Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1899-10-28
GIVEN THEIR LIBERTY,
No Evidence Against the Men
Taken at Yazoo City.
Bones of the Five Dead Placed In Small
Box and Interred-Joe LcFlore'B
Story as to White Accom-
pllces Not Believed.

ST. AIMS, Miss, Oct. 22.-(Special to
The Commercial Appeal arrived here
this afternoon after an all-day trip from
Canton. have viewed the ruins Of the
Gambrell home. There are no indiea
tons now that it's destruction marked
the end Of the most horrible chapter OF
crime that ever disgraced humanity
Behind the ruins are a few small houses,
the gate is ajar, the grass is trampled,
but today few people passed the place
| Indeed, attention is turned toward the
vorit Of capturing and killing every
ono that had aught TO do with the muir
der Of ]. II. Gambrell's wife and his
four children. 1t was reported here
last night and also at Carthage that
John Oliver Gray had been captured
and killed. 1t was also reported that
he had made a confession charging
that two white men were concerned in
the murder. This is mistake.
Gray In JAN.
John Oliver Gray was captured, but
he is now in jail at Carthage. He was
taken there this morning. He swears
] he is innocent Of any connection with
the brutal murder. He was caught In
the swamps after being shot at. Robert
Smith is also in jail at Carthage, and as
Il previously reported the negro is badly
4 burned He protests his innocence
10 The report that while men had some
- thing to do with the tragedy was givel
a uttcrance so often that on yesterda.
d. the impression was general that poss
N Div some truth might be in the report
q This was after the news OF Gray
a alleged confession was received an
!. measures were at once discussed anon
ID, some as to taking such action as woul
'r. permit the escape Of no guilty ma
I'm white or black.
eL Lefore Was Liar.
ny However, when it was definite
o. learned that Gray had made no co
fession, and had protested his I'M
no eence. the rumor that white men h
~ something to do with the murder rest
IL. on nothing save the statement OF !
NV Flore. LeFDore had implicated Rob'
Smith and Anderson Smith. Rob
'' Smith is in Jail and it is generally
."I lieved that he was party to the nlgl
, bloody work As to Anderson SIN
he proved a complete alibi by one OF
most substantial white men In
IN. county.
More Than One Person in tho Work
nay One thing, however, is certain.
FIore hardly committed the act sins
handed unless he murdered all and II
fired the house. Indeed, one man co
sil. no. murder five persons unless be
ton the advantage of having the 10
up closed. ,,
the learn tonight that the Yazoo
Yes. suspects have been given liberty. Ih
tho was nothing that connected them "
wa the crime after proper investiga'
who was made. They explained their me-
ana merts to the satisfaction Of those
light had them in charge.
ROB The funeral Of the victims took p
'"' Yesterday. l was informed that
ma bones we're collected and placed !
"a> box. The weight Of all that was So
~ =, from the ashes was not over six pou'
'"'' The box was inferred at Conway,
+al1 The temper Of the people is pecu
They are not excited and bent on
ing for the love Of slaughter, nor
G. they seek to wreak vengeance on
proes. They are aroused as they n
II W were before
n They know that while one Of the
citizens was away from his wife
children his home was entered
star that ruthless murder was done,
says: horror Of it Is beyond comprehen
Mo- Gambrell has no enemies; he IS
event farmer, having small farm, and
Sat as goes in this county is prospe
ID fa lie had about 5000 in the house
aged ,ben he left he had no idea that
had would excite the cupdity Of men t
,bors noint that to obtain it they would
inter. der five persons, burn them and
e and the chances of capture and death
lhi' Fight in sclf-Dcfense'
n ,h' 1t is now a fight in self,defense'
"a" country is sparsely settled and the
VI, ple feel that unless the gum
.s ..S tragedy is avenged fully, that
7''''' man who directly or remotely Is
cerncd in it is hunted down and
Slip to suffer the tortures Of slow
coming in the most excruciatlng
tween he who next may leave wife and
II. ones will have no reason to hope
they may not Die e. did -ae WA
cbildren 81 Tohu Ca@hraIt -ae
twith full crime must he fearfa'-t aye
e hun, It rast Be MAIDS known th.s ~
the is. an robbery sin ee followed ICY
niphar These men are conscious that in
no Sat ing down the men who slaugl
/ and Gambrell's family they are discha
n, and sacred duty to their families
c, sun that when they rid the world OF
posse presence they will discharge an
mgh' ton to humanity.
ity -----