The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-10-01
TROOPS CALLED OUT.
TO PROTECT TWO MURDERERS CON-
FINED IN JAIL.

Excitement Runs High in Henderson
for a Short Time-Vance Guards
Doing Duty at the Jaii-the prison.
ers Removed to Raleigh for Safe
Keeping.
Henderson has been full of excite
ment during the past week. The usual
quiet and conservative spirit for which
the town is noted has been ruftled in
an uncommon way.
Some how the idea got abroad that
the two negro murderers confined in
jail would be taken out and lynched.
This caused a lumber Of negroes to
stand guard at the Jail Saturday night.
Little notice was taken of this beyond
provoking comment in certain quarters.
Sunday night the force at the Jail was
largely augmented, the number being
varously estimated at from IS to $50.
1t is said the negroes were armed with
shot guns. pistols aud other implements
of war. Much talk had been heard to
the effect that they were not willing for
these men to be hung if others had not
been for what they had done.
When these facts became known it
is alleged that certain persons said that
while they had been willing to leave
the fate Of the murderers in the hands
Of the law, they apprehended from the
conduct Of the negroes in surrounding
the Jail nightly and standing guard
heavily armed had different meaning
than merely protecting the prisoners
from mob violence. They regarded it
as Il menace, the true significance Of
which was that the murderers mi hit
not be brought TO trial. Fearing that
they might be L, lels ed i. is said there
are men who threatened TO 90 TO the
jail and stand guard also. at least until
court met next week. Believing that
i'll such event collision might ensue
between the whites and blacks and that
trouble and possibly bloodshed would
be the result, when the sheriff called
on Mr.. J. Il. Young, chairman of the
Board Of Commissioners, to appoint a
guard to watch the Jail, that gentleman
very promptly decided that the proper
thing to do would be to ask the Cover
nor to order out the military company
for such purpose. This was done and
the Vance Guards were on duty at the
Jail Monday night. The following is
the official correspondence that fol-
| lowed
Henderson, n C., Sept %, 1896.
Governor Elias Carr, Raleigh, n. G.
Under laws Nnety-three, Chapter four
.-,>- boo ,>I c.,
at our jail TO protect two murderers. A
guard IS necessary to prevent bloodshed
Will you direct the Military Company
here to guard Jail?
J.R. YOUNG,
Chairman Board County Commissions
erS,
j. r. Young, Chairman Board County
Commissioners, Henderson, n. c.
Have directed Adjutant General tC
order Capt. z. T. J ones to report to Sher
if of Vance county with his Company
subject to orders. County will have to
bear expenses.
ELIAS CARR, Governor.
Cape. Z. II. Jones, Commanding Com
pany c, Bird Regiment, Henderson, n. C.
You will report to Sheriff of Vance
county with your Company, subject to
| his orders, TO protect prisoners In jail al
Henderson. Please keep this office in
formed by telegram of your movements
f. II. CAMERON,
Adujtant General.
Tuesday the prisoners were taken tc
Raleigh for safe keeping until court.
They will be brought back for tria
next week. And so the matter rests
at present.
1t is not generally believed that the
prisoners were in any immediate dan.
ger of being lynched. 1t is true there
was talk Of such thing, but those who
talk much are not the ones who gener.
ally do much when the supreme mo-
ment comes for action. Had it no
been for the demonstrations around
the Jail the current opinion is thai
there would have been no calling GU
of troops and no lynching. But fol
the nearness Of court this might have
been quite different.