The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-06-13
CHECKED THE MOB.
A Georgia Sheriff Did Not Finch
When Duty Called.

of a Georgia sheriff, whose name is
Joseph Merrill, Friday upheld the law
of the state and saved the life OF
negro from a mob. In protecting the
negro, who was saved from the gal
lows only 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
ed threatened trouble Friday night,
and at nine o'clock a special train
bearing the negro, whose crime was
the murder of a little white boy
whom he found fishing alone, was
speeding towards Atlanta under
guard. The man killed in attacking
the Jail was George Bennett, of Car
rollton, and the wounded men are
Thomas S. Word, father of the MUIR
dered boy, and an unknown man, pre-
sumably a farmer.
Mob Enraged at Delay.
Williams, the negro who caused the
trouble, was tried and found guilty
of numbering Otis Word January 1,
1901, and sentenced to be hanged Fri
day. He was only Friday morning re-
fused new trial by Judge Harris,
but his attorneys filed bill of ex-
ceptions and carried the case to the
supreme court. A large crowd of peo-
pie had come to town to witness the
hanging, and when it was learned
that an appeal had been taken to the
supreme court, delaying the execu-
ton, there was much excited talk,
which crystallized soon after in the
formation of mob.
Jail Attacked.
At noon the mob made an assault
on the Jail. They battered down the
outside door despite the warning of
the sheriff and entered the building.
They made 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.
Fired Into the Mob.
AS they advanced down the cor
ridor towards the sheriff the order
was given to fire. Bennett fell, dying
almost instantly. Thomas Word, the
father of Williams victim, who was
in the front of the mob, was badly
shot, as was also an unknown coun-
tryman. The unexpected fight of the
sheriff and his little posse fright
ened the mob and they retreated out
side of the Jail. Here they broke and
ran and were soon divided into little
groups discussing the event.
Governor Sends Aid.
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 telephoned the situation to
friends in the adjoining towns of
Villa Rica and Temple and made an
appeal for more men to get posses
sion of the negro. This was COM
municated also to Gov. Gambler, and
JHe SONeTnOF soon WlFeu a prOClaula-
ton to the people of the county. 1t
was read from the steps of the court
house at four o'clock by the mayor.
The governor commanded the people
to dispense and said the entire mill
tary and civil forces of the state
would be used to enforce order if
necessary. The reading of the proc
lamation apparently had good eff
feet, as many people were seen to
mount their horses and leave town.
Much apprehension was felt for the
night, and the sheriff and city and
county officials after a consultation
decided to take the prisoner out of
the county for safe keeping. The At
lanta militia, under command of Maj.
Barker, arrived about six o'clock,
and one hour later escorted the ne
gro and Sheriff Merrill to the train,
which was soon speeding southwark
to Atlanta.