The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-08
TROOPS SENT TO SCENE
The Negro Sought by the Mob
 Removed to Atlanta,
One Man Was Killed and Another Wounded by the sherif's Posse The Governor Determined
 to Uphold Law

Carrollton, Ga, June 7.-Tne 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 gall lows only a few hours before, through the efforts of his lawyers. one life was lost and two men were wounded. The arrival of State troops averted threat ened trouble tonight and at o'clock . special train bearing the negro. whose crime was the murder of 8 little white boy. whom he found fishing alone, was speeding towards Atlanta. The man killed in attacking the jail was George Bennett of Carrollton and the wound- ed men are Thomas Smith also of Car- rollton. and an unknown man, presum- ably farmer.
 Williams. the negro who caused the trouble. was tried and found guilty of murdering Otis Word, January 1st. this year and sentenced to be hanged today, being refused 8 new trial by Judge Harris this morning. His attorneys filed a 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 apasal had been ta- ken to the Supreme Court, delaying the execution. there was much talk. which crystalized soon after in the for nation of a mob.
 At noon the mob made an assault on the jail. The men battered down the outside 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 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 ai- most instantly. Thomas Word, the father of williams's victim. who was in the front of the mob, invited the Sheriff to shoot him.
 The unexpected fight of the Sherim and his posse frightened the mob and they retreated outside of the jail. Here they broke and ran and were soon 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 Cover nor Candler for aid. The Governor was communicated with by telephone and sail he would send two companies from Atlanta as soon as they could be assembled. During the afternoon the mob telephoned the situation to friends in the adjoining towns of Villa Rica and Temple and made an appeal for more men to effect the capture or the negro. This was communicated al- to Governor Candler and the Governor soon wired a proclamation to the peo. pie of the county. It was read from the steps of the Court House at o'clock by the Mayor. The Governor commanded tie people to disperse 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 good els feet as many people were seen to mount their horses and leave the town.
 Much apprehension was felt for the night and the Sheriff and city and county officials after a consultation. decided to take the prisoner out or the county for safe keeping. The At lanta militia, under command of Ma 1or Barker arrived about o'clock and one hour later escorted the negro and Sheriff to the train which was soon speeding southward for Atlanta.