The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1901-06-26
A SECRET ORDER
Among Negroes In Louisiana
Causes a Lynching,
TWO OF THE BAND HUNG.
The Members Claim 70 be Prin-
ces' and Their Ordsr
Called Tho Church of
the Living God.

The lynching of two neg-cos Thurs
day night near Shreveport La, created
sensation, as with the excitement
dying out it was thought their lives
would be spared until tho murderer
Edwards was captured, Aspecial from
Shreveport, however, Gays evidence was
discovered so clearly establishing the
guilt of Smith and NJ. Land as enemies
of the white and dangerous elements to
be left at large among the negroes that
the reoplo of Bossier regarded their
execution as essential to tho presorva
ton of order in the parish.
he evidence obtained by the police
showed the following facts: The or
gapiz.tion of which prophet Smith"
WAS the head had its origin is Houston.
and was known as the Church of the
Living God. Three members of the su.
preme council, as indicated by the
printed letter heads, were: Smith and
Nj. Land, who were lynched, and Primes
Edwards, the murderer Of Foster.
Smith, when he came to Lou isiana, es
tablished himself at Shreveport, but
was finally ordered away by the chief
of police as a dangerous character
After the shooting an eff ,isl search of
his premises was instituted and the
Ark of the Covenant, a rudely con-
structed box with "hoodoo" design
on and within it was found. When it
was touched by the searchers the me-
groes were greatly terrified and stated
that but one had advan ,ed far enough
to lay hands on the sacred box. The
members of the church, who were
known as princes, held regular meet
ings, at which Smith presided with the
designation of King"
Following il an exact copy from the
minutes of q meeting held on the Eos.
ter plantation showing how business
was carried on and the enmity that ex
listed between Smith and his followers
and the chief of police of Shreveport
and Foster, the murdered man:
The Royal Archive Of the Kingdom
OF It I'd met In supreme council, sang
Dark Wss the Night" Opened by
reading 32 chapter of Isaiah. After
b. <. Smith, the king, was aunounc. ID
to the meeting he stated that he was ad-
viSed of God tn coll -the p-ia4.--.-
gether 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 arise
said he WAS in favor of demanding SIX
months atfiiction upon the chief. Princs
III cas said he Was In favor of the same,
slso Prince NJ. Land, also Prince j ohm
son, also p ince EdwaIds. All con-
CURED In demanding six months attlic
ton on the chief at the Like Of Shrev.-
port. The next case was that of the
Rockers of the Building. The case
was decided: All that are rock build.
ing must be punished with death with
in four days. A complaint was taken
against j. M. Foster that ne should be
tormented until he give consent that
all the saints leave the place
Before he was lynched Thursday
night Smith confessed that he had
loaded the gun with which Foster wss
killed.
Many letters of an incendiary char
setter written by Smith and his gang
we're found. The discovery of these
evidences of conspiracy led to Thurs
day nights lynohing.
Sheriff Thompson of Bcssier made
no attempt to interfere in view of the
superior numbers of the mob.