The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1899-08-25
SIX INDICTMENTS
FOR LYNCHING
IAN County Grand Jury Acts On
Taylor's Confession.
CHARGED WITH MURDER
Sheriff Monday, However, Says
Wrong Men Are Accused.

As result Of the confession Of Taylor
Hamilton, the Hall county, Ga, grand
Jury has returned six true bills for
murder against men whom Hamilton
duplicates in the lyncbing Of 81 Smith
in the Jail at Gainesville. The men
indicted are;
Taylor Hamilton, of Maysville
Oliver Bell, travelling salesman for
Greshon Bros. s. Rosenfeld, Of At
lanta.
Mark Bell, a prominent farmer Of
Cleveland, White county Ga.
Tom Brysony q harness-makeV Of
Gainesville.
Charles Tanner an empIoye Of the
c., J. and s. r. II. Gainesville.
Henry T0wry, timer, Gainesville.
Tom Bryson, Charles Tanner and
Taylor Hamilton are under arrest, but
the two Bell boys and Henry Towry
have left the country and no trace of
them has been discovered in the ener-
getie search that has been instituted
for them for the past week.
The grand jury recommended that
Tanner and Bryson, who have been
confined in the GAINESVILLE jail, be re-
moved to Atlanta for safe keeping.
Judge Estes, of the Hall superior
court, issued an order to Sheriff Mon
day to take the prisoners to Atlanta.
The order was at once complied with.
The recommendation of the grand
jury and the consequent order Of
Judge Estes regarding the prisoners
added to the already tremendous SEN
sation, as it has been openly asserted
that Sheriff Monday has known OF the
entire affair Of the lynching from the
beginning to the eud, and that he was
in sympathy with the alleged lynchers.
Taylor Hamilton, in his confession,
VOWS that the sheriff knew of it, and
many witnesses before the grand jury
gave testimony pointing that way.
On the other hand, Sheriff Monday
states emphRtically that the men under
arrest were not in the mob on the
night of the lynching On this testi-
mony the fate of the prisoners de-
ponds.
There is undoubtedly feeling of
great sympathy in the county for the
Bells. The shocking murder of the
aged head Of the family aroused the
indignation of the whole section and
when 81 Smith, the murderer, was
captured, everybody felt that he should
receive the full extent of the law for
his crime.
Smith was captured on the 10Th OF
last May and confined in the Hall
county Jail. On the night of the 14th
of July he was shot to death in his
cell by a mob. The killing Of Smith
caused the greatest surprise in the
community, for those interested in his
capture and crime had brought him
many miles through a mountainous
country to the Jail without molesta-
ton.
Governor Gambler had offered re-
ward Of $500 for the capture of Smith
with evidence to convict. The cap.
tors made application for the reward
but the governor refused to pay until
the prisoner had been convicted. It il
said in Gainesville that the doubts ex
pressed by the governor as to the evi
denoe against Smith fastened the
lynching.
A striking feature of the whole affair
is the fact that every man agains
whom the grand jury returned tru,
, bills figured prominently in the sil
weeks chase and capture Of Smith.
/ The best people of Gainesville an(
the vicinity believe that the right par
ties have been discovered.
: Many of the state house officials il
: Atlanta, including Governor Gambler
place implicit confidence in the confes
/ sion Of Hamilton, and since the crim
of lynehing in the state has become 81
prevalent, a confession from one o
the perpetrators could not fail to hav
fascinating powers for those who ar
, determined to put a stop to the mol
violence. The governor is especial.
, interested in bringing to justice TIL
? men who are responsible for the inhu
a man death of ST Smith and the conse
quent blot on the morals of Hall coun
ty, the governors home.