The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-05


Especial. 1.-THE special from Raleigh
bringing the Governors Guard has just
arrived here All is quiet.
SITUATION AT 8 O'CLOCK.
Lumberton, y. c., Jan. 4.-,Special =
All quiet in town at 9 o'clock tonight ex
cept that the negroes are beating drums
and shooting in suburbs. The sheriff ex
poets to hang Reuben Ross tomorrow,
unless the Governor interferes.
l'wenty-seven men and officers of Nhe
Governors Guard, under command of
Capt j. J. Bernard, left here last night
at $50 on special train over the Sea-
beard, as it was alleged, to pre-
vent the lynching at Lumber
ton of a negro, Reuben Ross convict
ed of assault on white woman. Mrs.
Strickland. and respited by Governor
Russell. Col. Il. Z. Smith, Commissary
General of the State Guard and Mir.
III. $. Leard, travelling passenger agent
of the Seaboard. accompanied the men.
Governor Russell spoke of sending Act
ing-Adjutamt General Harris but did not
do so. Ross has been twice reprieved
and Governor Russell now has under
consideration petitions asking that the
sentence be commuted to life imprison-
ment
About noon yesterday Governor Rus
sell received telegram from citizens Of
Lrmberton stating that there was dal ger
that Ross would lie lynched. Acting eli
this Governor Russell sent Tor j. { l..
Harris. Acting Adjutant General, ana
told him to order Captain Bernard to
detail twenty of his men to hold them
selves in readiness to move at q moments
notice He also instructed Mr.. Harris
TO arrange for special train Ove.- the
Seaboard Air Line to carry the company
to I.umberton. About O'Clock the
guard reported mt the armory where
Captain Bernard detailed twenty men
and six officers to 90. Neither the off
GERS nor men knew where they were
going. but at $40 they were ordered to
march from the armory to the Hargett
street crossing of the Seaboard where
the special, consisting of a baggage car
and passenger coach was in waiting.
Adiutant General Harris saw the com
pany aboard and the special with run
regardless orders and "Old Man
Johnston at the throttle pulled out.
Captain Bernard was given his sealed
orders after getting aboard the train.
THE GOVERNORS STATEMENT.
Governor Russell was seen last night
and asked for statement for the AsSo-
ciated Press. He said:
a negro named Reuben Ross was
convicted of rape and sentenced to he
hanged. | postponed the execution unul
Friday, January >. Upon petition from
leading men in RobeSon county including
the mayor of Red Springs. where the
affair occurred. the mayor of MaXton
Mr. g. b. Patterson. member OF the
Legislature from RobeSOn county, and
half dozen or more Of the jury which
tried the case. the foreman Of the grand
Jury and many other citizens, all OF
whom asked for executive clemency, |
have again postponed the execution Ior
one week. This have done at the earn,
est solicitation of Messrs. Cook, Morri-
son and Mcneil, lawyers FOR the prison
er. in order to take further time to con
slider the case. 1t being represented 10
me that there were threats of lynching
the prisoner at Lumberton | ordered
Captain Bernard with twenty men of the
Governors Guard to Lumberton tonight
to keep the peace.
Governor Russell was asked il he had
been requested by the sheriff of the
county to send troops. He declined to
say. He was asked from whom were
the representations as to the danger OF
lynching. This also he declined to give
out He merely repeated that ''represen-
tations" had been made to him. Acting
Adjutant General Harris was equally
reticent He had not seen the telegrams
he said; he had merely had his instruc-
tions from Governor Russell and had
carried them ont.
MR. HARRIS STATEMENT,
As to the details of sending the troops
and the orders given Captain Bernard.
Mr.. Harris said
a bout 1:30 o'clock yesterday Cover
nor Russell sent for ME and directed me
to issue orders to Captain Bernard. of
Company Il, Third rgiment. to detail
twenty of his men. armed and equipped
according to law, with such officers as
he might deem necessary. and 10 accom-
pany them himself, tonight 70 Lumber
ron. where he would find prisoner Reu-
ben Ross who had been sentenced TO be
hanged and whose execution had been
fixed for tomorrow. On arrival at Lum
berton Captain Bernard was directed to
report to the Sheriff of Robeson county
and protect the prisoner from mob vio-
lence and uphold the civil law. lie was
Adirected 10 remain until further orders