Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-06-14
MOB law POSTPONED
And the Mob Disappointed in a
Little Negro Matter in
Louisiana.
BLACK MAN KILLS A WHITE MAN
Whereupon n Dozen Negroes, Some of
Them Women, Are in Danger
OF Judge Lynch.

New Orleans, La, June IA spe-
cial to The Picayune from Shreveport
says: The prisoners supposed to have
been implicated in the murder of John
Gray Foster were last night removed
from Kennebrew' store, where they
were in the hands of the posse, and
taken to Benton under a strong guard
commanded by Deputy Sheriff Port
Edwards. The taking of the prisoners
to Benton removes the Immediate dam
ger of lynching."
Shreveport. La, June 14.-ThiS city
and its vicinity have been in a state
Of feveriSh excitement and unrest since
Wednesday, when John Gray Foster,
n prominent planter, was shot and
killed 10y Prince Edwards. a negro en-
ployed on the Foster plantation, five
miles east Of this city. Armed mObs
of white men have been securing the
country for miles around in an at
tempt to capture Edwards. \ dozen
or more negroes are under arrest in
Kennebrew's store, some of whom are
women, and what fate may have in
store for them is uncertain. Foster
was widely known and very popular.
He was a brOther-in-law of Governor
McMillin, of Tennessee. and belonged
to one of the oldest families in this
state.
Overseers and Negroes Disagree.
There had been bad feeling for some
time past between the negroes and
overseers on the Foster plantation. and
Foster was appealed to to settle the
differences. The planter started to
see the negroes. and upon reaching
negro cabin he was fired upon and
killed. There were dozen or more
negroes in the cabin. and they broke
and ran i'm all directions. The over
seerS were quickly joined by other
men. and it was not long before all
the negroes were arrested. except
Prince Edwards. who did the shoot
ing MobS were quickly formed and
started on hunt for the negro. hut at
this writing have made no further ar
rests.
Prospects for Triple Lynching.
There were many wild rIImors ItlOat
Throughout the day. the most senS;I-
tioual being that the negroes in the
ECnnehrCw store were in imminent
peril Of being lynchCd. This rumor
proved 10 he untrue. although many
threats are heard against the prison
CrS. The store where the negroes are
men armed with WinChcStcrS. and un-
less time changes the disposition
Of the mob. the majority. if not all. OF
the prisoners will be let Off with
thorough whipping. Edwards, Il
cnught. Will he burned or lynched.
There is much feeling against "Proph-
ct Smith and Edward Washington,
both of whom are under arrest. Smith
is believed TO he at the bottom of all
the trouble. while Washington is said
10 have been active in aiding Edwards
to escape.
Were Texas Negroes Originally.
Houston. Tex. June 1.-THE ne
grOeS who are cOrraled at Shreveport
were taken from Houston during the
winter by Il negro preacher calling
himself Elijah. the Prophet" He
created n great furore among ignorant
blacks by predicting dire disaster. and
finally persuaded about POO of them to
20 to Louisiana to avoid death in the
prophesied destruction of Houston.
Men and women deserted their unbe-
lieving partners. 1t was aScertained
afterward that Smith Cthe name of the
self-styled prophe0 was acting as an
agent for planters who were short of
help and had used his influence as an
cxhorter TO scare them into going with
him.