Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-04-07

were sent to Emporis to save the neck
OF Negro hend. They were sent 60
uphold the laws of the Commonwealth
and save the good name of Greenes-
vile county.
The melancholy truth IL that these
instances of violence and utter diere-
gard Tor law IN Virginia, are due main.
~ TO the Justification OF notorious
breaches Of the law by our lsw-msk-
era themselves.
If frsud and perjury are allowable
aud provided for in solemn acts of the
General Assembly. the common run OF
people will not draw any fine distinc-
tions when it suits their temper to
break any law, even the most sacred.
In the face Of this terrible demorali-
cation it is the duty OF every good cit
izen TO array himself on the side of law
and order for the honor of our beloved
Commonwealth and TO strengthen
the weak hands and confirm the fee
bic knees" Of her officers"
That this terrific indictment of the
chief indictments of the Chief Execu-
tive had q most te; ling effect is evid emit
from the fact that q defeRse of the
governors course WAS given to the
press.
The sermon of Prof. 8. G. Mitchell of
Richmond College delivered as the
Second Baptist Church (white) was
the subject Of much comment. lie
condemned the lynchiHg and compared
Governor Tyler 60 Plate.
The body or Cotton was carried to
Portsmouth by w. ii. Moore (white)
who claimed the reward OF S400 which
was offered. This is to be divided
with Constable Branch and the colored
man Moore, who assisted in his cap
ture.
The home Of ]. B. Welton, one of
the white men killed by Cotton was
destroyed by fire on the night of the
25th.
Judge W. Samuel Goodwyn and Com
monwealth's Attorney w. M. Powell
came TO Richmond Tuesday, March
27th and completely upset she Govern
or's position by admitting that even
martial law would have been justifia-
bic. De was quoted az follows:
Judge Goodwin admitted, after
long and close questioning, that the
civil authorities were powerless and
that Governor Tyler would have been
justified in declaring msrtial law
Judge GOODWIN also stated that Ger.
tain phases of the affair had not been
put into the Governors posses sion
That he (the Governor) was not noti-
he'd that sheriff Lee was drunk in any
other way than the statement that it
was necessary for him GOOD wyn) to
appoint deputy sheriff.
The Gosernor was not told that
threats hsd been made TO dynamite
his (Goodwyn's) house that the lives
OF the Commonwealth Attorney and
kA IL
troops were not withdrawn land the
wires were to be cut and q portion of
the railroad track was to be torn up
and such other measures resorted TO,
sufficient to interrupt any and all COM
munieation with the outside world.
Neither was the Governor notified
that the lives OF the troops were
threatened, and that any one who
dared raise q hand or assist in any way
the removal of the two prisoners was
in danger. Neither swa as the Governor
told OF the absolute inability OF the
civil authorities TO restrain the angry
mob, or to enforce the execution of the
laws OF the Commonwealth.
These facts together with those with
which the Governor was made thor
oughly familiar, Judge Goodbye ac-
knowledged were sufficient to have
him exercise the authority vested in
him To declare martial law and make
the civil law subordinate TO the militia
ry. Had he done this no charge Of the
usurpiRg OF his preroga tives could
have been made, or, il made, sustain
ed.
Judge Goodwin was asked why the
Governor wss not told OF the threats of
the mob. He replied that at such a
time and laboriug under such excite
ment, that it was impossible for every
threat TO have been remembered or
communicated to the Governor.
Then the telegram offise was con-
trolled by the mob, and It was, as has
previously been stated, necessary for
him to request the Governor 10 use an
Other telegraph line to avoid the inter-
certlon and delay OF messages.
TaR NJ RULED.
1.-THE mob was in control.
1--WE made all kinds of promises to
them" said Judge GOODWIN, land "a.
surtd them that there wou ID be no es-
cape for Cotton II they would only al
low the law to take it's course. assur
ed them that 1 would call an extra ses-
sion OF court aud try Cotton &C onee.
had the two men not bsen lyneheS
We had even gone so far as to promise
them to begin work on the scaffold
Monday, That was yesterday.
called the conference OF the rem
reseprative citizens of the town. 4
asked them to decide what was to be
requested of the Governor and the
troops. They assured me that thew
would use their influence with the
mob to secure q rial for the accused
il the troops were withdrawn. They
feared bloodshed. They were fully ac
quainted with the situations. They
knew the temper OF the mob. They,
as /, were coguiZant of what course
had been determined upon, should any
attempt be made TO remove the pris-
oners. They knsw of the plans 60
Shoot down any one, soldiers or civil
iaHs, who dared attempt it. Had such
an attempt been made q massacre
would have followed. The gentlemen
whom l had called into conference
knew this. So did 1. We did not
want the blood of those innocent men
on our hands. We did what we
thought was best.