The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-08
THW ARTED.
sToRnED THE JAIL AT CARRoLToN,
Ca, WITHOUT AVAIL.
Wanted to Lynch IA Negro Whose Ex-
ecution Had Been Stayed Owing
to Grant OF an Appeal.
PROTECTED BY THE SHERIFF
WHO FOUGHT A FURIOUS CROWD AL
MOST SINGLE HANDED.
One Man Killed and Two More
wounded While Attempting to
Reach the Prisoner.
TROOPS SENT TO THE SCENE
AND THE NEGRO TAKEN TO ATLANTA
FOR SAFEKEEPING.
Two Men Killed and Two Wounded in
Texas-Tragic End of n Con-
victed Bank Robber.
One Man Killed and Two More
wounded While Attempting to
Reach the Prisoner.
TROOPS SENT TO THE SCENE
AND THE NEGRO TAKEN TO ATLANTA
FOR SAFEKEEPING.
Two Men Killed and Two Wounded in
Texas-Tragic End of n Con-
victed Bank RObber.

CARROLLrON, Ga, June THE nerve
OF a Georgia sheriff. whose name is Joseph
Merrill. to-day upheld the law of the State
and saved the life of negro from mob.
In protecting the negro. who was saved
from the gallows only few hours before
through the efforts of his lawyers. one life
was lost and two men were wounded. The
arrival of the State militia averted threat
ened trouble tonight. and at o'clock
special train bearing the negro, whose
crime was the murder of little white boy
whom he found fishing alone, was speeding
towards Atlanta under guard.
The man killed in attacking the Jail was
George Bennett, of Carrollton, and the
wounded men are Thomas Smith, also of
Carrollton. and an unknown man, presum-
ably a farmer. Thomas S. Word father of
the murdered boy, who was in the front
ranks of the would-be lynchers, was not
hit. After Bennett fell Mr. Word jumped
upon a window sill and exclaimed dramat-
ically shoot me. Mr.. Sheriff. l would ds
soon die now as any time" Only nine shots
were fired. and the walls of the jail show
the marks of the bullets. None Of the
sherir's posse was hit
Williams, the negro who caused the trou-
BILE, was tried and found guilty of murder
TO be hanged to-day. He was only this
morning refused a trial by Judge Har
ris. but his attorneys fled bill of excep-
tions and carried the case to the Supreme
Court
large crowd of people had come to
town to witness the hanging, and when it
was learned that an appeal had been taken
TO the Supreme Court delaying the execu-
fion fhara much axcifad falk which
crystallized soon after in the formation of a
mob. At noon the mob made an assault on
the Jail. They battered down the outside
door despite the warning of the sheriff and
entered the building. They made demand
the sheriff for the key to the negro's
cell. but were refused. With the refusal
they began their advance on the sheriff and
the few deputies which he had been able to
summon to his aid. They were told to stop
or they would be fred on, but the order
was not obeyed. AS they advanced down
the corridor towards the sheriff the order
was given TO fire. Bennett fell, dying al
most instantly. Thomas Word, the father
of Williamss victim. who in the front
of the mob. was badly shot as was also an
unknown countryman.
The unexpected fight of the sheriff and
his little posse frightened the mob and
they retreated outside of the Jail. Here
they broke and ran and were soon divided
into little groups discussing the event
Sheriff Merrill at once consulted Judge
Harris, OF the county court, and il was de-
cided 10 call upon Governor Gambler for
aid. The Governor was communicated with
by telephone, and said he would send two
companies from Atlanta as soon as they
could be assembled.
During the afternoon the mob telephoned
the situation TO friends in the adjoining
towns of villarica and Temple and made
an appeal for more men to get possession
of the negro. This was communicated also
TO Governor Gambler, and the Governor
the county. IL was read from the steps of
the courthouse at o'clock by the mayor.
The Governor commanded the people to
disperse and said the entire military and
civil forces of the State would be used to
enforce order IL necessary. The reading of
the proclamation apparently had a good ef-
feet, as many people were seen TO mount
their horses and leave town.
Much apprehension was felt for the night
and the sheriff and city and county officials,
after a consultation decided to take the
prisoner out of the county for safe-keep-
ing. The Atlanta militia under command
OF Major Barker. arrived about o'clock
and one hour later escorted the negro and
Sheriff Merrill 10 the train, which was soon
speeding southwark to Atlanta.
ATLANTA, Ga. June THE special train
bearing the two companies of state militia,
which Governor Gambler sent to Carrollton
IL o'clock tonight. having in charge the
negro Williams The convicted murderer
quickly taken TO the Fulton county
Jail