Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-06-13
A MOB FRUSTRATED.
The Nerve Of a Georgia Sheriff
Prevents Lynching.
one NAN KILLED and Two WOUNDED
Williams, the Negro, Was to Have Deen
Hanged, but His Lawyers Carried His
Case Up-A Proclamation Issued
by the Governor.

Carrollton, Ca, June S.-The nerve
Of q Georgia sheriff, whose name is
Joseph Merrill, yesterday upheld the
law Of the state and saved the life Of
q negro from mob. In protecting
the negro, who was saved from the
gallows only few hours before
through the efforts of his lawyers,
one life was lost and two men were
wounded The arrival of the state
militia ayerted threatened trouble
last night and at nine o'clock spe-
cial train, bearing the negro, whose
crime was the murder of little white
boy whom he found fishing alone, was
speeding towards Atlanta, under
guard. The man killed in attacking
the Jail was George Bennett, of Car
rollton, and the wounded men are
Thomas s. Word, father of the muir
dered boy, and an unknown man, pre-
sumably farmer
Williams, the negro who caused the
trouble, was tried and found guilty Of
numbering Otis Word January /, 1901,
and sentenced to be hanged yesterday.
He was only yesterday morning re-
fused new trial by Judge Harris, but
his attorneys filed bill Of exceptions
and carried the case to the supreme
court.
A large crowd of people had come
to town to witness the hanging and
when It was learned that an appeal
had befa taken to the supreme court,
delaying the execution, there was
much excited talk, which crystallized
soon after in the formation of a mob.
At noon the mob made an assault on
the Jail. They battered down the out
side door, despite the warning Of the
sheriff, and entered the building.
They made a demand on the sheriff
for the key to the negro's cell, but
were refused. With the refusal they
began their advance upon the sheriff
and the few deputies which he had
been able to summon to his aid. They
were told to stop or they would be
fired on, but the order was not obeyed.
AS they advanced down the corridor
towards the sheriff the order was
given to fire. Bennett fell, dying al
most instantly. Thomas Word, the
father Of Williams victim, who was In
the front of the mob, was badly shot,
as was also an unknown countryman.
The unexpected fight Of the sheriff
and his little posse frightened the
mob and they retreated outside OF
the Jail. Here they broke and ran and
were soon divided into little groups,
discussing the event. Sheriff Merrill
at once consulted Judge Harris, of
the county court, and II was decided
to call upon Gov. Gambler for aid. The
governor was communicated with by
telephone and said he would send two
companies from Atlanta as soon us
they could be assembled.
During the afternoon the mob tele-
phoned the situation to friends In the
adjoining towns OF Villa Riea and
Temple and made an appeal for more
men TO get possession Of the negro.
This was communicated also to Gov.
Gambler and the governor soon wired
q proclamation to the people of the
county. II was read from the steps of
the courthouse at four o'clock by the
mayor. The governor commanded the
people to dispense and said the entire
military and civil forces Of the state
would be used to enforce order il nee
essary. The reading of the proclama-
ton apparently had good effect, ms
many people were seen to mount their
horses and leave town. Much appre-
hension was felt for the night and
the sheriff and city and county Off
cials after consultation decided to
take the prisoner out OF the county
for safe keeping. The Atlanta mill
tia, under command Of Maj. Barker,
arrived about six o'clock and one hour
later escorted the negro and Sheriff
Merrill to the train, which was soon
speeding southwark to Atlanta.