Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-06-20
THE LYNCHING
At S IREVEPORT.
Lame Attempt That Was Made al
Its Justification,
WHITES NEED PROTECTION.
Alleged Evidence duplicating Smith
ana McLand History Of Their
Religious Organization.

New orleans, June 2O--Tho lynching
Of the two negroes last night near
Shreveport created sensation today
as with the excitement dying out It
was thought their lives would be spared
at least until the capture OF Prince Ed
wards, who killed j. G.. Foster on the
Foster plantation
a special from Shreveport however,
says that evidence was discovered
clearly establishing the guilt of Smith
ana McLand as enemies 70 the whites
Gnd dangerous elements to be left at
large among the negroes and that the
people Of Bossier regarded their exc
cution as essential to the preservation
OF order in the parish,
The evidence obtained by the police
showed the following facts:
The organization Of which Prophet
Smith was the head had It's origin
Ia Houston and was known as the
Church OF the Living God The mem
bers of the supreme council, as indl-
Gated by regular printed letter-heads
which were found, were Smith and Nc
Land who Were lynched, and Prince
Edwards, the murderer Of John Gray
Foster.
Smith, when he came 70 Louisiana.
established himself at Shreveport but
was ordered away by the chief Of police
as dangerous character After the
shooting Of Foster search Of his
premises was instituted and the ark
Of the covenant, a fulely constructed
box with hOod0o designs on and with
In It, was found. When It was touched
by the searchers the negroes were
greatly terrified and declared that but
one had advanced far enough to lay
hands on the sacred box.
The members OF the church known as
princes had regular meetings at which
Smith presided with the designation Of
king. The following IL an exact copy
from the minutes of the meeting held on
the Foster plantation, showing how
business was carried ON and the enmity
that existed between Smith and his fol-
lowers and the chief If police Of Shreye-
port and Foster, the murdered man.
1.-THE royal archiye OF the kingdom Of
God met in supreme council: sang
Dark was the Night Opened By read
ing the thirty-seoond chapter Of Isaiah.
Alter +. H. Smith, the hng announced
the meeting, he stated that he was adj
vlsed OF God TO call the princes togpther
In council to decide what should be-
done with the chief OF police and his
force for interfering with the king OF
the church Of God in Shreveport
prince Webb being the first to arise,
said he was In favor OF demanding six
months aflllction upon the chief. Prince
Hicks said he was in favor Of the same.
Also Prince McIand. Also Prince
Johnson Also Prince Edwards. All
concurred, demanding six months afilic-
ton on Chief Lake Of Shreveport.
Next case was the rockers Of the
building The case was decided. All
that rock the building must be punished
with death within four days.
"A complaint was taken against ] G.
Foster that he should be tormented
until he give consent that all saints
leave the place.
Before he was lynched last night.
smith confessed that he had loaded the
gun with which Foster was killed. |
Many letters Of an incenilary character
written by Smith and his followers have |
been found The discovery Of these !
evidences Of conspiracy led 10 last |
lights lynching. Sheriff Thompson of |
8ossier made no attempt to interfere |
with the superior numbers Of the mob. !