The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-14
En- Route to Benton Last Night, but
Fears Expressed They May BE
Mobbed Before Daylight.
PROPHET SMITH DENOUNCED
AN AGITATOR BLAMED FOR INCIT-
ING THE IMPORTED BLACKS.
Night of Terror at Shreveport and on
the Foster Plantation Two
Women May BE Whipped.


and it's vicinity have been in a state OF
feverish excitement and unrest since yes
terday, when John Gray Foster, a promi-
nent planter, was shot and killed by Prince
Edwards a negro. employed on the Foster
plantation, five miles east of this city
Armed posses of white men have been
securing the country for miles around in
an attempt to capture Edwards. dozen or
more negroes are under arrest in Kenne-
brew's store and what fate tonight may
have in store for them is uncertain. Foster
was widely known and very popular. He
was a brother-in-law Of Governor McMil-
lin, of Tennessee and belonged to one Of
the oldest families in the State.
There had. been bad feeling for some
time past between the negroes and over
seers on the Foster plantation and Foster
was appealed to to settle the differences.
The planter started to see the negroes and
upon reaching a negro cabin he was fired
upon and killed. There were a dozen or
more negroes in the cabin and they broke
and ran in al directions. The overseers
were quickly Joined by other men and it
was not long before all the negroes were
arrested, except Prince Edwards who did
the shooting. Posses were quickly formed
and started on a hunt for the negro, but,
yet, have made no further arrests. He
is reported to be hiding in a swamp sur
rounded by armed men.
There We're many wild rumors afioat
throughout the day, the most sensational
being that the negroes in the Kennebrew
store were in imminent peril of being
lynched. This rumor proved to be untrue,
although many threats are heard against
the prisoners. The store where the thirteen
negroes are confined is guarded by posse
OF twenty-five men, armed with Winches-
ter rifles, and, unless sentiment changes,
the disposition tonight would indicate that
the majority, if not all the prisoners will
be let off with thorough whipping. Ed
wards. if caught, will be burned or lynched.
There is much feeling against Prophet
Smith and Edward Washington. both OF
whom are under arrest. Smith is believed
to be at the bottom of all the trouble, while
Washington is said TO have been active in
aiding Edwards to escape.
When the negroes were placed in the
temporary jail at 9 o'clock last night a
crowd assembled. and it was only through
the advice of cooler heads that a whole
sale lynching was prevented. Mrs. Ed
wards, wife of the alleged murderer, was
among those arrested. She had in her pos
session the shotgun with which her hus-
band killed Foster. Prince told the other
men to stand back and he would settle the
business" she said. Then he went in front
of them and fired and Foster fell"
Shortly after the shooting a posse, with
bloodhounds. set after Prince, but his cap
ture has not yet been reported. BY some
IL is thought the fugitive. to escape lynch
ing, has committed suicide in an isola ted
1hrOughOut ia infO
the forenoon the approaches to Shreveport
bore martial appearance. Men armed with
Wnchesters' pistols and shotguns, afoot
and on horseback, could be seen as far as
the eye could reach. 1t night of
terror, and brought forcibly to mind the
days of reconstruction, when Shreveport
ment. Early this morning the Shreveport
posse Of sixty men withdrew to this side
of the river to escape the death scenes
were inevitable. There is absolutely no
doubt" said Captain Wells that they
will hang Prophet smith.
At dawn a message from kinnebreWs 5
said that the armed citizens guarding the
negroes had concluded to make another
effort TO capture Prince Edwards before
dealing with his alleged accomplices There
Bossier City, and it decided TO take
them TO Kinnebrews store, in order that
the entire negro crowd might be under one
guard. Two posses were sent out by the
citizens. One went in search of Edwards
who was reported to be hiding on an ad-
joining plantation. The other marched to
Bossier City and secured the negroes i'm Jail
at that place No resistance was offered
the mob, and the frightened negroes. men
and women, were marched TO Kinnebrews 5
and placed with Smith and his fellow
prisoners.
At o'clock it seemed to be the determi-
nation of the citizens to lynch Smith and
another negro named Washington. who
helped Edwards to escape and afterward
denied that he had done so. Ii was also
planned to lynch the wife of Edwards, the
murderer. and Adlee Allen, but great
many opposed this and urged the stripping
and whipping of the women.
Governor Heard wired tonight to Sheriff
Ward, of Caddo parish. and Sheriff Thomp-
son. of Bossier. instructing them to protect
the negro at all hazards. The Governor
commanded these officers TO call upon the
citizens for aid IL necessary, and promised
military help If the officers required it.
The guards started with the prisoners
for Benton this evening, but returned.
Shortly after midnight they again left for
Benton with their prisoners. They hope 70
make the place by daylight and thus pre-
vent a possible lynching. There is fear
however, that a mob will waylay the
guards and take forcible possession of the