Evening journal., 1901-06-08
One Life Lost and Two Men
Wounded
ASSAULT MADE ON THE JAIL
Determined Sheriff and His Posse Fired
Upon The Mob, and Frightened
II OFF

Carrollton. Ga, June S.-The nerve
OF a obscure Georgia sheriff, whose
name is Joseph Merrill. yesterday up
held the law of the state and saved
the life OF negro from mob. In
protecting the negro. who was saved
from the gallows only few hours be.
fore through the efforts of his law.
yers, one life was lost and two men
were wounded. The arrival of the
state militia averted threatened trou.
BILE last night. and at Q o'clock a special
train bearing the negro, whose crime
was the murder OF a little white boy
whom he found fishing alone, and his
guard was speeding toward Atlanta.
The man killed in attacking the jail
was George Bennett. OF Carrolton. and
the wounded men are Thomas Smith,
also of Carrollton, and an unknown
man. presumably farmer
Williams. the negro, was tried and
found guilty of numbering Otis Word
on Jan. ] last and sentenced to be
hanged yesterday, being refused a new
trial by Judge Harris yesterday morn.
ing. His attorneys. Reese, Smith and
tBoykin. filed a bill of exceptions and
carried the case to the supreme court
A large crowd OF people had come to
town to Witness the hanging. and when
IL was learned that an appeal had been
taken to the supreme court, delaying
execution, there was much talk, which
crystaized In the formation OF a mob
At noon the mob made an assault on
the Jail. They battered down the out
side iron door, despite the warning q
the sheriff, and entered the building.
They made a demand 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
fred 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 almost in.
stnntly Thomas Word, the father OF
Williams victim. who was in the front
of the mob was, strange 10 say, not hit.
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 di.
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 Governor
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 attempt to re-
cruit men to effect the capture OF the
negro This was communicated also
to Governor Gambler, and the COVER
nor soon wired a proclamation to the
people Of the county. It 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 be used to
enforce order If necessary The read
ing OF the proclamation apparently had
a good effect. as many people were
seen to mount their horses and leave
the town.
Much apprehension was felt for the
night, and the sheriff and city and
county officials after a consultation de-
cided to take the prisoner out Of the
county for safe keeping. The Allan
Ia militia, under command of Mai.
Barker. arrived about o'clock. and an
hour later escorted the negro and
sheriff to the train, which was soon
speeding southward for Atlcnta, where
he was placed lnjail.