New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-13
LYNCHTNGS ~ WEST VIRGINIA.
GOVERNOR ATKINSON DETERMINED TO
STOP THEM-THE LAW MUST BE M
PARTIALLY ENFORCED, HE SAYS

Charleston. w Va March l2-The following is a
copy Of the official correspondence between tho As
sistant Prosecuting Attorney Of Mercer County and
the Attorney General and Governor OF West Viz
ginla in regard the lynching in Mercer County
and another murder there:
February %. 1875.
Hugh Woods esq Assistant Ns Prosecuting A''0r
My Dear Sir: Your favor OF the lsth IS received
and noted. az once consulted with the Governor
and he is willing to Offer reward 10 OF sG f2F r sn
before october l. as there funds available
FOR the purpose I'll then In addition S,b to thif III
unite in n request to the Legislature to allow
this will be done by the legislature. and would al
most insure it. II This viii be Of any help 10 you,
cate with the Governor Immediately
I wish you would aso give me the particulars of
mer or by Truman think the Governor vii offer
a reward for him too Both ne and are deeply In
Serstood tha; iynchings in West Virginia must
cease and that ;he negro must have the same pro
man know your IleMs agree WIN niiy on On yor
hcc but there ar" certainly some officers IN Mercer
Court " mo- b n@e S for the State TO interfere in
The Gaze In one nstanee negro wor"hn LOVED
TO 20 away free man. and remains 40 to this day,
In another instance a negro Kills white man ana
the officers not only permit him TO be ieF-a bo 9y
an innucs; and discharge the jury before another
e,n-ise This haste was say the ieasi. peculiar.
Rut I am not writing this letter FOR the purpose
~ crItcising any one but merely express TO YOU
loot Count on our active assistance md co-oprTa-
ton in your efforts 10 bring the guilty parteS TO
Justice The law knows no coor In visiting It's
penalties neither should the officers consider color
In administering lts DEGREES. Most sincerely your
friend. EDGAt: !. ~ ChEK.,
Princeton W Va. March = 1895
Hon Edgar p Rucker. Welch. W. Va.
Dear SIR: Yours Of February % received. In re-
latlon 20 the Truman case. have this 10 say. Tru-
ran was IN the butcher business At simmons. ne
had a cOlored man working for him. went TO Poem
hontas; got on a drunk. came 20 his shop and
cused the negro man working for him OF drinking
his whiskey. They got into dispute over H. and
the n,gro's wife came IN. and taking her hus
band out Of the door away from Truman. saying
not TO have any trouble when Truman picked up
double barrciled shotgun and fred At the woman.
killing her. The officers made no attempt 20 arrest
him. but IL seems talked 10 him about the killing
W. II. Walters. with warrant IN his pocket FOR
Truman sat and talked with Truman for some
time and made no EFFORT 10 arrest him Ny infor-
nation is that It was an unprovoked killing and
would Ike very much to get chance 20 prose-
cute Truman Yours very truly,
HITCH c. WOODS
March I. 1885
Hon G. w Atkineon Governor. Charleston, ". Va
Dear Sir: | have the honor TO incose herswlth
copies Of the correspondence between myself ana
Hugh G. Woods. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney OF
Mercer County in regard TO the recent lynching
which 10 ,k plac. In Bramwell In that county ana
alTo in regard the killing Of negro woman ~
one Truman which occurred near the same p'aec