The age-herald., 1901-12-31
While Sleeping His Feet Pr truded in the Aisle and for
 This He Mas Killed
ENGINEER FORGED ID CUT
 LOCOMOTIVE FROM TRAIN
All of the Men Are Now Tn Jali a. creenvllIe, Miss, Having Been Taken There on spe-
 ciaI Train

Memphis, Tenn. December So.-Four white men killed J. M. Rhea, an inof- fensive passenger on train No. of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley branch of the Illinois Central Railroad at an early hour this morning. near Leland, Miss. out the locomotive from the train and forced the engineer to run to Cleveland. All four men were arrested, one being in jail at Leland and three locked up at Shelby.
 They were later taken to Greenville on a special train.
 The four men are: Ashley Cooke, prominent business man of Cleveland: A. M. Phipps, postmaster at Shelby; Thomas Lauderdale, said to be a relative of Phipps and man named Blackman resi- dence unknown.
 The men went from Shelby to Leland early last night. At Leland 1t is said they spent several hours drinking and carousing. At a. m. the men boarded the north bound train to return to Shelby. J. M. Rhea, an engineer. was on his way to Tutwiler. under orders to take out a locomotive there. He was sleeping on seat in the sleeper when the passenger train pulled out from Leland. At that point Cooke and his friends boarded the car. Cooke har a revolver and Lauder dale and Blackman had Winchester rifles. Phipps was not armed.
 His Legs Tn the Way.
 Walking up the aisle Phipps was in advance of the party, when he came In contact with Rhea's legs which were ex- tended out into the aisle as he slept. Rhea was awakened and inquired what was the matter. The members of the party stood around and discussed the sit- uation angrily for while and then the quartette went to the end of the car and out on the platform. Very soon they returned and going up to Rhea told him that they could not all stay in the same car, that he would have to get out.
 Rhea remarked that in order to prevent trouble he would have to do as they told him. Thereupon he started out of the car.
 He had just reached the door when 1t is claimed the men opened fire upon him. He fell where he stood.
 Conductor George Mclaughlin ordered the train back to Leland to leave the corpse, and as soon as that place was reached the conductor went in search of the sheriff and peace officers.
 In the meantime the quartette had moi been idle. They had driven everybody out of the smoker and the adjacent car dur ing the run back to Leland and when they arrived at that place they went to the engine aboard of which was En, gineer Delaney.
 They covered him with guns and told him If he did not obey their commands they would kill him. He was compelled to uncouple his engine, and when tho men mounted into the cab he was or. engine down the track toward Shelby. In the excitement of the moment Phipp. became separated from his companions and did not get away from Leland. When the sheriff arrived at the railroad he ar rested Phipps. The others were carried on to Shelby. Arriving there. they made no effort to conceal themselves. but still carrying their weapons, they waited for the next train, on which they travelled tc Cleveland where they were arrested without trouble. They were taken to Shel. by and placed in jail.
 There is much excitement and indig- nation among the people of the Leland and Shelby neighborhoods over todays tragedy but violence.
 Late this afternoon the men were takenl to Greenvile and lodged In jail the Illi- nois Central Railroad officials furnish ing a special engine and car for that purpose.