The age-herald., 1901-12-07
IetIf Asked Help to Protect Twenty-Five Negroes
 from a Mob
WHOLESALE LYNCH|NG FEARED
Vfree Negroes Were Caught and Killed By Mob Near Opp-lt Is Thought They Were lmpi-
 cated In the Riot.

Andalusia, December 6.-(speclal.)-T troops ordered to Andalusia by Governor Jelks to aid Sheriff Bradshaw in pro- tecting the twenty-five negroes in Jail, arrived here tonight and the town is now under martial law. The sheriff fears an attack at any moment by mob from Opp. and is prepared to protect his pris- oners at all hazards
 Three negroes, names unknown, were caught and killed by a posse of citizens near Opp today for alleged implication in the riot, and the whole country is in arms against the negroes.
 Up to a late hour tonight the mob had not made it's appearance The troops are on guard and the knowledge of this fact may prevent an attack.
 News has just been received here that yesterday morning a negro committed suicide near Opp. He was being pursued by posse with bloodhounds, and seeing that escape was impossible the negro shot himself.
 Asks Governor for Troops.
 Montgomery, December G. Especially Governor Jelks was called upon to order troops to Covington county today to pro- tect the twenty-five negroes in jail there charged with complicity in the murder of the two white men at Opp on Tuesday
 The Governor had been in communca- tion with Sheriff Bradshaw at Andalusia since yesterday, when Justice Searcy thought the presence of troops necessary to preserve peace.
 At Il 80 o'clock today Sheriff Bradshaw telegraphed the Governor that while all was quiet at that hour, he was in posses sion of information that a mob from Opp would assault the jail tonight to lynch the negroes and asking that troops, be held in readiness to go to Anladusia on the train leaving Montgomery at 3:45 p. m. The Governor very promptly or dered Captain Gamble of Company I, Greenville to have his company ready to go to Andalusia on the train leaving Greenville for Andalusia at o'clock.
 message was also sent to Sheriff
 
 move. Captain Gamble answered prompt ly that his company would be ready to move ordered.
 At l:35 D. m Sheriff Bradshaw tele- graphed the Governor that he thought he could protect prisoners without the aid of troops. and the Governor so advised Captain Gamble. While the Governor was dictating congratulatory message to Sheriff Bradshaw, this message came from that official:
 Sheriff TeIegraphs.
 Send troops without delay; have posi- tive information mob from Opp will at- tack jail tonight"
 The Governor immediately advised Cap. tain Gamble to report to the sheriff at Anadalusia and within just twenty-two minutes Captain Gamble replied:
 Company I will leave at o'clock for Andalusia as ordered.
 The distance from Greenviyle to Anda- lusia Is about sixty miles and a change of cars at Georgiana is necessary. The military is expected to reach Andalusia at o'clock. Further details are expect ed. Should the mob reach Andalusia be- fore the arrival of the trops a wholesale lynching may be the result
 Governor Jelks Talks.
 An Age-Herald correspondent inter- viewed the Governor on the Opp mat ter He expressed himself as delighted at the way the sheriffs of the State were acting in the preservation of law and order. "No mob has taken a prisoner away from a sheriff in this State for months" said the Governor, ''and there seems to be determination on the part of the sheriffs to protect their prisoners at all hazards.
 ''In this case Sheriff Bradshow thought he could hold the jail and preserve peace. He finally concluded that the probable mob was of such dimensions that he ought to call for the troops"
 The Governor regrets the necessity for sending troops at all. but said he would send them In all eases where the sheriffs thought they could not otherwise prevent trouble.