The Washington weekly post., 1900-03-27

commit himself regarding a prosecution: =
r1at no action would be taken 70 prose-
! cute the iyuehers tli he had communi-
oaied With Gov Tyler and Attorney Cen
eTal Montague.
The four other parties. a white man
end three negro youths. arrested on sus-
pieion Of being implicated in the murder.
we're released and ordered 20 leave the
county
IL Is generally thought thai the crowd
acted too hastily IN IynchInE OGrady. as
there was no evidence TO show that he
had fired upon the officers. VINO we're kill
%. He was however. in the house at the
time the fatal shots were fired and re-
nained there until he IVES arrested.
The lynching is the first that has ever
taken place in Greenezville County. and
the affair has caused much excitement
IN FmpoTia and neIghbOrhOod.
The immediate cffre which called for
vengeance was the ASA assination Of Jus
tce Saunders ard Constable Weltou az
the robber bands rendezvous Thursday
morning. They were members Of a posse.
which sought TO arrest the leaders OF a
gang. which killed George W Blick. roo
bed several citizens, and committed many
bold robberies
Cotton was seLterced to be hanged in
Portsmouth. Va. January Y. for the mur-
der Of Charles Wyatt. He escaped Jail
December -. Cotton was identified by
Solicitor Daniels, Of Weldon Y g, as
the man whom he .ad twice sent 10
states prison. and who boasted that he
had killed twenty-five men during MS
O. rceF Of crime
The body Of O'Grady will be buried b.
the county CottOn's remains will 20 10
Portsmouth, where large reward had
been offered.
Gov. Tyler Criticised.
Richmond Va, March 2l-There is the
most intense excitement and indignation
here tonight over the double lynching
that there was needless sacrifice Of life. and
Al EnDoria. The fet Ing IS very general
that the adoption Of reasonable measures
would nave prevented the horrible blot
on the States good name.
There IS strong disposition 10 criticise
the governor for not having declared
martial law. His exceilency, however,
points 20 sections Of the code which make
IL plainly his duty TO defer to the civil
authorities. Maj. Cutchins says. both
privately and IN effect. IN his report 10
the governor, that he could have pre-
vented the trouble had not the sheriff Of
GrecnesvilIe County, after consultation
with the judge and others. dismissed
him. and ordered the withdrawal OF his
troops He appealed TO the governor, who
wired him 10 obey the instructions of the
civil authorities.
The governor and the military place the
entire responsibility on the county au-
thorities, who were afraid Of personal
violence, and were very Vacillating The
governor late tonight gave out the fol-
lowing statement:
The Governors Statement.
1.-THE action of the mob Of GreenesviHe
County in lynching Cotton and O'Grady
cannot he condoned There are some
mitigating circumstances. The people of
that county were very much excited and
incenSed on account Of several crimes
that had been committed in their neigh
bOrhCOd, finally eliminating in the muir
der OF two prominent citizens. who were
endeavoring TO apprehend these two men.
v no were suspected of having committed
the onenses, and, as it developed really
committed by and under the leadership
OF Cotton. an escaped convict, who had
broken Jail the night he was TO have
been executed, and who boasted. after
capture. of the twenty-five liendish mur-
ders ne had committed.
"The result demonstrates that the de-
feet is not in the law. but in the failure
of its enforcement. The troops had the
situation well in hand, and all trouble
could have been averted. The sheriff.
who, under our statutes, has entire
control Of the military in such situ-
atiOns, ordered the soldiers home.
and refused 10 let them remove the
prisoners 10 place Of safety. Within
short time after the troops left the mob
reassembled and lynched the prisoners.
THE remedy for such occurrences may
be found in a greater cultivation in the
minds and hearts of the people OF a deep
er respect and devotion for our conStitu-
ton and laws, thereby causing them 10
select as their officers men who will fear
lessly maintain the majesty of the law
No people can afford 20 have their laws
defied, however great the provOcation."
says He Performed His Duty.
Discussing the matter earlier in the aft
ernoon. the governor said: Il feel that
did all ! could in the matter. The civil
authorities stated that they could handle
the mob without military assistance, and
when the sheriff ordered Maj Cutchins to
depart, there was nothing left for him TO
do but go.
L am Sltclly ulSleSSeO at lne result,
but ] could not keep the soldiers there
without declaring martial law, and l did
not feel that the prevailing conditions
warranted that.
The soldiers behaved nobly, / am told
by Maj. Cutchins. and | know Of my own
hnowledge that they lost no unnecessary
time IN getting together on the call TO
arms,
The law in reference 10 such matters
VIII, 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 deeply
deplore this fragrant outrage upon law
and order. Nothing was left for me TO do
but what was done. / exercised my pre-
rOsative TO its fullest extent.
The trouble seems 20 have been with