The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-09-05

Make Arrests.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, Sept. six negroes,
members OF an organized gang of in
cendia-ies, were lynched by mob near
Wilmington, Tenn, a small town on the
Chesapeake, Ohio & Southwestern rail-
road, thirty miles north of Memphis, last
might. The names of the dead are:
DANIEL HAWKINS.
> GRAHAM WHITE.
EDWARD HALL.
+. JOHN HAYES.
ROBERT HAYNES.
WILLIAM WARNER.
The prisoners were in charge Of De-
tectives ". 5. Richardson and A. T.
Atkinson, who had arrested them few
hours before on a charge Of arson. The
negroes We're all handcuffed and shccl5led
and were on their way to the county jail
at Memphis When the officers reached
O. dense swamp, a few miles from Mill
ington. they were surrounded by 4 mob
OF fifty men armed with Winchester
rifles and shotguns and commanded them
TO halt.
Hold up your hands," exclaimed the
leader.
The detectives hesitatcd.
''What does this mean?' one Of them
asked.
Never you mind. It means business.
Shove up your hands"
BY this time the detectives were over
powered by the mob When the mob
surrounded the detectives the negroes
seemed to know instinctively what was
to be done They were sitting on boxes
that had been thrown about on the floor
Of the wagon. One sat on the seat be-
side the driver, Atkinson. One negro in
the body OF the wagon rose up on his
feet and threw up his shackled hands.
That motion was his last, for a shower
OF bullets we're poured into his body.
He fell over and out OF the wagon into
the road dead.
The negro sitting beside the driver
threw his arms about Atkinson with a
gesture and exclamation of supplication.
The muzzle Of a shotgun was showed
against his stomach and the charge was
sent through MS body.
Detective Atkinson was grasped by sew
eral OF the mob. hustled up to the side
Of Richardson and there held until the
Inurderous work was over
Volley after volley was poured into the
bodies of the Shackled and manacled
negroes in the wagon until all of them
were dead. Then the mob took the
bodies out of the wagon, threw them on
the road. and continued to fire volley
after volley into them. Richardson and
Atkinson say there were fifty people in
nhe mob. that some of them wore no
disguise while OTHERS had their heads
incased in a dark cloth, but that II
was so dark 1t was impossible to recog-
the officers been Well acquainted with
hhe people in that part of the country.
Having concluded its work the leader
OF the mob shouted Forward. boys"
Guns We're snouldered and the members
Of the mob walked back into The woods
that lined the road and disappeared.
The lynched negroes were all accused
OF arson, and all are said TO have be-
1onged to an organized band Of barn
burners that had in five years destroyed
uhirty-two barns, as many residences
and other property Of great value In
THE vicinity of KerrvilIe, Lucy, Milling
ton and Bottoms College, Tenn.
On Thursday jeff LaXtOn, a merchant
at KerrVille, came to Memphis, went be-
fore Justice ". ii. Hughey and sWOre
out warrants against eight negroes who
live in and near kerrviEe, charging them
with having set fire 10 the buildings at
Kerrville fair grounds which were de-
stroyed by fire three months ago. These
warrants were placed in the hands Of
Detective Richardson, who had had so
much experience in connection with these
barn burners. He boarded the Chesa-
peake, Ohio * Southwestern train and
reached KerrVll.e at eight o'clock yester-
day morning William Warner. who
worked on the railroad. was arrested as
he stepped off a handcar at the depot
Others w-re found working in the fields
and others were found at their homes
Garlus Bland and VIII Mooring,
members Of the gang for whom warrants
were served. heard of the arrival of the
officers in time Do take flight and escap-
ed. IL was the intention Of the officers
TO take the prisoners to Wilmington and
bring them 10 Memphis on the Chesa-
peake train at O'Clock last night
but they had not made all the arrests
up to THAI time and had TO wait over
There is no jail 10 the village and the
prisoners as fast as captured were man
acled and placed under guard to await
the time OF leaving.
II was nearly 10 o'clock at night when
the last arrest was made II was inn
possible TO remain over night at Milling
ton, as there was no safe guard-house.
and Ii was decided 10 make the trip by
road. s. d. Tucker. a merchant there.
provided a wagon, a mule and a horse
was hitchcd TO ii and the start was
made. They had not proceeded far.
however. before they were overpowered
BIZ the mob. After the bloody work was
over the detectives summoned the coro-
ner and an inquest was had, which re-
suited In the usual verdict:
THAT the deceased came to their
death at the hands of unknown par
ties"
Detective Richardson arrived in Mem
phis this morning and reported the
lynching to Sheriff McLendon and Grim
fnal Court Judge L. z. Cooper. Judge
Cooper at once sent for the grand Jury
and instructed that body to Investigate
the affair and return indictments against
the members Of the mob. Later in the
day Judge Cooper issued bench war
rants for Detectives Richardson and At
kinsOn, charging them with completely
IN the lynching. and they We're sent TO
jail and denied bail. Warrants were
also issued for the arrest OF forty farm
ers who are supposed TO have been
TneTnbers Of the mob The sheriff with
large force Of deputies. left this after
noon TO make the arrests.
THEIR OPINIONS OF 1T.