The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-06-20
TAP SACRED BOX.
&c Ark of the Covenant Opened
by Rude UnbelieVers.
Documents Found There Which
Led to a LynchTng.
DEATH OF KING SMITH
Was Considered Necessary to
the Peace of the Country.
Shreveport Police Chief Is Res
cued From Affection.

New Orleans, June 20.-The 1ynching
of the two negroes last night near
Shreveport created a sensat ton today,
as with the excitement dying out it
was thought their lives would be
spared at least until the capture of
Prince Edwards, who killed J. G.
Foster at the Foster plantation.
A special from Shreveport. however,
says that evidence was discovered 50
clearly establishing the guilt of Smith
and McLand as enemies of the whites
and dangerous elements to be left at
large among the negroes that the peo-
pie of Bossier regarded their execution
as essential to the preservation of or
der in the parish.
The evidence obtained by the police
showed the following facts: The or
ganization of which Prophet" Smith
was the head had its origin in Houston
and was known as the Church of the
Living God" The members Of the su
preme council, as indicated by regu- ar
printed letter-hea which were found,
were Smith and Mcl4and, who were
lynched, and Prince Edwards, the
murderer of John Gray Foster
Smith, when he came to Louisiana,
established himself at Shreveport, but
was ordered away by the chief of pO-
lice as a dangerous character. After
the shooting of Foster a search of his
premises was instituted and the ark
of the covenant a rudely construc ted
box with hOOdOO signs on and within
it, was found. When it was touched by
the searchers the negroes were greatly
terrified, and declared that but one
had advanced far enough to lay hands
on the sacred box.
The mem bers of the church known as
Princes, had regular meetings at which
Smith presided with the designation of
king" The following is an exact copy
from the minutes of the meeting held
business was carried on and the enmity
that existed between Smith and his fol-
lowers and the chief of police of Shreve-
port and Foster, the murdered man.
THE Royal archive of the Kingdom or
God met in supreme council. Sang
Dark Was the Night Opened by read
ing the 32d chapter Isaiah. After F. K.
Smith, the king. announced the meet
ing, he stated that he was advised of
God to call the Princes together in
council to decide what should be done
with the chief of police and his force
for interfering with the king of the
church of God in Shreveport.
Prince Webb being the first to rise,
said he was in favor of demanding six
months affiiction upon the chief. Prince
Also Prince McLand. Also Prince John
son. Also Prince Edwards. All con-
CURED demanding six months affiiction
on Chief Lake of Shreveport.
Next case was the rockers of the
building. The case was decided: All
that rock the building must be punished
with death within four days.
"A complaint was taken against J. G.
Foster that he should be tormented un-
til he give consent that all saints leave
the place"
Before he was lynched last night
Smith confessed that he had loaded the
gun with which Foster was killed.
Many letters of an incendiary charac-
ter written by Smith and his followers
have been found. The discovery of these
evidences of conspiracy led to last
nights lynehing. Sheriff Thompson OF
Bossier made no attempt to interfere
in view of the superior numbers of the
mob.