Evening journal., 1901-08-02
HOB LYNCHED
NEGRO WOMEN
Outcome Of Murder Of dr.
and Mrs. TaIiaierrO
IDA MORAY CONFESSED CRIME
COmmi!tee Of Citizens Made Appeal to
The Mob But II Could Not be
STAYED

Carrollton, Miss. Aug. 2.--The MUIR
der OF Mr. and Mrs. Taliaferro cul-
minated last night In the lynching OF
Betsie McCray, her son, Belfeld Nc
Cray, and daughter, ida McCray. all
colored. The mob was composed of
about 600 white citizens Of Carroll
county. who marched to the jail In
order demanded the keys from Jailer
Duke, proceeded to the cells OF the un-
fortunate negroes, bound them by the
necks and hands and carried them to
the corporate limits Of the town, where
they hung them TO a tree by the public
roadside and riddled their bodies with
bullets.
Ida McCray confessed to the knowl-
edge Of the murder, and stated that
her mother, Betsie, and brother, Bel
field. helped commit the murder She
further implicated others who will
probably meet like fate. Betsie Nc
Cray refused to make any statement.
When the sheriff Of Lefore county
brought the prisoners here yesterday
morning It was realized by the citi.
zens that they would have TO make ex.
traordinary efforts TO prevent a lynch.
ing.
Accordingly at the suggestion of
Judge w. r. Stevens. a committee con-
sisting OF District Attorney w s. Hill,
Or. Samuel l.. Hart. Watt Turner. l..
u. Southworth and A. II. George, went
to the jail to examine witnesses and in.
vestigate the killing and report to the
people In the court house. This they
were doing in a quiet and successful
manner, when It was learned that
about rs men. growing impatient at
the delay had organized themselves
into a mob and were ready to come to
the Jail and take the suspects and
hang them. The committee imme.
diately went 10 the court house and
called the people together. Messrs
Hlll, Southworth and George addressed
them and told them what the commit
tee was trying to do. They seemed
fairly well satisfied when they were
assured that the negroes would not be
spirited away.
Back TO the Jail the committee then
proceeded to complete its work In
the meantime Governor Longino had
telephoned Judge Stevens that he
would leave Jackson for Carrollton on
the o'clock train and come over from
Winona on a special. The committee,
being apprised of this, did their best
to kill time so that the governor might
arrive and use his influence. How.
ever. they deemed Il necessary at
about o'clock to make another report
TO the people. They proceeded to the
court house. where Mr.. Hill reported
that the committee had concluded. az
ter a faithful and thorough examina.
tion that while Belford and Betsie Nc.
Cray knew that the Taliaferro's were
to be killed and had absented them.
selves from home so that they might
prove an alibi the ones who had act.
ually committed the crime had not yet
been caught.,but that they believed
that these would finally divulge the
whole plot. The crowd then instruct
ed the committee to proceed with the
investigation at the jail. However, as
the crowd was dispensing from the
court house thsy met about so men
armed with shotguns and rifles. who
had not been in the court house to
hear the last report
These men proceeded to the jail.
where the deputy sheriff promptly
opened the door for them. Three men
went upstairs and brought out Bel.
ford, Betsy and Ida McCray. Judge
Stevens. Messrs. Hill and George and
other citizens begged and pleaded with
them. as did Lynn Taliaferro. the son
of the murdered couple. not TO kill
these negroes, that they would thereby
thwart the ends Of justice. But it was
all to no purpose. They took the
three negroes under the hill about a
quarter Of a mile from town. and
hanged them. They then fired at least
500 shots into their bodies. The gov.
ernor arrived just as the mob was re.
turning.
It is not known what further work
the mob will do, but there are many
rumors ahoat. Some say that three OF
four more negroes. living in the Talia-
ferro neighborhood will be lynched,
and It is feared by some that one white
man in that community may meet the
same fate.