The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-14
THE FOSTER KILLING
SHREVEPORT IN A STATE OF
GREAT EXCITEMENT.
NEGROES MAY BE LYNCHED.
BUT THE MURDERER HAS NOT
BEEN CAPTURED.

Foster, who Belonged to Promi-
nent Louisiana Family, Was Shot
Down without Warning-several
Negroes, Who Were Present at the
Shooting, Are being Held nt
Country store Guarded by White
to Jail Abandoned.
Shreveport, La. June 13-This city and
vicinity has been in a state of feverish
excitement and unrest since yesterday.
when John Gray Foster, a prominent
planter, was shot and killed by Prince
Edwards, a negro employed on the Fos-
ter plantation, five miles east of here.
Armed posses of white men have been
securing the country for miles around in
an attempt to capture Edwards dozen
or more negroes are under arrest in Ken
hebrews store and their fate tonight is
uncertain. Foster was widely known and
very popular. He was a brother-in-law
of Gov. McMillin of Tennessee and be-
ionged to one of the oldest families in
this state.
There had been bad feeling for some
time past between the negroes and over
seers on the Foster plantation and Fos-
ter was appealed to to settle the differ
ences. The planter started for the plan
tation and upon reaching a negro cabin
he was fired upon and killed. There we're
dozen or more negroes in the cabin
and they broke and ran in all directions.
The overseers were quickly Joined by
white citizens, and 1t was not long be-
fore all the negroes were arrested, sin
gle exception being Prince Edwards, who
did the shooting. Posses were quickly
formed and started on a hunt for the
negro, but as yet have made no further
arrests.
Negroes Not Lynched Yet.
There were many wild rumors aioat
throughout the day, the most sensational
being that the negroes in the Kennebrew
store we're in imminent peril of being
lynched.
This rumor proved TO be untrue. al
though many threats are heard against
the prisoners
The store where the negroes are con-
HtNaC
five men. armed with Winchester rifles.
and unless sentiment changes the dispo-
sitien tonight would Indicate the major
ity, IL not all the prisoners, will be let
off with thorough whipping. Edwards.
if caught. will be burned or lynched.
There is much feeling against Prophet
Smith and Edward Washington, both OF
whom are under arrest. Smith is believ-
cd to be at the bottom of all the trouble.
while Washington is said to have been
active in aiding Edwards to escape.
Governor Wires the Sherfns.
Shreveport La, June 13.-Gov. Heard
wired tonight to Sheriff Ward of Caddo
parish and Sheriff Thompson of Bossier,
instructing them 40 protect the negroes
at all hazards. The Governor command
ed these officers to call upon the citizens
for aid IL necessary, and promised mill
tary help If the officers required 1t.
The attempt made to move the negroes
from the Kennebrew store to Benton
proved a failure The guards and their
prisoners had proceeded about mile
when darkness overlook them and they
decided to return their prisoners TO the
store. The negroes preferred to take their
chances at Kennebrew's place rather than
face the danger of n mob on the way TO
Benton.
W
New Orleans, June 13.-A special to the
Picayune from Shreveport says:
The prisoners supposed to have been i'm
plicated in the murder of John Gray Fos-
ter were tonight removed from Kinne-
brew's store, where they were in the
hands Of the posse, and taken to Ben
ton. La. under a strong guard under the
command of Deputy Sheriff Port Ed
wards. The carrying of the prisoners to
Benton removes the immediate danger OF
lynching.
Prisoners Headed for Benton.
Shreveport, La. June 14.-Shortly after
midnight the guards again started for
Benton with their prisoners. They hope
to make the place by daylight and thus
prevent a possible lynching. There is a
fear, however, that a mob will waylay
the guards and take forcible possession
of the negroes.
ATTENn EnGTUrnsS ErIfNUrnAI