The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-11
IN
WEST VIRGINIA.
Governor Atkinson's Ringing Reply to
His Attorney General.
OFFICERS FAIL IN THEIR DUTY.
4 Negro Lynched and No Cognizance
Taken the Anair--A White Man
shoots Down Negro Woman
and Is Not Arrested.

Governor Atkinson has offered reward
Of $3.50 for evidence to secure conNicuon
of the lynchors in the Bram"eh lynln-
lng case and the Legislature viii
asked to enlarge it.
Hugh G. Woods, assistant prosecuting
attorney at Princeon, w. Va" IN WI 'liis
70 Attorney General Edgar +. Rucker
in regard to Two cases OF a"iessness'
says
an relation TO the Truman case / have
this to say: Truman was IN The butcher
business at simmons; he had a colofed
man working for him; went TO fo-a-
hontas got on drunk came 10 his 9.'p
and accused the negro man WoIAihs I.'
him of drinking his whiskey
a DISPUTE.
"Thcy got into "a dispute over il anu
the negro wife came In and was TAX 20
her husband out OF the door away from
Truman saying rot TO have any trouble
when Truman picked up douoie-pai
renod shotgun aud fred al 'he woman
killing her. The officers made ~ ale
tempt 20 arrest him. but 81 seemed talked
10 him about the killing. W. ii. Wal
tiers. with q warrant IN bis pocket
Truman. sat and talked with Truman for
some time and made no attempt % rr-
rest him. Ny information is that u was
an uuproy0ked N lng
LAWLESSNEsS
Attorncy-C eneral Rucker in q letter to
the Governor says.
II seems that the officers ~ the law
who were Immediately concerned (who
were the same men tn botn cases. and
whose duty it was to apprehend Truman.
D.. q no nI.
was lyncned. have not only failed t0 per-
form their duty. but wiifu.ly neglected
10 take any precautions 90 prevent this
lynchng. think st is only right and
proper that Tho state authorities should
interfere and assist che county in bring
ing these criminals 90 justice.
also think Chat the local officers who
are largely rosponsblc-in my opinion
for the failure t0 apprehond Truman
and for the commission of the greater
orimo or lynching, should De punished Tor
their official misconduct There is no
crime that is 70 more direct attack on the
stability ol society and supremacy OF tho
Jaw than tina, Of lynchins.
SELF GOVERNMENT a FAILURE
Unless something is done to put stop
10 &c. the time will soon come when we
must admit that sclf-governmcnt is
failure. IN recent years 81 has grown in
frequency and brutality, until now even
some Of the sworn officers az the law
seem 60 conniye 90 10 and sympalniza with
H.
/ will most earnestly recommend that
you take such q position ON this question
and such action on tsis case a will for
ever show that tho highest officers Of
this state arc opposed to murder in this
form as in any othor. and regard the lie
al. .r. NaI.
eyes of the law until % legal and proper
tribunal shall say that life is justly ior-
feited
GOVERNOR ATKINsON'S REPLY.
Governor Atkinson March eth. sent the
following reply ~ the above letter:
own receipt of your letter of this day,
and beg 10 say I'm reply that fully con-
cur with your views relative 10 lynchings
and 10 determinations on account of race
or color I'm prosecutions for crime. No
thing is so ruinous to- the reputation of
State as lynchings. There is no need or
them. They are wrong in principle ana
should not De tolerated. ! promise ;ou
my earnest efforts TO aid you in prosecut-
ing the men who recently took TIE law no
their own hands az Bramwcl They
should be vigorously prosecuted. and Wig
orouslv punished. and ] commend your
zeal i'm seeing mat our law against crimes
Of this character is ri9ously enforced II
YOU desire IL. ] will offer n reward for
The apprehension and conviction Of the
lynchers.
APPALLING.
The murder of colored woman by
one Truman. a white man, IS appalling
If tho facts are as represanted-and j
cannot doubt their correctness-no pains
should be spared by the county and state
authorities TO bring hins To- q speedy trial
II amazes me TO learn that brutal MUIR
der. such as you detail TO me. should take
place I'm one of the counties of our state
and vet no EFFORT be made 90 arrest me
murderer. II you desire &c. ! will also
offer reward for the arrest and conNlc'
ton of Truman West Virginia ia lie'
country and is Inhabited Dog free people
If n white man kills a regro. he should
he prosecuted IN the enforcement OF me
iave Of This state. shall recognize neiih-