The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-23
PLANNED A BIG LYNCHING.
THE GEORGIA mon cor ONLY ONE
VICTIM, BUT WANTED -FOUR.

a Web ArranEos 70 Storm HInoon,s Jar aud
Lynch Three pTeu ana One woman-sherir
Removes Ono MAN, Oscar williams. who rs
Caught at n Railroad Station and Hanged
-GeorEia Newspaper PRAISES Godn for
Such Acts - Other Lynchinsu Yesterday.
MACON, Ga, July pa plan TO wreck the
Jail here and to lynch four OF its prisoners was
fully developed by q large mob last night, and
Iniscarried only because the mon who were to
take part In 1t werc scattered by the action of
Sheriff Wescott in putting on a train for Attain
tn the negro Oscar Williams, who assaulted the
8-yearold daughter Of A. c. Campbell near
Lovejoy, on July 10.
Williams was chased by n mob for four days,
and was caught at GAINESVILLE by the officers.
Gov. Atkinson ordered out the militia and he
was brought TO tho Jail in this city under q
heavy guard. He has been here ever since. and
arrangements had been perfected to give him q
prompt trial.
People generally supposed that this was salts.
factory to the mob which had attempted to cap
turo him, but In this they were mistaken. The
mob apparently disappeared, and the men form.
ing it went back to their homes. but they kept In
constant communication and never for a mo-
mont abandoned their intention to lynch wi.
liams. Late last night armed mon began to
gather in the rear OF the car sheds. Just outside
OF tho city, and by midnight there were fully
400 men there.
Beside their guns and pistols they had dyna-
mite. q battering ram and cannon. Speeches
were made, resolutions adopted and the bust.
ness OF the meeting was accomplished with
elaboration. 1t was decided to attack the jail
at night or early in tho morning and to lynch
everybody in 1t accused OF capital crimes.
Those picked out for execution include Mrs.
Elizabeth Mobiles, Gus Families, her partner in
crlme; Tom Allen, under sentence of death for
train wrecking, and the negro Williams. Men
were selected to notify Sheriff Wescott and
Chief Of Police Boifieleut OF what the mob pro-
posed to do and to demand peaceful admittance
to the jail.
The mob dispersed about l o'clock in the
morning, and shortly afterward Sheriff wes-
colt got wind Of the meeting, but he supposed
that Williams was the only man wanted and he
decided to send the negro to Atlanta on the
train which leaves here at 4 o'clock in the morn.
ing. Accompanied by two guards, Williams
was put aboard this train, and the Sheriff
thought he had effectually outwitted the lynch.
ere. Some Of the latter heard of it. and tele.
grams wee sent to those in Griffin who had
attended the meeting on the previous evening.
ceivcd at Griffin about 4 o'clock this morning.
II was soon known to a great many people. and
when the train pulled into the depot there were
several hundred armed men to meet IL. They
While the train was being searched two men
were stationed between the smoking car and
mail car TO uncouple them in case the conductor
wore masks. A cripple was being helped of the
ing him in their rush for williams.
After the negro was found he was pulled Of
in o trot. Tho mob went down the railroad
track. for a short. distance. then crossed into
81 s sS9aa st.e ssa o mathis Of tss z aS : 4 th %i1s tS1anSs
the farm of William Walters
Tho negro was taken just out Of the city limits.
OF the cornfcld time was given him to mako a
statement. Williams said that he had commit.
ted the assault, and then mumbleda an inaudible
The negro trcmbled violently ard could
was drawn over the red oak limb. Tho moose
adjusted 10 his mock and In a jify he was pulled
up. The body was scarcely of the ground wher
Ii was filled with bullets and buckshot. The yer
dict OF the inry, impannelied by Coroner vii
liams was rs follows:
We the Jury tmPannnslledl to INQUIRE int tn,
at the hands OF parties to US unknown"
Mayor w. d. Davis Of Griffin, when asked
about the lynching, said: =.
tho city limits l would have done all I could I,
protect the negro. l was In bed at the time, bu
II l had known II was outside the city limits
The mob left Williams hanging and quickl,
scattered. II is said that they are gathered a
some point near here tonight and are dis
as arranged at last nights meeting.
The jail is SURROUNDED by troops. and II tn,
lynchers are after her, and Is frightened badly
She has been very Ill lately, and q week ag
physicians despaired OF her life.