The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-23
A SERIES OF CRIMES.
Negro Assassinated White Man and
Suicided Shortly After.
TWO OF HIS AccoapllCEs WERE lYNcHtO
A Piot HID Been Formed for who,c.
sale Murder. but There Was only
One Innocent Victim.

1
Shreveport. La. April PA murderors
4 plot for the determination OF the whites.
a cowardiy assassination as the first act
Of the bloody drama, followed by the sui
eide OF the terrpr-s,ricken murderer. ds-
lection OF the plot and the prompt lynch
ing of two Of the negro consplrators is
the record of the most exciting day In
the history of Allentown,
| w T White foreman OF Allen Brothers
and wadley's sswmill was shot and in
stautly killed by Jeff Ristcn. negro
lumber grader in his employ. Ths mur-
tina, his capture was inevitable. sent a
bullet through his own head expiring at
once.
Prompt and careful investigation OF the
crime developed the fact that the murder
was the inception by the negroes of what
was meant to be war of determination
against the white people Of that vicinity,
Enough evidence was found to implicate
John Hughly and Ed Amos, two negroes.
employees of the mill as rlngleaders in
the awful plot They were at once exc
cuted by the cnraged citizens whose
prompt and vigorous action had averted
the threatened danger OF race war,
knowledge that sush a bloody plot ex-
listed came as complete surprise to the
white employees of the mill who consti-
tute almost the entire white population
OF Allentown The negroes have been
orderly and law-abidlng and have seldom
given trouble TO their employers
The inception of the trouble is found In
an occurrence OF about week ago a
negro one OF those executed yesterday,
engaged In a quarrel with a white boy,
the dispute coming up over pieee OF
/ work. The negro became epraFed and
assaulted the boy. hurting him backwards
on moving belt. Prompt action Of near
by employees alone saved the boy from an
awful death In the wheels of the ma
chinery to which he was being rapidly
carried.
Foreman White ordered the negro 20 DC
severely whipped, light punishment for
his attempt to murder. The punishment
WAS administered and the negro left the
mill. but returned within several DAYS and
resumed his work as II nothing had hap
pened. White permitted the man to take
up his former position and did not mag
ire that the revengeful negroes were con-
cocting a plot which would result IN his
death.
The omlnous situation was brought TO q
elimination when White found it neces-
sary to repremand the negro, Riston, Tho
reproof was mildly administered and thera
/ was nothing I'm il calculated 10 lceratr
the negros feelings Under ordinary cir
cumstances 1t would have passed unno-
ticed, but Riston with his heart fun OF
hatred over the fanced wrongs OF HIM
self and his fellow laborers, planned re-
yeuge. lie kept his fell purpose well hid
den and reported for work as usual at
the mill yesterday morning.
At about $3.50 o'clock he left his place
at the machine and crept up behind Fore
man White. who was ct his desk. Draw
ing a revolver, he fred at close range,
the bullet entering TIE back at a vital
point. Springing 20 one side, Riston
fired again, the second taking effect in
the breast. The unfortunate man fell 10
the floor, third bullet from the desper-
ate criminals revolver unfolding Itself
in wall CT the mill. White expired al
most Immediately.
The murderer escaped In the confusion
that followed and ran Into nearby cabin
He had been In the house but few mo-
ments when pistol shot rang out and the
negro was found or the floor OF the rlom
with bullet hole through his head
Probably realizing that escape was impos-
slbe he determined to evade the terrible
form of death that he knew would be his
zation OF the helnousness OF his crime
may have had something to do with his
decision on self-destruction.
Aroused by the terrible tragedy tho
white residents of the vicinity gathered
at the Min and began a searching inyes-
tigaton OF the crime. Their attention was
at once attracted TO the demeanor Of the
negro millhands. None evnced surprise
al the sudden and cowardly deed and 1t
was evident that Il was not unexpected
to them. Several remarks were let fall by
some Of the negroes and suspicion became
certainty.
( quick but thorough investigation was
made and TIE facts developed that Whites
assassination was the result OF a con-
spiracy among few of the negroes Tho
completely of Hughy and Amos was es-
tablished beyond doubt and they were ar
rested Others were probably concerned
but the evidence was not conclusive and
they were not molested.
/ Hugely and Amos were led TO a spot
about 300 yards distant from the mill.
The white men. numbering thirty, placed
the prisoners in a position against an
overhanging tree thirty REVIEWERS were
simultaneously drawn and al the word all
rang out with bit one report.
The bullet-ridden corpses were left
where they had fallen, a solemn warning
to the negroes that taught in the SCHOOL
"
OF sections where the colored race large
( ly predominate viii never hesitate 10
take the law into their own hands for
the protection o. their life ami honor
/ w T White the murdered for man
was well known among the lumbermen
Of tie state and was a man who has al
Ways beea popular with his employees
! for his kind consideration OF their well
1 fare. He enjoyed the confidence and es-
TEEN of his employers, who are deeply ar
fected over his sad death Colonel W. G.
Wadlcy Of the Arm Of Allen Brothers a
/ Wadley was IN this city at the time Of
the occurrence and received word of the
bloody ARRAY. He greatly depIored the
death OF his foreman and the necessity
of the scenes that followed
-Allenfown ia sawmill town on small
railroad. owned and oncraied by Allen
Brothers & Walley This road connects
with Ire Vieksburg, Shreveport and Pacific
near Haughton, sixteen miles east OF
Shreveport.