The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-06-11
HE DISpERSES A MOB BENT ON LYNCH
ING HIS PRISONER
DONE AT THE COST OF A LIFE
The Jail at Carrollton, Ga, Attacked
by q Mob, Who Demand the Negro.
The Outer Door Broken Open, They
Face the sherir and q Few Deputies.
Warming Not to Advance Unheeded.
The Crowd Fired On-One Man Killed
and Two Others wounded-The Pris-
Ouer Saved,

C%arrolton. Ga, June THE nerve
Of an obscure Georgia sheriff. whose
name is Joseph Merrill, today upheld
the law Of the state and saved the life
Of a negro from a mob. In protecting
the negro, who was saved from the
gallows only q few hours before
through the efforts of his awyers one
life was lost and two men were
wounded.
The arrival of the state MALTA
averted threatened trouble tonight, and
at 9 o'clock a special train, bearing the
negro whose crime was the murder of
a little white boy whom he found fish
ing alone. and his guard was speeding
owards Atlanta.
The man killed in attacking the Jail
was George Bennett, of Carrollton. and
the wounded men are Thomas Smith,
also of Carrollton. and an unknown
man, presumably a farmer.
Wllllams, the negro, was tried and
found guilty of numbering Otis Word,
u LIST, this year, and sentenced
TO be hanged today, being refused a
new trial by Judge Harris. This morn
ing his attorneys Reese. Smith & Boy
Kin, filed 4 bill of exceptions and carried
the case to the supreme court.
A large crowd of people had come to
witness the hanging and when it was
learned that an appeal had been taken
to the supreme court, delaying execu-
ton. there was much talk, which leo
soon after to the formation of a mob.
AT noon the mob made an assault OF
the Jail. They battered down the out
side iron 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 whom 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 almost in
stantly. Thomas Smith who was in the
front of h mob was badly shot, as
was also an unknown countryman.
The unexpected fight of the sheriff
and his posse frightened the mob and
they retreated outside the Jail. Here
they broke and ran and were Don di-
vided into little groups discussing the
event.
Sheriff Merrill at once consulted
Judge Harris of the county court and
it was decided to call upon Governor
Gambler for aid. The governor was
communicated with by telephone and
said he would send two companies from
Atlanta as soon as they could be as
| sembled.
During the afternoon the mob tele-
phoned friends in the adjoining towns
of Villa Rica n Temple and made an
appeal for more men to effect the cap
ture of the negro.
This was communicated to Governor
Gambler and the governor soon wired &
proclamation to the people of the coun-
ty. 1t was read from the steps of the
court house at 4 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 if necessary. The
reading of the proclamation apparently
had a good effect. as many people were
seen to mount their horses and leave
the town.
Much apprehension was felt for thu
night and the sheriff and city an(
county officials, after a consultation
decided to take the prisoner out of tn
county for safe keeping.
The Atlanta militia. under command
of Major Barker, arrived about
o'clock, and one hour later escorted tn
negro and sheriff to the train which
was soon speeding southwark for At
lanta.
Atlanta, Ga, June THE specia
train bearing the two companies o
state militia which Governor Candle
sent to Carrollton to preserve order re
turned to Atlanta at II o'clock, havli..
in charge the negro Williams. TIL
convicted murderer was quickly escort
ed to the Fulton county Jail where q,
will be kept until the state suprem,
court acts on the appeal in his case.
Sheriff Joseph I. Merrill who accom-
panied the party. a the leaders o
the mob were Bennett and Mr.. Word
and that both of them had assured min
early in the-day that there would be NJ
trouble. but that along about noon the.
found it impossible to restrain thei
friends. Sheriff Merrill said Mr.. Wore
was the last on of the mob to ave thu
iail and that he WAS hlY the Onl,