Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-24

Texarkana, Ark, March 23.-The
widest excitement prevails among the
negroes Of Little River county, and
seven negro men have been lynched by
the citizens OF that section.
The affair originated with the assas-
sination Of James A. Stockton, plant
er, by General" Duckett, a negro, on
last Friday. Among those who have
fallen victims to the wrath OF the
whites are Edward Goodwin. ---
banking, Joe Jones, Ben Jones, Moses
Jones and another whose name could
not be obtained.
The disturbances grew out of the
lynching OF a negro named Gen. Duck
EFT, near Richmond, in that county, on
Tuesday. Last Saturday a prominent
planter named James Stockton was
murdered at his home near Rocky Com
fort, by Duckett. The negro escaped
at the time, but after remaining in
hiding in the swamps until Tuesday he
surrendered, saying he had had moth
ing to eat since his flight. He Wa
taken to Rocky Comfort and soon aftel
his arrival there Sheriff Johnson and
deputies started with him for Rich
mond. They were overtaken by 200
armed men, who demanded the priS-
TO n nj
where he had killed Stockton and after
making a confession he was lynched
When the negro was taken to the
Gorge Plantation just before the start
was made for Richmond, it seemed as
if every man within ten miles knew OF
the capture and before the officer and
prisoner could get fairly started, the
whole country was aroused.
After the lynching it was learned
that Duckett had frequently tried to get
the negroes in the county to join him
in a race war against the whites. A
few hours after he had killed Stockton
he passed several negroes at a farm
house and told them he had killed one
WuIIc uldu anu IL tHcy WOuld 1OlAOW
him he would kill more.
The Jones brothers were intimate
with the assassin of Stockton, and it
was discovered that they were leading
a scheme to avenge their comrade's
death. The assault was provoked by
the unearthing of plots that the fol-
lowers of Gen. Duckett had concocted,
and when the revelation was made a
band of citizens began their search for
the principals. Friendly negroes who
had originally informed Stockton OF
Duckett's threat were the medium or
knowing the facts against the present
vitims, the informers themselves hav-
ing been warned under the penalty OF
death not to communicate the plans OF
the outlaws to the whites. All the vic
tins that have fallen before the whites
were pursued singly over the country
and met their fate at different times
and in different localities. Ed. Good
win was shot down on Mud creek, near
Rocky Comfort, and his body thrown
into the stream. The Jones had hed
in different directions when they learn
ed of their pursuit and were run down
and lynched one at a time.
The county is in state OF most III
tence excitement. White men are col
lecting in mobs, heavily armed and de-
termined: negroes are fleeing for their
lives and the community is in an up
roar The exact number of negroes VINO
have been summarily dealt with or
those who may yet fall into the hands
of the mob before order is restored may
never be known. Seven bodies have
been found and other victims are be-
Ing hunted and will meet a similar
fate when run to earth.
Little River county is in the ex-
IRENE southwest corner of the State,
bordered on the west by the indian
Territory and on the south by Texas.
The negro population is large and has
for a long time proved very trouble
some to the whites Frequent murders
have occurred and thefts and fights
have become common affairs.