The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-25
TWO LYNCHED AT EMPoRIA.
COTTON AND O'GRADY HANGED BY
INFURIATED MOB.


sheriff Sent the Troops Away and
Then the Mob Did Its work-Ma-
jority of the Crowd That Lynched
the White Man Was Made Up OF
Negroes-Gov. Tyler Is Much Dis
tressed and Holds the sherin Re-
spOnsibIe.
Richmond. Va, March A-The reign Of
excitement in Greenesville county culmi-
mated to-day in a double lynching at EN-
poria.
Both Cotton, the negro who, according
to his own confession, killed Saunders
and Welton, and O'Grady, the white man
who was with him in the cabin when the
killing occurred, were hanged by an infu-
rated mob, variously estimated at from
1900 to 2OOO strong.
This morning the sheriff of the county
discharged from duty the military that
had been sent from this city at his re-
quest, and Maj Cutchins, in command of
the troops, notified Gov. Tyler, stating
at the same time that he believed that if
the prisoners were left unprotected by the
military they would be lynched. The Gov
ernor replied as follows:
"The sole responsibility is on the sheriff.
If he orders you to withdraw you can do
nothing but obey.> We have done every
thing possible to uphold law and prevent
mob violence and are still prepared to
render any aid necessary. Have recalled
train with Capt. Cheatwoods company,
and will again dismiss them. Will arrange
with railroad to bring your men back"
Mob Went Right to Work.
Accordingly, Maj. Cutchins entrained
his men and started for Richmond. This
was about II O'clock
Hardly was the special out of sight
when a mob entered the JAIL took Cot
ton, hanged him to the limb Of a tree
and fired several bullets into his body.
Later, despite the protests Of cooler
heads, who claimed that the guilt of the
white man had not been established, an
other crowd, composed largely of ner
groes, entered the Jail, oYerpowered the
resistance of the few that tried to pro-
tect O'Grady Took hirn out and hanged
him also. The three other prisoners
whom Cotton charged with having COM
mitted the Blick murder and robbery,
were discharged by the judge and left
town. At last accounts the town had
resumed its wonted quietude.
Gov. Tyler Deplores 1t.
Gov. Tyler said this evening: II feel
that have done all I could in the mat
ter. The civil authorities stated that they
could handle the mob without military as
sistance and when the sheriff ordered
Maj. Cutchins to depart, there was moths
ing left for him to do but go.
II am greatly distressed at the result,
but l could not keep the soldiers there
without declaring martial law, and did
not feel that the prevailing conditions
warranted that.
THE law in reference to such matters
will, 1 presume, be carried out. The men
who took part in the lynching will, or
should be arrested and dealt with ac-
cordingly.
"As Governor and as a citizen, deep
ly deplore this fragrant outrage upon law
and order. Nothing was left for me TO do
but what was done. I exercised my pre-
rosative to its fullest extent. The trouble
seems to have been with the authorities
at Emporia. We were given to understand
that protection would be given the pris-
oners. The result shows that this conf
dence was abused"