The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-11
ROBINSON TO HANG
SOLDIERS PREVENTED LYNCHING
OF NEGRO AssAfEANT.
He CONFESSED HIS CRIME.
HIS VICTIM TOLD HER STORY IN
THE COURT ROOM.


diers on the Trip From Atlanta
to Marietta and Return-TriaI Was
Over i'm Ninety Minutes-Mob Had
Gathered to Lynch Him-He First
Denied His Crime and Then Con-
fcssed 1t.
Atlanta Aug. 10-Justice moved with
Lightning speed in Cobb county to-day
The law was too swift for the woud-be
lynchers who sought the l.fs of Sam Rob-
inson, the negro who assaulted Mrs. Ida
liner, near Vining Station, Monday.
Within the brief period of ninety min
and Sentenced. He will he hanged Sept.
l. in p ivate wi n enc mile of the Cobb
county Court House.
Mrs. Inzer positively Identified Sam Rob
inson as her assailant ard he admitted
his guilt. He says he does not know why
he committed the diabolical deed, but
tfat he is ready to die.
One hundred soldiers picked from all
the Atlanta mi itary companies protected
Robinson from mob violence Maj w W
Barker of the Fifth Regiment was in
command and Col. Obear went along as
he personal representative of Gov. Cand-
Ter. The soldiers slept in their armores
last night and were ready to move
promptly this morning They left Atlanta
with the prisoner on a special train. at
7:i5 a. m. Marietta was reached at $3.50.
Pickets were ioned to keep back the
or wd. A square was form d and with the
negro safe inside, the march to the Court
House was made.
Large Mob Assembled.
More than a thousand men from the
country had assembled, and but for the
presence of the soldiers a lynching would
undoubtedly have occurred. Threats had
been made that Robinson would never
leave Cobb county alive, but the crowd
realized it was useless, and made no at
tempt to seize the negro.
After the trial Robinson was escorted
to the special train and was brought back
to Atlanta. He reached this city at IL AS
a. m, and was placed in a cell in mur-
derers' row in the Tower.
Robinson was probably the coolest man
in the Court House when the trial was
begun. He sat with stolid Indifference
and heard the testimony tighten the rope
about his neck. Never once did he show
the slightest concern or emotion. When
the case was called at $50 by Clerk j. 4.
Foster, E. w. Fry, counsel appointed by
the court to defend the prisoner, an
nounced plea of not guilty would be en-
tered.
The jury was secured in ten minutes
Nine of the first twelve were accepted
The defense put in no testimony, only
the prisoners statement being used II
was weak and rambling, and such tis-
sue of easily discernible fabrications as
TO be amusing. II was contradictory
from start to finish
While the trial was proceeding soldiers
guarded every entrance to the Court
House, and no one was allowed admission
without a written pass, signed by Judge
Gober. Thousands crowded about the
outer lines of soldiers and craned their
necks TO get a glimpse of the prisoner
and prosecutor.
Victim Told Her story.
Mrs. Inzer's face and head We're shroud-
ed in bandages. She told her story in a
subdued voice, giving all the horrible de-
tails, but not until she was told that il
was absolutely necessary. Her identifi-
cation of Robinson was complete and en-
phatic. She did not hesitate a moment
when she saw him.
THAT is the man." she said, positively,
II would know him anywhere 1 should
see him.
After Mrs. InZer had told her story Rob-
inson was carried into an ante-room by
his counsel and was asked If she had
told the truth. He said that every word
she had sworn was true and that he was
The guilty man. His counsel then told
him that il would do no good to tell the
jury lie. He was almost pleaded with
to tell the truth, but he obstinately re-
fused, and when he was put on the stand
TO make his statement he almost
grinning at the twelve men who held in
their power his life.
Negro Asked for Mercy.
Gentlemen of the jury" he said, 81 am
asking for mercy Mercy is what l want"
He then told a contradictory story deny
ing his guilt and closed by confessing it.
II am guilty of this crime. 1t is the
first, and / hope ii will be the last" he
concluded.
1t then developed that Robinson had
confessed to his attorney in Atlanta yes
terday.
1T is true, every word of it is true" he
said.
j. d. Sanders. the farmer who appre-
hended Robinson Tuesday, tod the story
of the arrest. He found the negro al sun
up The negro was unable to give an in
telligent account of himself, and was
taken to Marietta.
DR. j. NJ Moore, who attended Mrs.
Inzer, told OF her frightful condition when
he reached her. The physicians testi-
mony disclosed that the woman's torture
was revolving in the extreme.
In eight minutes the jury made up its
verdict. Robinson was at once sentenced
by Judge Gober 10 be hanged at the ear
lest possible date.
The negro Is 2l years old. and is from
l..