Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-04
Considering the Massacre at a Cabi-
net Meeting.
VIGOROUS ACTION Will Be TAKEN
The Administration United on an
Energetic Policy.
NO PAINS TO BE SPARED

The cabinet today took up the Lake City,
s. C.. murder and talked over that to the
. practical exclusion of the situation in Cuba.
The horrors of the Lake City murder were
set forth officially to the President and
cabinet by Postmaster General Gary. who
submitted the report of the inspector who
was detailed on the case. The portions Of
the report which will lead to running down
the criminals were eliminated by the Pres
ident and Mr.. Gary at the close Of the cab
met session.
The action taken by the cabinet in the
matter is the most energetic ever agreed
upon by any administration in similar
cases. and 1t is proposed to make an ex-
ample OF the murderers in this case that
will remain as warning IN the future. 1t
was unanimously decided to increase the
reward which has been offered by the gov
eminent. The reward to be paid now is
to be 81 so, for the convection of the first
guilty person and LOO for the conviction
Of each person after the first. making a
total. W bich. i. is felt certain, will result in
running down the men who killed Post
master Baker ana his baby and wounded
the other members of his family. This re-
tho governor OF South Carolina, will, 1t is
Thought, cause hundreds of detectives to 60
TO work on the case. These, together with
the federal detectives. will make the chase
their capture beyond doubt.
Inc question OF the reward was not only
fixed by the cabinet. but 1t was also de-
cided to put all the spare government
forces TO work on the case. Some evidence
has already been secured. The widow of
the murdered postmaster knew all the
white people Of the neighborhood and she
has tcld some important things.
Attorney General GrigSs gives 1t as his
opinion that the federal government will
I have jurisdiction over the murderers when
captured unless they are first caught by
the state authorities. Baker was an officer
in The discharge Of his duty, and the at
tack on him was similar to an attack on
a deputy marshal or any other official. OF
course, the government will have to provo
that Baker was killed because he was post
master
The President, 1t is understood discussed
IN the gravest manner the dangers con-
fronting colored men appointed as postmaS-
tiers in the south. and insisted that some
thing should be done to put stop to future
attacks and murders. He has been advised,
II is said. that he should make no more ap-
pointments of colored men. but he has no
idea of taking this advise. and will do all
he can to bring about such a state of affairs
that a colored postmaster will be as safe
in the south as white man.
One cabinet member said to q Star re-
porter that he was in favor of paying out
$l.WO.TU. If necessary, to bring about the
conviction OF the murderers, of whom 1t is
likely there were from fifteen to twenty.
Lake City is in Williamsburg county, g.
c. 1t is in section of the state where the
eolored people outnumber the whites to a
large extent, but as a rule they are less
lawless than in portions of the state where
the whites outnumber the blacks. 1t Is be-
heved that the class of men participating
in the murder was not of the best. Many
OF the white people in that section are IL
Hterate When they understand the press
ure which has been brought to bear Ii ia
probable that some Of them will begin to
confess to save their necks, and in this
Way the whole plot win come out.
The President has instructed Postmaster
General Gary to use every effort to speed
lily secure the perpetrators Of the crime,
and this will be done.