The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-27
4
Troops Sent to Emporia to Protect the
Two Murderers-Troops Withdrawn.


Richmond, Va, March 23.-The negro
who, with a white man, was engaged
in the killing of Justice Of the Peace
Saunders and Mr.. Welton at Shippers,
in Greensville county, Thursday. was.
after an all-night chase, captured ct
StOney Creek, Sussex county
He confessed to the shooting of
Saunders and Welton and TO several
rObberies, among them that of the
Grizzards at EmporiG. but denied the
killing of George w. Black. who was
murdered in his store some weeks ago,
and of which he was also suspected.
He is the negro Cotton who escaped
from the Portsmouth, Va. jail some
months ago. while under sentence of
death.
A posse Immediately started from
Emporia, the county seat of Green's
willie.
In the meantime large crowds of in
furiated citizens of GreenSville had
gathered at Emporia, bent on lynching
Cotton. County Judge Goodwin wired
the governor a request for troops, and
the governor promptly ordered Com
pany B. Richmond Blues, to report at
the Coast Line depot. where a special
had been secured, and then he queried
the sheriff of Greensville to know if he
endorsed the judges request.
Later. the governor received from the
judge a telegram stating that it was
said his life would be in danger if the
troops were sent.
The governor asked if he must con-
strue this as a withdrawal of the re-
quest, but subsequently the sheriff 5
endorsement came. and the troops
were dispatched. They arrived at the
scene early in the afternoon, and forth
with surrounded the Jail, to which Cot
49, 49, h@@, H. ~~ -~~- 49,
white man who was with him when the
killing occurred, is also confined.
Cotton CAV the names of several
parties who, he said, were engaged in
the Black robbery and murder. and
posses have been sent after them.
Richmond, Va. March 2S.-At 9
o'clock tonight it was represented TO
the judge that if the troops remained
! at Emporia the mob would attack
them. 1t was then agreed that the
sheriff should order the troops bac and
a local guard be placed at the Jail. the
citizens agreeing that the law should
take its course and the sheriff. in a
speech. pledging himself that Cotton
should never leave the county alive.
The other company of the Blues had
been held here under arms ready to
reinforce their comrades, but Major
CutchinS, who is in command on the
scene of the trouble, ~telegraphed that
they were not e
At 11:25 o'clock p. m. the Jail was in
charge of the local guards, and the
military were ~quartered in the court
house. 1t was reported. however, that
a mob was approaching from Pleasant
Hill and another from along the At
lantic and Danville railway.
Despite the of the sheriff.
it is feared there will be lynching be-
fore morning.
Richmond. March "a. las a. m.-The
military have again been called upon
1 to take charge of h Jail, it being re-
ported that a lynching mob is forming
on the edge of town. Major Cutchins
has wired the governor for another
military company.
3 a. ma special from Emporia sent
at 2:05 o'clock, says Major Cutchins
has notified the leaders Of n mob
that he will protect the prisoners as
long as he has a man standing, and
means to shoot to kill. This has had
the effect of d~ampening the zeal of the
would-be lynchers, and it is thought
the law will prevail.