The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-29
IN A FRENZY.
Three Murders Committed in
Mobile Ala, Last Night
Drive the Population Wlld
With Excitement.
BUSINESS SUSPENDED.
One of the Victims COnfeder-
ate Veteran of 63.
All the Murderers Were Ne
groeS and We're Caught.
LYNCHING SEEMS NEAR
500 Troops Called Out and Only
rs Responded.
Lay on Their Arms All Night
Guarding the Jail.
One of the Victims a COnfeder =
ate Veteran of 63.
All the Murderers Were Ne
groes and We're Caught.
LYNCHING SEEMS NEAR
500 Troops Called Out and Only
rs Responded.
Lay on Their Arms All Night
Guarding the Jail.

Mobile. Ala. July 29.-This city is in
a turmoil today as the result OF three
murders which occurred last night ana
which have driven the people to the
highest pitch of frenzy. Business is
practically suspended. On all sides the
opinion is freely expressed that sum-
mary justice should be meted out and
if the day passes without a lynching, it
will be a wonder
The first killing took place at z p. m.
last night Thomas Jones, 63 years Of
age, a Confederate veteran, and highly
respected, was done to death by Isaiah
Davis, a negro who has already served
a term for assault with intent to muir
der a white man. Jones attempted to
get the negro out of his house, into
which he had broken and meeting Dav-
is in the yard a scuffle followed. The
negro is a powerful man about 80 years
of age. entirely over-matched Mr..
Jones and choking him with one hand,
picked up a cruciform piece of wood,
which had come off the fence with his
other, and with this implement dealt
the victim a crushing blow on the left
temple breaking his neck and killing
him instantly.
The crowd which rapidly assembled
on the scene of the murder was about
to lynch Davis when a wagon load of
officers rescued him with difficulty and
he was incarcerated in the city jail, a
building strongly. constructed, and inn
possible of capture, without great loss
of life. All night long a desperate and
determined crowd of men remained out
side the Jail, but they knew the futility
of an attack ana were waiting their
opportunity when the prisoner would
Before midnight Mayor Bush called
out the local troops, but of the 800 men
composing the first brigade in this city,
only IS responded. With their officers
they lay under arms all night expect
ing a call.
The police force on duty during the
night had the custody of the prisoner,
until this morning, when he was brought
before the recorder. The coroner's jury
and the lower court found him guilty
of murder though he tried to play off
insane
ing, a negro named Willie Knight, known
the Pensacola Kid shot and in
stantly killed another negro named
Dantzler.
AS he was being chased by officers,
Knight shot and mortally wounded Pc
liceman Tucker. For this latter offense
he Will probably die if the residents of
the north part of the city can get him
out of the county Jail
The negro ran after the shooting but
was Intercepted by a telegram and ar
rested by Section Boss Hubbard at
Hurricane Bayou at a. His captor
wired for a special engine, which left on
the Louisville & Nashville with officers.
They brought the negro to town and
beat the crowd assembled to lynch him,
by stopping the engine on the outskirts
or the city and rushing him through
the suburbs to the county Jail