Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-10-13
HOW He WAS DONE To DEATH
Details of the Lynching Near
Rock Greek Church.
WAS RlDDLED WITH BULLETS
His Companion Narrowly Escaped Similar
fate-Coroner Jones Has an Expert
ence Out of the Ordinary.

Coroner JONES' who went to the Toad
vine neighborhood Saturday to investi-
gate the death of negro who was found
riddled with bullets Saturday morning,
an account of which appeared in the Sun
day State Herald returned Sunday af-
ternoon, and gives out the following de-
tails of the killing:
Constable ]. B. Hood on Friday arrest
ed a negro al Dolomite charging him
with the death of Mr.. Randolph Falls, an
account of which appeared in the State
Herald at the time. The negro stated
that he knew the man who did the kill
ing, and showed the constable the house.
The constable left the man in charge of
an assistant and went in the house after
the other man. Negro No. q when arrest
ed, denied the charge made by negro No.
l. The negroes were taken in a wagon
toward the scene of the killing, but en-
route negro No. denied having made
the statement that he was present at the
killing and that his partner committed
the crime.
When the constable and his prisoners
had gotten to Rock Creek church a large
number of citizens of the neighborhood
met them. The first negro was again
questioned, but the substance of his
statement was not learned. After the
questioning negro No. was taken into
the woods, and in few moments num-
Der of shots were heard and the crowd
disappeared. On going to where the shots
were heard the body of the negro was
found riddled with bullets.
Fearing the other negro would meet
similar fate the constable fastened with
him to the residence of Justice Hancock,
not far away. On being questioned by
Justice Hancock, the negro denied hav-
ing anything to do with the killing, and
| oil RI q
he was at the time the killing is said to
have occurred.
Three men appeared to identify the
NEGRO as having been seen with Mr.. FANS
Two of them said he was not the right
man. while the third WIS positive he was
The Justice, not satisfied with the testi-
mony, decided to hold the negro until
further information was obtained.
Two or three times during Saturday ar
ternoon and evening 1t was thought eff
forts were being made to deal out sum-
mary justice to the prisoner, but they
did not materiallze.
In the meantime Justice Hancock held
an investigation into the death of the ne
gro who was shot. The result was YER
diet that the negro came TO his dealh
from pistol and gunshot wounds in the
hands of unknown citizens. The coroner
made a further investigation. however,
but found it almost impossible TO CLEAN
any information. He got the names of
several people who were thought 10 nave
had a hand in the lynching. The people
in the neighborhood claimed that the
posse was from another neighborhood.
On Sunday at noon Justice Hancock
had another hearing of the negro said to
have been implicated in the tragedy. A
large crowd was present, and 1t required
all the wits of Justice Hancock and Coro-
ner Jones to keep them quiet
The justice, so it was learned from an
other source. released the negro iate sun
dav afternoon. and sent him under escort
out of the neighborhood.
Charles Hungerford Released.
Charles Hungerford,s one of the negroes
in the county Jail charged with the Kill
ing of Mr. Falls, was released yesterday.
Richard Christian is held, however, on
charge of carrying concealed weapons.