The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-18
AN OUTRAGEOUS MURDER
FOR WHICH THE MURDERER QUICKLY
PAYS THE PENALTY OF HIS CRIME
SHOT TO DEATH ON STREET CAR
A Young White Man on q Street Car at
Augusta, Ga, Resents the Insult of a
Ne2ro and is KiIled-rhe Negro Ar
rested-Oficers start to Atlanta with
Him-The Trian Met by a Party at a
Nearby Depot and the Murderer
Lynched.

Augusta, Ga, May 14.-Aleck Whit
ney. aged 25 years, a society leader and
popular young man, was shot and kill
ed on a street a at 7:30 o'clock p.
m. by William Willis, a negro, in a dis
pute about a seat in the car. Much ex-
element, but not much fear of lynch
ing.
At 2 O'Clock (Monday morning) there
is still a great deal Of excitiment on
the streets owe the killing of young
Alex Whitney by the negro, William
Willis.
Whitney and a friend were riding on
the electric belt line when two negroes
got on the car, one taking a seat in
front and one sitting down in Whit
ney's lap. Whitney told the negro
there was no more room before he sat
down, but was paid no attention to. He
showed the negro UP, telling hin he
could not sit there. The negro's friend,
Willis, who was in the seat in front,
said, - it, sit there anyhow"
Whitney slapped the negro with the
back Of his hand and a scuf1le ensued.
Willis, who was not in the scuffle,
drew a revolver and fired, the ball
striking Whitney below the left eye,
He died a few minutes after.
Large crowds soon collected and a
special detail of twenty-five policemen
with rifles were sent to guard the Jail.
Willis was secretly put on the Geor-
gia railroad train, but a number of cit
liens had boarded the train also and
when Grovetown was reached a tele-
phone message having been previously
sent to collect a crowd the negro was
taken off the train by them. This is
the latest report, but a lynching is
sure to follow if not already accom-
plished.
Augusta, Ga, May 14.-William Will
lis, a negro, who shot and killed Alex.
Whitney, a popular young man of this
city yesterday afternoon, was lynched
near Grovetown, about twelve miles
from here, at 1:20 o'clock. The mob
which disposed of Willis took him from
Richmond county officers. who board
ed "a train for Atlanta soon after the
murder was committed for the pur-
pose of bringing him to a place of
safety. The mob held Willis in the
woods near Grovetown awaiting iden-
LITIGATION. He was sun from a tree.
The rope broke in h first attempt
and a second was made which was
successful. The body was then riddled
with bullets and a placard was placed
upon it bearing a warning to other
negroes. The coroner was notified and
is now investigating.
Governor Gambler was informed ear
ly in the day Of the. prospects of lynch
ing and ordered four companies of
state troops stationed here to
themselves in readiness to prevent any
violence by the mob. Judge Brinson,
of the superior court, called the grand
jury together to prevent any outbreak
but before these precautions could be
effective the negro had been lynched.
Alex. Whitney was on a crowded street
car yesterday afternoon when Willis
and another negro boarded it. No seats
were available and one CT the negroes
sat in Whitney's lay. Whitney struck
the negro and Willis suddenly COM
menced firing with a pistol. The first
shot struck Whitney in the head, caus-
ing almost instant death. The second
grazed the hand of Lieutenant Steiner,
of he Georgia state troops.
Willis was ~overpowered and, later,
placed in the hands Of the officers.
A company of business men sent a
notice to the city authorities that the
law requiring street railways to fur
nish separate accommodations for
white persons and negroes was not
being enforced. 1t was stated that the
military, which Would be ordered to
protect Willis in case Of mob violence,
would refuse to do so, as Whitney was
a prominent member of the organiZa-
ton.