Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-06-08
A PLUCKY SHERIFF
Protects Condemned Negro
from Vengeance Of Mob.
XIII; One AMI Wounds ScvcI al--The
Mob Sends for More Men.
,,u,iia Called Out. Deputies Sworn in Pris.
-. oner Taken 10 Atlanta.

corrolton. Ga, June THE nerve of
roserh Merrill. sheriff of Carroll coun-
:, TODAY. upheld the law of the state
or5 saved the life of a negro from a
,,,ob In protecting the negro who was
ssred from the gallows only n few
hours before, through the efforts of his
LAWYERS, one life was lost and two men
were wounded.
The arrival of the state militia avert
Cd threatened trouble, tonight, and a
special train bearing the negro. whose
crime was the murder of a little white
how. whom he found fishing alone, and
his guard, left for 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.
Thomas s. Word. father of the muir
dered boy, who was in the front ranks
of the would be lynchers. was. strange
10 say. not hit. After Bennett fell Mr.
Word jumped upon the window and
exclaimed dramatically: Shoot me-
Mr.. Sheriff; l would as soon die now as
any time"
Williams, the negro, was tried and
found guilty of numbering Otis Word
Jan. /. He was sentenced to be hang
ed The execution was to have taken
place. today. A new trial was refused
by Judge Harris. this morning, and his
attorneys Immediately filed bill of
exceptions and carried the case to the
supreme court.
Iar nf hn ~
town to witness the hanging and when
it was learned that an appeal had been
taken, delaying execution. the mob
made an assault on the Jail, battered
down the outside iron door and enter
ed the building. They made a demand
for the key to the Negroes cell and on
being refused, advanced upon the sher-
if and deputies. They were told to stop
or they would be fired upon, but the or
der was not obeyed.
As they advanced down the corridor
toward the sheriff the order was given
to fire.
Bennett fell. dying almost instant
~ Thomas Smith was in front of
the mob and 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.
Gov. Chandler was communicated
with and said he would send two COM
panics from Atlanta.
During the afternoon the mob tcle-
phoned the situation t. friends in the
adjoining towns of Villa Eica and
Temple and made an appeal for more
men to effect the capture of the negro.
This was communicated also to Gov.
Gambler and the governor soon wired a
proclamation to the people of the cOun-
~. 1t was read from the steps of the
court house at 4 o'clock by the mayor.
The governor commanded the people to
disperse and said the entire military
and civil forces of the state would lie
used to enforce order if necessary.
Many people mounted their horses and
left town.
Much apprehension was felt for the
night and the sheriff and city and
county officials after consultation de-
cided to take the prisoner out of the
county for safe keeping. The Atlanta
militia arrived about 6 o'clock and cs-
corted the negro and sheriff to the train
which soon left for Atlanta.