The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-09-01
LAST EDITlsN
SIX shot DEAD.


been lynched In the northern part Of the
county two miles west OF Millington. :
village on the 9. & o. r. r. For year
or more, the people OF that part
OF the country have been kept in
continual state fear by threats
OF incendiarism. Barns and dwellings
lave been burned, and recently tie builds
ings on the Millington Fair Grounds were
destroyed. Suspicion pointed to Dan
Hawkins, Robert Haynes, Warner Will
Jams, Ed. Hall, John Hayes and Graham,
White, and yesterday all OF them were ar.
rested near Kerrville, in the western nara
OF the county, by Deputy Sheriff Rls hard
SON.
Later In the day Richardson startet
with his prisoners in a wagon for Milling
ton, where they were to have prelimin.
ary examination before a magistrate.
The six negroes were chained together.
About midnight when the party Wa
nearing Millington, it was stopped by
mob of 80 men armed with shot guns. who
killed all the prisoners, and then re-
mounting their horses, which were tied
nearby, rode away in the daskpess. The
lynchers were not masked but the officers
being new to that part of the coun-
try recognized none OF them.
An inquest was held on the
bodies this morning, and the jury, which
included two negroes, found that the
prisoners had come to their death in the
manner stated, cat the hands of persons
unknown"
Atchison, who drove the sheriff's team.
hastened to Justice Hills house at some
distance away and notified him
OF the slaughter. The justice ct
once made ready to 60 to the
spot and at daybrcak was there with I
jury OF inq6est composed OF five white
men and two negroes, who rendered
verdict as above stated.
Dan Hawkins was arrested { year aeo
with several others charged with the
burning OF barns and residences IL the
Kerrville neighborhood.
They were brought to trial and two q
them sentenced to terms in the peniten>
tiary. They confessed and implicated
Hawkins as the leader of the band OF Are
bugs. Hawkins got new trial, how
ever, and after spending few months in
Jail was released few weeks ago.
Since the time Of the burnings Deputy
Sheriff Richardson was employed to ferret
out the incendiaries and he at length rot
evidence that resulted in the arrest
OF Hawkins and the other Ave
negroes who were lynched. As they
reached Big Creek on the drive to Milling
ton, somebody in the woods by The road
side, called out. "Don't try to cross there.
The bridge is down, come this way"
Richardson got down, and taking tho
horses by the head led them into q path
that opened into the direction from
whence the warning had come. Sud-
denly Richardson saw two guns presented
at his stomach, and a stern voice safdy
60 Throw up your hands,"
"what does this mean :" demanded the
officer.
"None your id business" was the
reply. Throw 'em up"
The offices obeyed. Then he was told
TO get down and was placed under guard.
The negro prisoners, divining the pur-
pose OF the unseen mob, attempted to leap
rom the wagon. A volley rang out from
10 or so guns and they fell back, wounded
Ind dying. A dozen of the mob leaped
nto the wagon and threw them out. Vol
ey after volley was then poured into the
sintIy struggling mass, and few mo-
nents all was still. HAWKING head was
lmost shot from his body, and some
Il the others were terribly mangled.
SchooNsld,a Cou.urc~ceaI Tol1>~~