him
self to the law since he has expressed
his determination not to be arrested.
On motion the meeting adjourned.
c. B. G. Ross,
Secy, aud acting Chairman.