The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-06-26
A SECRET ORDER
Among Negroes in louisiana
Causes q Lynching.
TWO OF the BAND HUNG.
The Memb srs Claim TO be PrIn-
ces, ard Thelr Ordsr
Called The Church OF
the Living God.

The lynching Of two negroes Thurs
day night near Shreveport Ls., created
sensation, as with the excitement
dying out it vas thought their lives
| would bs spared until the murderer
Edwards was captured. Aspecial from
Shreveport, however, says evidence Tas
| discovered so clearly establishing the
gailt cf Smith aad Il. Lsud as enemies
Of the white and dangerous elements to
be left at large among the negroes that
the people Of Bossier rsgsrdeo their
exelu ion as essential to the preser7a-
| ton Of order in the parish.
!he evidence ob:aiuod by the police
showed tbs following facts: The Or
ssrization Of which "Pfophe* Smith
Wss the head had i:s origia il Houston.
and was kaoEn as the ChuTcl OF the
Living God. Three members Of the su-
preme council, IS indicated By tee
printed letter heads, were: Smii / and
Nj Land, whc were lyncnsd, aad Prime
Edwards, the murderer CT Foster,
Smith, when he came to Leu sisna, es
tahlished himself az Shreveport, but
was finally ordered away BY the chief
of pclise as a dangerous claractac
After the shooting an official 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 sesrchers the ne
sroes were greatly terrified and stated
that but one had advanced far enough
to lay hands on the sacred box. The
members Of the church, who were
known IS princes, held regular meet
ings, at which Smith presided with the
designation Of king"
Following i, an exsct copy from the
minutes Of q meeting held on the Eos
ter plantation showing how business
vas carried on and the ennity that ex
listed between Smith and his followers
and the chief of police of Shreveport
and Foster, the murdered man:
The Royal Archi7e Of the Kingdom
Of G ID met in supreme council, sang
Dark Was the Night" Opened by
readisg 32i chapter Of Isaiah. After
F. <. Smith, the king, was announced
to the meeting he stated that he was ad-
vissd Of God to call the princes to.
gether in council to decide what should
be done with the chief of police and
bis force for interfering with the King
Of the Church Of God in Shreveport.
Prince Webb being the first to arise
said he vas in favor Of demanding SIX
months ataiction upon the chief. Prince
Hicks said he was in favor of the same,
also Prince NJ. Land, also Prince j ohm
son, also P ince Edwards. AL con-
CURED in demanding six months afiic'
ton on the cnief at the Lske Of Shrevo-
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. NJ. Foster that he should be
tormented until he give consent that
all the saints leave thu place"
Before he was lynched Thursday
night Smith confessed that he had
loaded the gun with which Foster was
killed.
Many letters Of an incendiary char
acter written by Smith and his gang
we're found. The discovery Of these
evidences Of conspiracy led to Thurs
day nights lysching.
Sheriff Thompson Of Bossier made
no sttempt to interfere in view Of the
superior numbers Of the mob.