Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-06-20
TWO NEGROES HANGED
People Of Bossier Avenee the
Murder Of Foster. Near
That Place.
King" Smith and Prince" Nc.
Land Lynched..Evidence
Of Their Guilt.
We're Leaders in a Dangerous
0reanization-.En
Of the Whites.

Shreveport, La, June 20-The lynch
Ing of two negroes last night near here
created sensation today as with the
excitement dying out ii was thought
their lives would be spared, at least un-
til the murderer. Edwards, was captured.
However, the evidence discovered so
clearly established the guilt of Smith
and McLand as enemies of the whites
and dangerous elements to be left at
large among the negroes that the people
Of Bossier regarded their execution as
essential to the preservation of order in
the parish.
The evidence obtained by the police
showed the following facts: The organi-
cation OF which Prophet" Smith was
the head had Its origin in Houston and
was known as the Church of the Liv-
ing Cod" and the members of the SUI
srreme council, as Indicated by the reg
ular printed letters-heads which were
found, were Smith and McLand, who
were lynehed, and Prince Edwards, the
murderer of John Gray Foster. Smith,
when he came to Louisiana, established
himself at Shreveport. but was ordered
away by the chief of police as danger
Gus character. After the shooting of
Foster search of his premises was in
stituted and an ark of the covenant, a
rudely constructed box with hoodoo de-
signs on and within 1t was found When
II was touched by the searchers the ne
groes were greatly terrified and declared
but one had advanced far enough to lay
hands on the sacred box.
The members of the church are known
as princes and had regular meetings al
which Smith presided with the designa-
ton as king" Following is an exact
copy from the minutes of meeting held
on the Foster plantation. showing how
business was carried on and the ennlity
that existed between Smith and his fol-
lowers and the chief of police and Fos-
ter:
THE Royal Archive of the Kingdom
of God met In supreme council srn.
Dark Was the Night" Opened b,
reading the thirty-second chapter OF
Isaiah. After F. x. Smith, king an
nounced the meeting he stated he was
advised of God to call the princes to-
gether In council to decide what should
be done with the chief of police and his
force for Interfering with the king OF
the Church OF God in Shreveport
Prince Webb being the first to arise
said he was in favor of demanding sls
months affection upon the chief Prince
Hicks said he was In favor Of the same
Also Prince McLand. Also Prince John
son. Also Prince Edwards. All con
Cured in demanding six months af-
Fiction on Chief Lake, of Shreveport.
THE next case was Rockers of the
building. The case was decided: All
that rock the building must be punished
with death within four days
Complaint was taken against j. NJ
Foster that he should be tormented un.
til he give consent to all saints to leave
the place
Before he was lynched last might
Smith confessed he had loaded the CUR
with which Foster was killed Many
letters OF an incendiary character writ
ten by Smith and the gang have beer
found. The discovery of these evidences
of conspiracy led to last nights lynch
ing Sheriff Thompson. of Bossier. made
no attempt to interfere in view of tbs
superior numbers OF the mob.