Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-03-24
MOB ATTEMPTS TO LYNCH.
Negroe Murderer Threatened with
Violence at Emporia. VA.

Violence at Enporia, Na.
Richmond, Va, March 24.-Al day
long n bowling, infuriated mob sur
rounded the little Jail at Emporia, Va,
.clamoring for the blood of Walter Cot
ton. a negro whose hands. are stained
With the blood of three white men, two
of them officers of the law of Greensvile
county and the third a well-known citi-
zen of Portsmouth. Cotton's second
crime was committed Thursday MORN
ing, when the officers attempted TO arr
rest him in a little hut not far from
Emporia on suspicion of having been
implicated in a burglary in that place
the previous night. AS the officers en-
tered the door Cotton opened fire. One
fell with a bullet thru his brain and the
other staggered from the hut. dying
soon afterward. The officers killed We're
Justice Saunders and man named
Welton.
The negro escaped, but soon a posse
with bloodhounds was on his trail and
the county was in an uproar from one
end to the other Early yesterday
morning the negro was captured and
taken to Emporia. the stre.s of which
We're filled with crowds. As the prison-
or was taken thru the streets the crowd
grew denser and the air was full of
threats and maledictions. 1t was with
great difficulty he was taken to the JAIL
hands being outstretched to seize him
as the doors changed together.
The murderer would have been lynch
| ed within five minutes after his arrival
| in Empora had the mob had a leader.
AS it was, the people surged restlessly
around the JAIL making threats, but
taking no action.
Seriously alarmed at the situation,
Judge w. Samuel Goodwin of the coun-
/ ty court stationed twenty five deputies
around the Jail ana sent a telegram to
Governor Tyler at Richmond, begging
| him to send troops at once TO prevent a
llynchEg.
The governor acted promptly and the
4 Ricnmond light infantry blues started
/ at 5 O'Clock on a special train on the
4 jsixty-mile run for the scene. Meanwhile
tthe governor had received another mes
sage from Judge Goodwin To the effect
that the mob had declared il would
Istring up the judge also il he insisted ON
4 bringing troops 10 protect the negro.
The run from Richmond TO Enporia
s. Vas made in seventy-seven minutes and
4 the troops arrived in time to save the
4 life of the prisoner, altho had
l,hey bsen later he would doubt
Hess haze been found swinging
Z. from a limb as the mob was growing
more clamorous and impatient With ev-
ery passing moment
Cotton has had a remarkable career as
arriininal. About a year ago he MUIR
d dereti a citizen of Portsmouth. He wa.
Z arrested, tried aud sentenced 10 b,
hanged. The death watch WAS place.
a upon him. but one night while his guart
slept he escaped and no trace of hin
II WAS found until his arrest yesterda,
morning charged with two addtiona
81 murders.
Judge Goodwin last night telegra phet
the governor that he would dispeise TIL
:. mob. send the soldiers away and ar
: lrarge to have Cotton and several othe
prisoners guarded by the citizens. II i
believed by many however. that the cit
! izens are putting up a job on Judg
I, Goodwin. and that when the soldiers ar
withdrawn the negro prisoner Will b
: lynched.
Cotton confessed the shooting o
Saunders and Melton, and stated COOL
! that he had killed twenty-five men.