The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-09-01
SIX BLACKS SHOT.
Suspected Barnburners Taken From the
Omcers BY a Mob and Killed

Omcers BY Mob and killed.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, Sept Information
has been received here that six negro
barnburners were taken from the Gus
tody of the sheriff at MillingtOn last
night and shot TO death
For a year or more the people of that
part Of the country have been kept in
continual state of excitement by acts of
incendiarism- Barns aud dwellings have
been burned, and recently the buildings
on the sIillington fair grounds were de-
strOyed Suspicion pointed to Dan HaW-
kins, Robert Haynes, Warner Williams,
Ed Hall, John Hayes and Graham White,
and yesterday they were arrested near
kerrville, in the western part of the
county, by Deputy Sheriff Richardson
Later in the day the deputy started
with his prisoners in wagon for Mill
ingtOn, where they were to have pre-
liminary examination before magis-
trAte. The six negroes were chained to-
gether- About midnight when the party
was nearing Millington, il was stopped
by mob of fifty men armed with shot
guns, who killed all the prisoners and
then remounted their horses, which were
tied near by. and rode away in the dark
ness
The lynchers were not masked, but
the officer being new to that
section Of the country, recognized
none of them. An inquest was held
on the bodies this morning, and she jury.
which included two negroes, found that
the prisoners had come to their death
in the manner stated, sat the hands of
persons unknown"
Sheriff J. A. McCarver. who was to
have taken charge of his office today,
will not do so until Monday. The out
going sheriff, A j. DcLendOn, will take
the lynching in hand He Will go to the
scene OF the crime this afternoon. Nc
Carver, the new sheriff, is man Of
hardy and determined character, and the
general opinion is that he Will not fail to
find out the lynchers and land them in
Jail.
Dan Hawkins was arrested 2 year ago
with several others charged with the
burning of barns and residences in the
Kerrville neighbOrho0d They were
brought to trial and two of them SEN
fenced to the penitentiary. They made
full con fession and implicated Hawkins
as the leader Of the band Of firebugs.
after spending some months in jail was
released a few weeks ago.
Since that the burnings have recon-
menced and the Millngton neighbor-
hood as we'll as Kerrville has suffered.
Deputy Sheriff Richardson was employ
ed TO ferret out the incendiaries and with
the assistance of a negro 'fspOtter.7 he at
length got evidence that resulted in the
arrest Of Hawkins and the other five
negroes who we're lynched.
About nightfau yesterday the officer
secured d two horse wagon and a white
man named R T. AtchisOn to drive it.
He loaded his prisoners into the
vehicle, handcuffed and chained together
and started for Millington As they
rea ched Big creek two miles west of
Millington, somebody in the woods by
the roadside called out Don't try to
cross there; the bridge is down-come
this way"
Richardson got down, and taking the
L. L. al H. al. 81
that Openedln the direction from whence
came the warning. 1t was dark in the
woods. but suddenly Richardson saw
two guns presented at his stomach and
stern voice said, Throw up your
hands"
.What does this mean?" demanded the
officer.
"None of your -- business" was the
reply; throw them up" Tne officer
obeyed Then Atchison was ordered to
get down and was placed under guard.
The negro prisoners, dlvInIng the pur-
pose of the unseen mob, attempted to
leap from the wagon. A vOlley rang out
from forty or fifty guns and they fell
back. wounded and dying. A dozen of
the mob leaped into the wagon and
threw them out NOlley after vOlley was
poured into the struggling mass, and in
a few moments all was still
Hawkins head was almost. shot from
his shoulders and some of the others
were terribly mangled. The mob, after
making sure that all six were dead, then
mounted and rode away. AtchisOn then
mounted one of the mules and hastened
TO Justice Hills house at some distance
away and notified him of the slaughter
The Justice at once made ready to 20 to
the spot and at d2ybreak was there with
jury Of inquest, composed Of five white
men and two negroes, who rendered a
verdict as above stated.
Judge Cooper Of the criminal court
summoned Deputy Sheriff Richardson
before him today and questioned him
closely concerning the lynching. The
Judge is prepared to issue bench war
rants for the arrest Of all parties 10 whom
reasonable suspicion may point as being
concerned in the crime