The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-02-12
SHERIFF LEE is ALARMED
Thinks the Robbers Caught Friday
Night Are in Danger.
MILITARY IN AsHEVLLE 0RMEREO ON DUTY
Samuel A-xander's Brave Battle With the -Four
Men that tried to Rob the Postoffice at
Emma. Confession If The Man Most
Desperately Wounded,
Desperately Wounded

Yesterday afternoon, Governor Aycock
authorized Sheriff Lee, of Buncombe coun-
ty, to call out the two military companies
at Asheville to prevent lynching at
that place.
He did this in response to telegram
from the sheriff stating that there was
danger of a lynching unless immediate
steps were taken to prevent it. Cover
nor Aycock's telegram in response TO
Sheriff Lees was as follows:
ITO Il. F. Lee. sheriff, Asheville. n. c.:
II have ordered the two military com
panies to report to you Immediately to
aid you in securing order. Omit no eff
fort to keep the peace. Wire when you
receive this. and keep me posted.
The men for whom protection is need
ed are the burglars who. on last Friday
night attempted to rob the postoffice at
Emma, in Buncombe county. Their eff
forts were thwarted by the pluckiness of
Mr.. Samuel Alexander, the clerk, and in
tho scrimmage that ensued two of them
were shot, and one perhaps fatally
wounded.
Two of tho robbers are white and two
colored. The white men are Russ Gates
and Dudley Johnson. and the negroes are
Ben Foster and Hardy Miller. both ex
convicts. All are between % and 26 years
of age. The wounded man (Foster)
thought he was dying, and made a
full confession, duplicating the other men
in number OF outrages that have taken
place in Asheville recently
During the past few weeks, citizens
have been wayiaid and robbed in the
residence part of the city and on promi-
nent streets. One Of these holdups oc
CURED in front OF the residence of Mr..
Lock Craig. So daring have been these
affairs that citizens have been afraid
TO leave their homes after dark
When it became known that the cap
tured mon were the perpetrators of these
outrages, feeling ran high against them
ard it became known that an attempt
would be made to lynch them. News
of this reached Sheriff Lee, and he tele-
graphed TO Governor Aycock for aid in
protecting the men. The Governors re-
Spouse was prompt, and it is hoped that
the affair Iuay not eliminate in any
thing serious.
Foster has been almost continually on
the chain gang for years and has escaped
several times. He has always been un-
ruly on the gang and has a bad reputa-
tion.
Mills has been on the gang many times.
One of his brothers was lynchcd in Ruth
crford county last fall and another broth
CT has been in serious trouble here Mills
answers the description of the man who
held up Fred Fl. Shuford of The Citizen
job rooms on Flint street several weeks
aga.
Gates says he came from Tennessee.
and no one seems to have known him long.
1t has not been learned where John
son came from. 1t is said he employs
the name of Wilson also, and that there
is reward of $1,000 out for him by the
Florida authorities for murder. 1t is
said the Indian territory authorities want
him for some serious crime.
The Ashevlle Citizen gives the fol-
lcwng account of the robbery:
THE robbery occurred about o'clock
The postoffice is in d. J. McLellan's store
ana Samuel Alexander the clerk. had
Just closed the store when a call came
from the outside that some person. |
peculiar name being given wanted some |
groceries. MIR. Alexander 1unbarred the |
door. when a masked man stepped in |
covering him with his pistol. telling him |
lie meant business and for him to obey |
orders.
Another masked man came in and the |
pair directed Mr.. Alexander to go to his !
room. They found his revolver there, and |
then told him TO unlock the postoffice |
He did not have the key and told them /
it would do no good anyway for there ,
was nothing there.
THE robbers then demanded that he |
II, 1,n 4 il,,ft
The combination, whcreupon one of the |
robbers drew knife and threatened to
cut his throat Mr.. Alexander then open |
ed the safe and Johnson put his revolver |
down and began to take the money from
the safe while Foster kept MIR Alexandc7
covered
"A cat made noise in the rear OF the
store and Fosters attention was drawn |
to it. Mr.. Alexander. quick as flash, |
saw his opportunity. He caught up the |
revolver lying on the desk and shot
Foster, the bullet entering the left side, |
just below the heart
MIR. Alexander attempted to shoot |
Johnson, but his revolver snapped and |
grappled with him. In the |
seufilc Foster fired and the shot strucl |
Mr., Alexander in the left thigh Mr.. |
Alexander then fired again and struck |
Johnson in the shoulder, the ball ranging |
upward. leaving the shoulder and enter |
ing tic Jaw, passing entirely through, |
and was taken out of the other jaw this |
morning. 1t is a 44-calibre bullet the |
same size rs the one Mr.. Alexander was !
sho; with. which was found in the stor
this morning. Mr.. Alexander has only |
a flesh wound
The struggle continued and Mr.. Alex
ander, despite his loss OF blood. over |
powered both his assailants and dragged |
them 10 the door. He unbarred the door ;
and dragged them onto the porch. They |
then to escape with the aid Of |
their accomplices. and Mr.. Alexander fell |
90 weak to stand longer
The robbers fired parting shot. bus |
mt will