The sun., 1894-09-02
SIX NEGROES SHOT DOWN.
N MURDERED BY A MOB AS THEY
WERE GOING 10 JAZZ.
Surrounded On = Loneiy Road st Midnisht
and Cut 20 Pieces by Ruiicts-They Were
HssdeuEea and Ironss, s.d Hsa oniy
Two waite eu.rds-Au Were Accused
OF Arsor-The Ne-phi. er..a Jury
Ordered TO Work on the Csse-Arrests.

~@AS
Two white eusrds-Au Were Accused
or Arsor-The Meuphi. Gr.nd Jury
Ordered TO Work on the Csse-Arrests.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, Sept. IA little before mid
night last night a heavy wagon drawn by horse
and a mule travelled slowly over the plank road
two miles north of Lucy, and coming toward
Memphis. The road thereabouts runs through
q dense forest that springs luxuriant from a
marshy boggy land. The trees overhang the
road, and though the stars were shining bright
II was almost impossible TO see the road, so com
pletely did the foliage shut out the light, There
fore one white man walked ahead Of the
team to test the road and the wagon followed.
In the wagon were white man driving and six
negroes all handcuffed and chained together.
The blacks were all prisoners on their way
TO the county jail at Memphis. The man in
front was Deputy sheriff w. y. Richardson.
The driver was A. T. Atkinson, who had been
employed by Richardson TO aid In getting the
prisoners TO the city. Big Creek crosses the road
three times near the place indicated. The
stream Is low II has split near there, forming
three forks, and over each there is n bridge.
These bridges are usually In bad condition, and
the guide knowing this, used extraordinary pre-
cautions as he approached. AS he neared the
first he lit a match, the better to see his way,
but at that moment a voice from the darkness
called out:
"You better not cross that bridge"
"why2" asked Richardson.
Because it's In bad condition"
The detective made investigation, but found
the bridge sound. and the wagon passed over
safely. Soon they approached the second
bridge.
Better not try TO cross that bridge" said the
voice again.
"who the devil are you, any way?" Richard
son demanded
Never mind, that bridge is broken. BE care
full"
Richardson began to fear that trap had been
laid for him in some way, but he knew he might
as we'll go ahead as return. He felt reassured
when he found the warning Of the stranger was
well founded this time for the second bridge
was utterly impossible IL was necessary to
make a detour, and Richardson soon found q
road leading around the bridge and fordng the
creek. The wagon followed. As 1t pulled out
of the creek, and while Richardson stood at the
animals heads, a man stepped from under a tree
at the road not ten feet distant. He was followed
by nfty others.
Hold up your hands," exclaimed the leader
The deputy sheriff hesitated.
what does this mean 2" he asked.
Never you mind. II means business. Shove
up your hands" BY this time Richardson
surrounded and the muzzle Of shotguns rifles
and revolvers were poked up to his face, pressed
against his chest and his back. Up went his
hands. The wagon had also been surrounded,
and at about tho time Richardson put up his
hands he heard n volley. When the mob sur
rounded the wagon the negroes seemed 70 know
instinctively what was about to be done. They
were sitting on boxes that had heeA thrown
about on the floor of the wagon. One sat on the
scat beside the driver. Atkinson. One negro in
ha IN hia faata and fhFatg n N hia
shackled hands. That motion was his last for
. shower Of bullets was poured into his body
He fell over and out Of the wagon into the road
threw his arms about Atkinson with, a
gesture and exclamation Of suppltcattOn.
against him. and the charge was sont through
hs II: s Of
and there held until the murderous work was
Volley after volley was poured into the bodies
OF the shackled and manacled negroes In the
mob yaaEed the M bodies out tor Of the wagon. threw w
s ss% 0f aS % @ and there @ wsrs s
disguise: others had their heads encased in
sort Of hood Of dark cloth. BUTT was 80 dark
any OF the individuals even had the oficers been
well acquainted In that part OF the country.
mob s gave Se some such order as Forward. boys"
guns we're shouldered and the men walked back
into the wOOQB tnAt llflc0 Inc rOAd. HOOn the
officers heard sounds which led them TO believe
the mob I'D reached their horses near by and
that they had mounted Ian and riddsn ,y away: ,.
Hays, I'd Hail, Robert Hays. Graham White,
and Dan Hawkins. They were all accused OF
nsSadaros Sa tSsa kad IN Ave years dsssroysd
thirty two residences. as many more barns, and
Tasy o. and IN
lege, all In Shelby county. On Thursday last
Memphis, went before squire W. II. Hughey,
and swOre out warrants against seven negroes
wR hsyns Ts 70 tSe SadSss II he KPr
vile fair grounds, which We're destroyed by hre
R.ss %hf JRs Hsy. "a Hs fSnss B.lss
Bland. VIII MOoring. Robert Hays, and Graham
These warrants were placed in the hands OF
Detective Richardson. who had had much ex-
perience with these barn burners. He reached
Vile 4 S.ss SsSaI q .c1s so3 pSpasson
learned there that all the negroes he was after
in and near the village. He secured the assist
anco Of three young men there 20 aid in making
ss TRs sa are ssa E "a
mother keeps harding house. The arrests
we're made in different places. Warren WI,
Some We're we're found working in, the hsidS,
Darius Bland and viii Mooring heard Of the
arrival OF the officers in time 20 escape. Ia their
old negro for whom there MAS a warrant in an
The train from kerryills to 9Iemphi, leaves
Kerryile about q o'clock In the evening, and
tbs onicer intended 70 bring his prisoners 20 the
city by that route, but he had not made all
the arrests up 70 that time, and had 20 wait.
There Is no jail In the village. and the prisoners.
as fast "a captured, were mRnacled ana left at
leaving. il was nearly 10 O'Clock at night when
the last arrest MAS made. IL was impossible 10
remain at kerFvine over night as there was no
safe guard house, aud Il Mss resolved 10 make
the trip BY, road. >. D. Tucker, a merchant
were hltched tO II, and the start was made,
From KeTryiils 10 the spot where the shooting
took place Is about seven miles. From the scene
OF the shooting TO Memphis IL about fifteen
miles.
When Detective Richa ndson and his aid. At
kinsOn. found themselves alone with the dead
bodies Richa rdsOn cut out the mule and Atkinson
mounted and started % Lucy. two miles distant,
10 md Magistrate Hill, who lives there. lie
made the start At midnight, but lost his way,
not knowing the road, and il was O'Clock be
fore he found the squire Richardson, left alone
with the bodies hour after hour got tired wait
,A.sa,sa H. FAR half mil