The evening times., 1900-03-28
fHE EMPORIA LYNCBING
Steps TaI.en to Prosecute Those
Who Participated.
Judge GOODWIN Holds a COnsu1ta-
ton With Governor TyIer-Facts
During the Mob's DominatiOu-Tel-
egraphic Communication Cut on.

RICHMOND. Va, March 2S.-Judge W.
Samuel Goodwin, of Greensville county,
was here yesterday consulting with Gov
ernor Tyler and Attorney General Monta-
que with regard to the prosecution of the
Emporia .lynchers. This. the judge says,
is to be conducted with the utmost thor
oughness. The Governor expresses his
satisfaction at this determination. He
will. if necessary. the Governor says, send
military to Emporia to see that the prose-
cution is not interfered with.
Judge Goodwin made some important
statements in connection with the lvnching
of O'Grady and Cotton. Judge Goodwin
said that the Governor was not told that
threats had been made to dynamite his
(Goodwyn's) house; that the lives of the
Commonwealth Attorney and of Sheriff
Lee were threatened if the troops were
not Withdrawn; that the wires were to be
cut and a portion of the railroad track
was to be torn up, and other means re-
sorted 10 sufficient 10 interrupt any and
all communication with the outside world.
Neither was the Governor notified that the
that anyone who dared raise a hand to as
sist in any way the removal of the two
prisoners was in danger. Neither was the
Governor told of the absolute inability of
the civil authorities TO restrain the angry
mob or 10 enforce the execution of the
laws of the Commonwealth. These facts,
taken together with those with which the
Governor was made thoroughly familiar,
Judge Goodwin acknowledged were sufh-
cient TO have him exercise the authority
vested in him 10 declare martial law and
make the civil subordinate to the military.
Had he done this no charge of the usurp-
ing of his prerogatves could have been
made.
Judge Goodwin was asked why the Gov
ernOr was not told of the threats of the
mob. He replied that at such a time, and
laboring under such excitement. il was
impossible for every threat to have been
remembered or communicated TO the Gov
ernor. Then the telegraph office was con-
trOlled by the mob, and il was as has al
ready been stated. necessary for him TO
request the Governor 10 use another tele-
graph line to avoid the interception and
delay of messages. The mob was in con-
troll" he admitted We made all kinds
of promises to the mob. said Judge Good
wyn. and assured them that there would
be no escape for Cotton if they would only
allow the law to take its course. | assur-
ed them that | would call an extra session
of court and try him at once This would
have been done had the two men not been
lynched. We had even gone so far as 10
promise them to begin work OH The scat
fold Monday. | called a conference OF the
representative citizens Of the town. l
asked them 10 decide what was to be re-
quested of the Governor and the troops.
They assured me they would use their in
fluence with the mob to secure a trial for
the accused if the troops were with
drawn"
Judge Goodwin said that Cotton was
brought TO EmpOria forged telegram.
He telegraphed the officer who apprehend
ed the prisoner to carry him to Peters
burg. Someone else then had telegraphed
the officer 10 bring him TO Emporia