Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-06-15
THE SHERIFF
DEFIED THEY.
Protected His Prisoner. The Law
Upheld. Peculiar Condition in Georgia.
A SURPRISE FOR THE COUNTRY.

CNRRoIToS, Ga. Jsne 9Th 'O1.-The
nerve Of an obscure Gre rgia Sheriff
whose name is Joseph Merrill, to-day
upheld the law of the State, aud saved
the life OK . coiored man from q mob.
In protecting the eolored man, who
had been saved from-the gallo xs only
. few hours before through the efforts
OF his lawyers. one life was Lost and
two men were wounded.
The arrival OF State militia avereed
threatened troeble tonight. and at 9
oclock Q special trsinsbearing the col
ored man, whoee eripee was the muir
der of a little white boy whom he
found fishing alone, end. his guard was
speeding towards Atlents.
KILLED AND wvUNDzD,
The msH killed in attacking the jsil
was George Bennett. OF Usrrolton-
The wounded men are Thomas Smith
also Of Csrnolton, and 90 unknown man
presumably . farmer. Thos. 8. Word,
father OF she murderedtboy who Was
in the front rank OF the would-be.
lynchers, was, strange to say, not hit.
After Rsnnett fell. Mr.. Word Jumped
upon the window and exclaimed, dra-
maticAlly: "Shoot me, Ms. Sheriff, I
would ss soon die now as any time"
Only nine shots were Cred, ana the
walls OF the j ell show the mark OF the
bullets. None Of the Sheriff's posse
was hit.
APPEAL TO TEE sUPRRkE COURT.
Williams, the colored msn was tried
and found guilty of numbering Otis
Word, January 1st, thin year, and SEN
tenc ID 80 be hanged to-day, being re-
fused Q new trial by Judge Harris this
morning. His attorneys, Reese, Snith,
q B 3ykin, Fl ed O bill OF exceptions,
and carried the case to the Supreme
Court
CROWD TO SEE HANGING.
A large crowd of people had come to
town TO witness the hanging, and whe n
it was learned that an appeal b ad been
taken to the Supreme Court, delaying
the execution, there was much talk,
which led soon afterwards to the Cor.
nation Of mob At noon, the mob
made an assault on the isil. They bat
tered down the iron door, despite warn
ings from the Sheriff, and entered the
building. They made . demand on
the Sheriff for the key to the prisoners
cell, but we're refused.
with the refusal they began their ad
vance upon the Sheriff, and the few
deputies whom he had been able to
summon to his aid. They were told to
stop or they would be fred on, but the
order was not obeyeo.
THE ORDER To FIRE.
As they advanced down the corridor
towards the Sh sriff, the order was Civ
en- to hre Bennett fell, dying almost
Instantly.
The unexpected fight of Sheriff and
his posse frightened the mob, aud its
members retreated outside the jsil.
Here they broke and ran, and were
soon in little groups, discussing the
event.
Sheriff Merrill at once consulted
Judge Harris of the County Court
and Is was decided 20 call upon Gov.
ernor Gambler fer aid, The Govern
or was communicate with by tele.
phone, and said he would send two
companies from Atlanta a. soon as they
could be assembled.
OTHER TOWNS JOIN IN.
During the afternoon, the mob tele.
phoned the situation to friends in the
adjoining towns OF Villa Rica and Tenn
pie, aHd made an appeal for more men
to effect che capture OF the prisoner,
This was communicated slio to Gov.
ernor Gambler, and the Governor soon
wired proclamation TO the people of
the county. It was read from the steps
of the courthouse at O'Clock by the
Mayor. The Governor commanded
the people to disperse, and said tn q
entire military and civil forces Of the
State would be used to enforce order, il
necessary.
THE MOB LEAVES.
The reading of the proclaim alton ap-
parently had . good effect, as many
people were seen TO mount their hors-
es and leave, the town. Much Appre-
hension wac felt for che night, and the
Sheriff and city and county officials,
after consultation, decided to take
the prisoner out or the county for safe
keeping, The Atlanta military under
the command Of Major Baker, arrived
about o'clock, and one hour latter es-
corted the prisoner and sheriff to the
train, which was soon speeding south.
ward for Atlanta,
coLoRKD NAN sAFE IN ATLANTA.
ATLANTA, Ga, June THE special
train bearing the two companies Of the