The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-06-12
GEORGIA SHERIFF HAD SAND.
He Protects a Negro Prisoner.
Firing Upon Attacking Mob, One
Killed and Two Wounded.

Carrollton, Ca, June The nerve
of an obscure Georgia sheriff whose
name is Joseph Merrill today uphelo
the law of the State and saved the lie
of a 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 We're wound
ed. The arrival of the State militia
prevented threatened trouble tonlgnt,
and at 9 o'clock special train, bear
ing the negro. whose crime was the
murder of little white boy whom ne
found fishing alone, and his guard,
was speeding toward Atlanta. The
man killed in attacking the jail was
George Bennett of Carrollton, and the
wounded men are Thomas S. Word,
father Of the murdered boy, and an
unknown man presumably farmer.
Williams, the negro, was tried and
found guilty of numbering Otis Word,
Jan. 1st, this year, and sentenced to
be hanged today, being refused a new
trial by Judge Harris this morning.
His attorneys, Reese, Smith & Boy
kin, fled bill of exceptions and car
ried 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 been taken to the supreme court,
DELAYING execution, there was much
talk, which crystalized soon after IN
the formation Of moo.
At noon the mob made an assault on
the Jail. They battered down the out.
side iron door, despite the warning OF
the sheriff, and entered the building.
They made asdemand 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 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 soon ol-
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 Gov.
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 assembled.
During the afternoon the mob tele-
phoned the situation to friends in the
adjoining towns of Villa Rica and
Temple and made an appeal for more
men to capture the negro. This was
also communicated to Gov. Candler
aad the governor soon wired a procia-
nation to the people of the county.
It was read from the steps of the court
house at o'clock by the mayor. The
governor commanded the people to dis
perse 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 effect, as many people
were seen to mout their horses and
leave town.
Much apprehension was felt for the
night and the sheriff and city and
county officials, after consultation,
decided to take the prisoner out of the
county for safekeeping. The Atlanta
militia, under command Of Major Bar
ker, arrived about 6 O'Clock, and one
hour later escorted the negro and
sheriff to the train which was soon
speeding southwark for Atlanta.