Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-03-31
TROUBLE In
GRBENESVILLB.
TRYING TO LYNCH A
PRISONER.
Troops Ordered to the
Scene.
A DRUNKEN SHERIFF
AND THE MAJOR.
The Breakdown of the Gov
ernor.
dispatch, March 24th.l

held sway in Greenesville county for
the last forty-eighs hours in conss-
quence Of the killing OF Justice Of the
Peace Saunders and Mr.. Welton, came
near eliminating in the lynchiDg OF
their eelored murderer this morning.
As. seon ss it was known that the MUIR
derer had been arrested the Infatuated
oitisens began to pour into Emporis.
A company OF the Richmond Light In
fsntry Blues was ordered to the scene,
and the presence Of the military SEEM
ed to incense further the people. BY
agreement last night the military was
withdraw u from the jail and the Sher
i'll undertook to guard the prisoner
with local guard, and gave q pledge
shat the re should be no violence. This
morning it appeared that the Sheriff
would not be allowed to keep his
pledge, the military were recalled to
guard The Jail, and at one time it look.
ed a. il there would be bloody slash
between the troops and citizens. FL
nslly the evident determination Of the
military to do their duty brought the
would be lypcbers so sober sesond
thought, and at $3.50 q. m, it was
thought that the Sanger was over
passed-for the present, az least. The
story OF the arrest of the murderer
and the subsequent events follows:
Especial from Staff Correspondent.)
EAPoRIA, VA, March 23rd.-With
troops forming Gordon around the
Jail and occupying the courthouse
grounds, and an angry mob surging
to and fro making threats of violence,
Emporia was stirred to- day as it never
was before. Walter Cotton, the color.
ed murderer, who. while under ser
tence OF death, escaped from the
Portsmo nth jail, and who has confess
ed TO several Of the crimes recently
committed in this vicinity, is in the
Jail, and it is about him that ali of the
turbuler &c centred. He was arrested
At Stony Greek, about twenty miles
from Emporie, about o'clock this
morning. and brought here direct and
placed within the Jail. 1t beeAme
noised about that be had been appre
hsnded, and an immense crewd con
gresated about the courthouse, arm
ed to the teeth, and ready and anxious
to convene the court OF Judge Lynch
forthwith. Wise heads prevailed,
however, and il wss decided TO delay
the lyDchipg until sucn information
as could be secured from Cotton inn
won kOhtChs
ASKED FOR TROOPS.
In the mean time Judge W. Samuel
Goodwin, fearing the worst, had tele-
grsphed to Governor Tyler for troops,
and urged that they be sent forthwith.
His Excellency replied that he could
not comply with the request unless il
came through the sheriff, wheyeupon
Sheriff 8. ". Lee united in the re Quest
The Governor had ordered Company
p, of the Richmond Light Infantry
Blues, in readiness Of their armory
and IS soon ~ the sheriff's telegram
was sent to him the troops were dis
PATCHED on . special over the Atlantic
Coast Line, which came through on
unusually last time. The fact that
treeps were on the way soon became
known. and runners were sent to the
South End Of the county to notify the
great mars Of people who had eongre-
gated about the graves OF Magistrate
]. w. Saunders and Mr.. J. N Melton,
who lost their lives in an effort 80 cap
ture Cotton on Thursday. AZ rapidly
~ possible the crowd began to return
to the court house. but the military
arrived first. Major Sol. Cutehins,
who came with the troops. by request
OF the Governor, had . conference
with Sheriff Lee and Judge Goodwin.
and suggested that Cotton and the
white tramp, Brandt O'Grady, who
were then in jail, be sent at once to
Richmond in custody of the militia,
The Judge feared that this course
would preai 2itate kloodshed, and
while he wss in conference with Major
Cutehins two prominent county Of
ticials entered and told him that II
any effort was made to remove the
prisoners the mob would be ord cred to
open fire on the militia. and that his
(ths Judged life would be placed
jeopardy.
TACIT AGREEMENT.
1t was then agreed that the prison.
ers should not be moved, and it was
tacitly understood that this sgree-
ment would be accepted by the mob,
and that they would await q speedy
trial. Quiet reigned until o'clock,
when . posse, which had been organ
lied for the purpose, drove up to the
jail with four prisoners--FraDk Della
ney, aged 81; Jim Delaney, aged 10,
and Robert Delaney, sged ID, Of Park.
ersburG, W. Va, and James Edgar
Olsy, OF Spartanburg-all of whom
Cotton identified ss having been in
eOAAC IAApllOhbCO jug muir
der Of Barker Blick in February last
The arrival OF these prisoners and
their indentificaticn by Cotton caused
renewal OF the excitement, and jpst
before dark the crowd in Emporia as
sembled for organization. The meet
ing was held behind closed doors and
no one would reveal ausht that took
place. Information subse quently
reached Judge Goodwin that an attack
upon the Jail had been agreed upon,
and in few minutes n courier entered
the town and gave information that
eco men we're marching frtm Pi.sAssnt
Shade, and q like number were form.
ing sbout trbee miles belcw the town
to reinforce those already about the
eourt-house.
McRKAsKD TEE GUARD.
Captain Daughtrey, of the Blues, in.
creased bis Rphd. and gave his SEN
fFieo Rnaifi~a cft A irv a. D. =, n