Evening journal., 1893-10-09
WAS NOT ROASTED ALIVE
Twas Not a Mob's Fault That
Such Was Not a Negroes Fate
WOULD DRAG HIM TO A STAKE


The Negro who Was: Arrested for
Brutal Crime Was Innocent But
Had He Reached the City He Would
Have Been LYnched by the Furious
Mob.
SAVANNAH, Oct. 9-On Saturday night
March Walker, a negro, assaulted deaf
and dumb white girl, aged 10, named
Young. The assault was committed at
the girls home, in the heart Of the city
and only block from Police Headquar.
ters. The girl was choked into insensl-
bility. After assaulting her. Walker,
who had been putting down carpets,
collected his money from her mother and
left the house.
The crime was discovered soon, but II
was several hours before 1t was reported
to the police. The whole detective force
was put on search for the negro but
without success.
Yesterday the police received word that
negro who, it was believed, was the
guilty man, had been captured at Bloom
ingdale, twenty miles from here and
would be brought to the city on the
evening train The news got out in
some way, and at once plan was made
to take him from the police. drag him
out Of the city, and burn him alive. The
leaders in the movement made their ar
rangements very secretly, and the.author-
tiles had no knowledge that mob was
gathering
Shortly before s o'clock men began tc
| gather at the central station in crowds
aud In few minutes a mob of about
!, 600 armed men was In possession ol
the depot. Some had shot.guns, but tn,
majority simply carried pistols Tn,
chief Of police knew nothing Of this, bni
fearing that there might be violenc,
sent a squad of fourteen men TO tn,
station TO meet the two detectives VIII,
had gone after the negro.
The police were unable 70 force theii
way to the track. The sergeant helC
them together with their hands on theii
pistols ready for charge When thu
train entered the station the mob sur
rounded it. AS the detectives stepped
off, a score of pistols were thrust int
their faces. There was wild excitement
The squad Of police drew their revolver
and pressed through the crowd to tn
assistance Of the detectives. The detect
ives drew their pistols.
where Is hel" yelled the crowd, wav
ing their weapons wildly.
He was the wrong man and we turne
him loose, called out one OF the de
tectives. There was a howl Of derisiou
All that was needed was the discharge o
a pistol to have precipitsted a riot. Tn
mob was furious, but IL was true that tn
detectives hal put the negro of tn
train outside the city. He was the wro NJ
man. The cars were searched, but n,
negro could be found
The detectives made their way to tn
police, and the squad hurried back Z
headquarters to be ready for an
emergency. A large part Of the crow
hurried to the county jail, thinking tn
negro might have been taken there
Here again they were disappointed. Afte
being satisfied that the officers had toll
the truth, the mob slowly dispersed
; Extra guards were provided at the jal
in case of a repetition Of the trouble.
The negro who was arrested reall
was innocent On the way to the cit
he was identified and let 60. Had b
reached the city he would have bee
lynched, despite any protestation Of innC
cence. A quiet search is being made
members of the mob for the real eulpri'
who is now thought to be hiding In th
J city. The feeling against the negro Is {
! strong that his death will be quick an
r horrible If he falls into other hands tina
p the police