The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-08-29
s.----s - -
Riding TO JESTER.
The sheriff of Fnnnin County Write,
McImfINe tn The Icanas .d

r.
Bonham, Texas, August 2G-The follow
ing letter was mailed to Governor Jester
by Sheriff Ridlpg
His Exccllcrcy George r Jester. Acting
Governor. AUSTIN. Texas
Bonham, Texas, August 26.7Dear Sir
Your communication under date of August
q, calling my attention to an affidavit
forwarded to YOU by citizens of Leon
ara from sherman, Texas, setting forth
~ SAID affidavit that they had been driven
from nome and were not permitted to re-
turn ami calling on You for protection for
their lives and property, Is received. In
answer to yours. as stated, / VIII reply
Nah ! fully comprehend and appreciate
t.e ftfll force of your communication as
eInanating from one who now occupies
lhe exalted position Of governor OF the
State Of Texas, and consider that every
eXlress!on used 10y you was fully proper
and right, with such informant ton as was
and s before you
Regarding the subietk matter of your
letter to inc, 1t Is my purpose herein to
the statements On the said affidavit for
"arded 10 you and upon which your COM
nnnicatiem 70 me- Is bGseC. Upon my per-
sonad and official word which can be cor
federated Nv other officials, the grand
lury of Fannin county and by hundreds
ot the beg; citizens. / VIII state TO you
that said affidavit is untrue as to any
person having been driven from Leonard
~ fnob or that mob IN Leonard pre-
vents amy ones return to Leonard who
fhS heretofore lett there.
The facts IN the case. which can be cor
roboraited as above stated, are as follows:
over a month ago an excited and frenZied
mob attacked, some white boys, which
mon consisted OF negroes, and of the
white boys thus attacked two.had their
skulls fractured, one of whom has since
died. Following this tragedy there result
ca much excitement and Indignation In
the immediate vicinity OF Leonard. Since
me incipency OF this trouble have had
'epmtiss on the ground and have exert
eq and exharstod every resource in my
power IN the premises. and as a result
OF my invcs ti9atpoii and actions | have
arrested a negro t. whom, the evidence
pointed as the one guilty OF killing young
MtatiorS, tho hoy who died as before
has since indicted said negro for SAID Of
iense. And tor fear, that the excitement
incident 10 the death of young Meadors
would result In violence, i have removed
said negro to the jail of Grayson county
! have further used all aud every d H.
gence IN attempts to detect and appre-
fend others equally guilty Of said as
sault but up TO the present writing have
failed.
furthermore. win state thot there has
never been mob at Leonard except the
moh OF negroes before referred to, and
mat the negroes who made the said affi-
daVH and forwarded the same to you, as
well as other negroes who left Leonard
left there on account OF a threatening
rote, unsigned, and thrown into the front
ward of one of them.
community has been required to appear
before the grand jury and every legal
meafss has been used to ferret out who
wrote s9lu note, but without success so
iir. ana l will terein state and affirm
that no duty has been neglected and that
no protection has been refused to any
person. OF course. under all the cfrcum-
starces as Herein related there has been
great eNcitemer: and approximations, hut
no harm ha., been done any one SINCE sad
nsSauli' eNrcpt ons negro who was whip
AttA l. 80.
nhlles neuIal or Leonard. and said negro
was certainly supposed by said oartie,
70 De harbcrins aud secretbng negroes
charged vi III the murder OF Meadors
In the present condition of Affairs 1 have
net advised tho return OF the negroes who
hpt Le 9naru. and will noi for the t3res-
emf. as | an. In th1 attitude of being re-
onested TO protect individuals who have
not been molescd bv any overt act ON the
part OF any enc, and have IN noWise been
nsstreated or threatened Except by the
UNSIGNED note). untl an overt act is done
| nave no n cans In my power to exercises
authority as sheriff for protection of those
e, to YOU, | cap. not do what
on the premises of said parties ana guard
them constantly In the pursuit OF Their
Guilty aooGs and durins their hours Of
e'eep, after all the diligence OF The Off
GERS and the grand Jury OF lsannln co;,ntv
nave tailed TO connect any one with sad
threats, | know OF no course to pursue
n Motecttng parties who are away fram
nome on accplnt OF note Cf which M
person or persoar are sponsors, nr thaS
syen any one is known who is response
ole nor same.
VIII fnrther add by way OF conclusion
that al OF the citizens IN and about Leon
nru .hat nave been seen so far are Sp-
nqsed 10 amy infraction of the law and
gre as willing 20 uphold and see that All
INV ~ enforced as any community in
TeNas. and that whoever MAS the author
OF Tie not In question that caused the
scare OF tho.negroes must he parties who
10 lsat reflect thu private and pubic ex-
prsssions OF lconard's best citizens.
truly your cbedient servant,
w. w. Riding
Sherin Fannin County, Texas.