Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-17


..- and jus 10 death four negroes, fatal
...r..d one. shot another, and broke
ne .rm of seventh negro man. Two
-.r. who were of the crowd upon
r O.. bullets were showerod. miracu-
. escaped These unfortunates were
r cuard Of three men. awaiting the
ta-0 o'clock. when they were TO have
larng before a justice of the peace
r t.e charge Of arson. William Cotton.
,. loader OF the nine men, confessed
..u tmc ago that a conspiracy had been
entered into which resulted i'm two incen-
fres here in February, and on this
,.l.loe the men were TO have been tried,
DEAD AND WOUNDED.
Tt. dead are William Cotton. IT.. Har-
r.a Hudson. FL. Brown, and Henry
H.1ham.
rully wounded: John Bingby.
Wounded: John Jameson, George Tatum,
ann broken.
I-om Brown and Clem Watts. the other
,a1 members of tho gang, escaped in
u-.. After the inquest they were turned
bose and left on the train for Atlanta.
TOWN UNDER MILITARY GUARD.
THE town is quiet Tonight. and under
t. protection Of the Capital City Guards,
., Ausnta. and a posse Of seventy-hve
en-armed citizens.
SCENE or THE TRAGEDY.
The negroes were confined in the Office
r fhe Johnson warehouse. a one-story
. building just across the track from
, atlanta and West Point depot. They
v arrested yesterday. and. tied to-
r.tar with ropes. We're passing the night
wr Size protection Of three guards
srr for that purpose. Their prel-
nr uial was set for o'clock this
u,rr
it1f I O'Clock this morning about
'r.r.r five men. masked and mounted,
ra mp 10 the warehouse and dismount-
ei Without waiting TO announce them
yes TO the guards within. they easily
creed tho door of the warehouse. and
..ooud later stood in the office of the
-nhnson Company. where the negroes
we're lying on the floor around the fire.
Tho guards were covered with Winches-
'.--. and with hands up were marched TO
one side of the little ROOM and stood
inst the wall The negroes. who were
f-catened into silence by the bursting in
mo- ftc door. now realized their peril.
SfeIm after scream went mp from the
.fm- as they saw the CLEAN Of fire.
-- in the dim light from the fireplace.
..r appeals for mercy were unheeded.
short. heayy-set man. whose features
.... completely concealed by a white
h. ferchief acted as leader. lie cursed
r. Ia0ks into silence for moment, and
,I Dds men TO get ready.
THE MURDEROUS VOLLEYS.
hror looking at each negro he COM
o. r...l them 10 get mp. The trembling,
,- wrstches, tugging at their ropes
g. vain effort 20 get away, oOeyed the
r.-.. .f the mOb's leader. \ last appeal
t, n.r.r went unhceded. and the word
.rr-' rang ont in the little room. The
r.. iu.d the room with fire and
smoke. au1 the negroes fell In a heap on
f..r The noise awakened the little
-un eal as lights began TO twinkle in
a- here and there second Nolley
t.e doom Of those VINO were for
'-. enough 10 escape the murderOus
r. . th- first discharge.
fI. mob made ready to depart three !
Or c..- men with pistols sent bullets into |
t- ,I.-tate forms on the floor, and in |
t 0 ten minutes after the masked |
rr bad entered JohnsOn's Warehouse |
-a murderous errand they had COM |
i.. .ar.r work and were on their way |
t.f.fr on the backs OF fleet horses.
Som citizens began % arrive at the |
'r..0.-. being under the impression |
N.t obi. guards had been murdered by !
'. I0-ra prisoners. When the horror OF |
.r was presented Mayor Arnold |
HHu.i Governor Gambler. at Atlanta, |
.c.urence and asked for some |
t DE then deputized seventy-five |
' fD preserve order. and, arming |
PEN ah rifles. placed them on duty |
-.It parts Of the town.
s. SICKENING SIGHT.
in the warehouse revealed |
ieht Blood covered the floor |
nalis We're indented with bullets /
Winchester rifles and other arms |
children Of the negroes. To /
'lr ufMs of the tragedy had spread |
wings kneit by the bodies Of
and eudeavOred 10 console the
Ihe cries OF the negro families
W rloIn and sent shock through |
Doctors bent over the
and administered 20 their wants
tle lntl noon wnen friends OF
fl came aud removed them 10
homes. The dead whose bodies
rioly manglod. remained where
"'re until shortly after noon. when
~s jury was empanrl,ed Ia the
oi Coroner Dlu.ap. Justicc-oi-the-
cummings summoned the Jury and
r'.d the inquest.
h Watts. one OF tho negroes who !
-1i,y escaped being shot. was the
witness lie said: u was at the
''sr. and crowd OF masked men
.. twenty called upon the guards to
up their hands They made them
,. .ne ruard room The lea0er then
hs men 20 fire on the prisoners
... uniting one two. three The men
wards ioaded and fired again"
TESTIMONY or GUARDS
'fd Baker testified that tho n1ob I'LL
o., N- i'om. and the guards We're forced
wall. 1.-THE leader Of the mob eav..
and che shooting began. THY
r pistols shOieuns. and Winchestcrs.
oid not stay over I'VE minutes.
tl. Know which way they came. nor
say they went when they leg, "
Morris, the other guard examined
,l. Was guarding the prisoners
e... O'Clock. a crowd OF masked men
or.- INTO The room by forcing the door
f. aNo ordered the guards back. Thc
tl if were commended 10 lire M and |
" 'Ne oicor 10 fire was given. which