The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-06-25
NO EXCITEMENT OVER EXECUTION OF
THE TWO NEGROES.
A CONSPIRACY AGAINST WHITES
"Prophet'' Smith the Head of the Or
ganizatfon-The Records OF the Meet
fngs Found showing Action Decided
Upon Against Foster aud Others OF
the Observation-Disclosures Confesses
Participation In the Foster Murder.
Prince Edwards not yet Captured.

New Orleans, une 20.-Quiet prevail
ed today at Shreveport. where two ne
groes arrested in connection with the
murder of John Gray Foster. the plant
e~r-"Phophet' Smith and F. D.. Nc
Land-were lynched during the night.
kilograms from Shreveport today
state that evidence was discovered so
clearly establishing the identity of
Smith and McLand as enemies of the
white race and dangerous elements
among the negroes that their extinc-
ton came to be regarded as essential to
the preservation of order in the parish.
AS it became the general belief that
Primo Edwards. the negro accused of
killing Foster. will never be captured,
the mob determined to act without fur
Their delay.
Smith confessed just before he was
lynched that he loaded the gun with
which Foster was killed.
Many letters of incendiary tenor,
written by Smith and his fellows, were
found. Indications of conspiracy against
Foster and others. ran through the mis-
sives, and these. in connection with the
minutes of a meeting Of the Church {
the Living God.' of which Smith was
the head, p~recipitated the lynching.
Sheriff Thompson, Of Bossier, in view
of the large mob, mad no attempt to
interfere.
Prophet Smith founded the organiza-
ton, previously mentioned at Houston.
Later he went to Shreveport, and imme-
diately set about organizing there.
Chief of Police Lake declared him to be
a dangerous person and ordered him to
leave. but he went no further than the
Foster plantation.
After the shooting of Foster a search
of Smiths rooms revealed a so-called
Ark of the Covenant. 1t was a rudely
constructed box, bearing. within and
without, mystic symbols. When the Of
ficials laid hold of the box the negroes
were panic-Stricken.
Further search revealed the minutes
of a meeting of the society. Its mem
berS were denominated as princes and
Smith as the king. Following is a copy
of the minutes of a meeting held on the
Foster place.:
1.-The Royal Archive of the Kingdom
of God met in supreme council. Sang
Dark Was the night Opened by read
ing the thirty-second chapter of Isaiah
After F. K. Smith. the king, announced
n meeting, he stated that he was ad.
vised of God to call the princes together
in council to decide what should he
done with the chief of police and his
force for interfering with the king O.
h church Of God in Shreveport.
Prince Webb was in favor Of lie
handing six months affection upor
the chief. Prince Hicks said he was i.
favor OF the same; also Prince McLand
also Prince Johnson; also Prince Ed
wards. All concurred in demanding si1
months aff1iction on Chief axe e
Shreveport.
Next case was the rockers of tn,
building. The case was decided: al
that rock the building must be pun
ished with death within four days. 1
complaint was taken against !. G
Foster that he should be tormented un
til he give consent that all saints leav
4 the place."
excitement here over the lynching O
the two negroes Smith and Nolan
last night. 1t is claimed that the tw
men were leaders of a secret order an
! had entered man. conspiracies agains
the whites. A mob composed Of abou
200 men quietly surrounded the paris
Jail at midnight last night and, secul
81 ing admittance, led the two negroe
Il out into the Jail yard. Smith was give
five minutes in which to pray. I'll
two men were then swung UP to a neal
by tree. McLand met his fate withou
a finch.
Unless Edwards is caught. it is be
lieved that there will be no further vic
lence offered The dozen or more neg
prisoners who are confined in Jail he,
charged with completely in h murde
of Foster.