The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-01
NEGRO WHITECAPs.
An Innocent Negro BrutaIIy Treated
in LOvndes County.

Valdosta, Ga, Dec. 3l.-Parties in the
Naylor district to-day swore out warra hts
against a half dozen negroes there charg-
ed with rioting. The charge is based upon
the fact that the negroes recently went
to a house in the neighborhood and took
a negro man from his family and carried
him off in the woods, where he was sub
jected to all sorts of punishment for the
purpose of making him confess a crime
which it afterwards developed ne did not
commit
The negro's name is Henry Branch and
his prosecutors are b. Mac McAllister,
Gus Banks, Bob Roberts, Bill Simmons,
Bryant Atkinson, Sam Washington and
Will Johnson. The first of the rioters,
Mac McAllister, had been robbed and Gus
Banks told him that the Branch negro
had done the robbing. All of the negroes
mentioned made themselves into a vigi-
lance committee to search different houses
and to bring the robber to justice. When
they reached Branchs house he protested
innocence and the more he protested the
more desperate became the rioters. They
finally carried him off in the woods and
kept him there a day and night, subject
ing him in the meantime to all sorts Of
punishment to draw a confession from
him. 1t was afterwards learned that Gus
Banks was the real thief, the goods hav-
ing been found where he placed them. The
NtSildllCG NOAhAnAlAtt 10 llOW III ScdiNl VI
Banks, while the officers of the law are
making efforts to bring the members of
the vigilance committee to justice.
This evening the position of sheriff is oc-
cupied by A. j. Harreu he having been
elected at the October election and having
been sworn into office late this evening.
Sheriff McRae has made a good official,
and his record is a clean one. Sheriff Har-
rell, it is understood, has employed j. J.
Parrish who has been deputy to Mr.. Nc
Rae, to attend to the duties of the Office for
one month until he can get other affairs in
shape to give the Office all of his time Mr.
Harrell will also be assisted in the duties
of the Office by his son, Barney. Among
the first duties to devolve upon the new
sheriff will be the execution of Jake Bur
ney, the negro who was sentenced to hang
on the 22nd of this month.
Valdosta has been crowded with social
attractions this week and the young peo-
pie have been delightfully."- entertained at
receptions, etc, every night this week On
Monday night Mrs. ]. r. Saunders ten
dered an elegant reception to her guest,
Miss Wolf, of Waycross, and on Tuesday
night the "rebus party at Mr.. Tom Gran
ford's new home was attended by large
crowd of young people. Wednesday night
Miss jamie Shelton entertained her friends,
and tonight a dance given in honor of
visiting young ladies is on the board At
the residence of b. w. Bentley, Miss Mat
tilu Bentley is entertaining her friends.
Many of the young ladies and men who
have been off attending the colleges of - :
state have been spending the holidays
here and they will return to their studies
tomorrow.
This evening S. p. Goodwin sold out his
business to Joseph Marks. Mr.. Goodwin has
large business interests besides his mer-
camille business and he goes out OF bust
ness to give more attention to other af-
fairs.
There is a large number of strangers in
the city at present seeking homes here and
several of the number expect to enter bus
mess.
Miss Emmie Jaudon of Savannah, is Wis
iting her friend, Miss Dollie Briggs ga Cen
trail avenue.