The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-17
MURDEROUc WORK OF TWENTY
MASKED MEN.
Negroes Plotted to Give Palmetto to the
FIanes-Shot Under Guard-The
Governors Proclamation.

OF masked men, about ~, called upon
the guards to throw up their hands.
They made them leave the gnard room.
The leader then ordered his men to fire
on the prisoners, first counting i, ., 8.
The men afterwards loaded and fired
again"
Guard Baker testified that the mob
filled the room and the guards were
forced to the wall
THE leader of the mob gave count
and the shooting began They had pis-
tolls, shotguns and Winchester rifles.
They did not stay over five minutes.
| don't know which way they came or
which way they went when they left. ~
j. j. Conner, the other guard examined,
said:
Il was guarding the prisoners about 1
O'Clock. A crowd of masked men came
into the room by forcing the door open
and moved the guards back.
The prisoners were commanded to
line up, and then the order to fire was
given, which was obeyed. They shot
and reloaded and shot the second time.
The room was filled with the masked
men. l don't know the number
The jury then rendered a verdict which
presented in writing, read:
I'VE, the coroner's jury, empanelled in
the cases of the death of Harrison Hud-
son, VIM. Cotton, Jr., Ed Brown and
Henry Bingham, find that they came to
their death from gunshot or pistol shot
wounds from crowd of masked men to
the jury unknown, little after mid
nj tha ~ 80
March, 1890.
(Signed.) 'T. j. Bullard,
Foreman
The town has been visited by two in
eendiary fires since February LIST, and the
citizens have been afraid to rebuild,
owing TO the oft repeated threats of the
negroes that they would do the same
thing again. The county authorities
have been very active in their efforts to
apprehend the incendiaries, and yester-
day arrested nine negroes. William
Cotton had confessed to DIR. III. l.. John
son that he and eight companions had
conspired to burn the town and loot the
stores.
The burning part of the programme
was successfully carried out, but the fires
spread so rapidly and the buildings went
up in flames so fast that they were
unable to obtain anything from the
stores. DIR. Johnson got the names of the
eight accomplces from Cotton, and on
this evidence the warrants were sworn
out
The Capital City Guards of Atlanta
fifty men, under command of Colonel
John S. Gambler, late of the Third
Georgia volunteer regiment, arrived at
II o'clock and reported to Mayor Arnold.
The Mayor distributed them throughout
the little town. and together with the
citizens now doing duty as deputy
sheriffs, it is believed there is a force
sufficient to quell any uprising by the
negroes.
From the best information obtainable
the mob did not exceed 20 men. They
made no noise to announce their coming,
and the dispatch with which they got
away from the scene of the crime would
seem to indicate that the number en-
ployed in the work was small. The two
negroes who have. talked, say the room
was crowded with negroes but the Off
ce would not hold over 80 mob. prison
ers and guards.
The doors of the warehouse were not
bolted and were forced without any
trouble The town is quiet tonight.
The only sign of life is the solitary patrol
every few PAGES walking back and forth
on his beat The citizens apprehensive
for the night have quieted down. and
place complete confidence in the ability
of the militia to preserve order.