The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-15
THE ANXIETY NOT AT END Talk of Lynching Still
 Strong at Shreveport. NEGROES TAKEN TO BENTON Funeral of Foster Occurred
 Yesterday Afternoon. Search for Prince Edwards, the Mur- derer, is Continued, But No Trace of the Negro Has Been Discovered.
NEGROES TAKEN TO BENTON

New Orleans. La, June 14.-A special to The Picayune from Shreveport says:
 The situation in this city cleared con- Siderably today, although 1t cannot be truthfully said that the anxiety is at an end. The negroes suspected of com plicity in the murder of John Gray Foster are confined in the Benton jail under strong guard. but the talk of iynching Is still general. This talk is by no means idle gossip. but the result of well conceived plan to avenge the death of MT. Foster.
 Throughout the trouble there has been one element of the population which kept to itself. It did not min- gle with the mob. though in a certain sense it constituted a mob in itself.
 This quiet crowd was really a we'll organized band of avengers. its lead CTS were close friends of the dead man, and its chief purpose was to bring about the summary execution of FProphet" Smith and his partners. While others were boisterous, the mem bers of this crowd moved and acted in secret. It was by far the most dan- gerous element in the Bossier trouble.
 The crowd Is still held together and it is just as determined to avenge the death of Foster as 1t was two days ago. Your correspondent learned tonight (and the information is unimpeacha- ble) that this afternoon has been de- cided upon as the time for lynching Smith and his fellow suspects. The movement was stopped, however, by several of the near relatives of John Gray Foster. who stated that they de- sired to speak with the negroes before passing judgment on their case.
 These men. whose names are con- fnr rnn1 xufll lonNa for Benton tomorrow to interview Prophet" Smith and others who are confined with him. Upon the result Of these interviews hinges the fate of the Benton prisoners.
 The correctne $ of this statement is borne out by the fact that the Sheriff of Bossier Parish was informed this af- ternoon of the threatened lynching and threw an extra guard around the pris- on. in which the men and women are confined.
 This guard is strong enough to pro- tect the prisoners if 1t will but act in good faith.
 The march to Benton from Kinne- brew's store early this morning was uneventful. The crowd followed the railroad track and reached Benton shortly after daylight. There was not the slightest sign of excitement at She place when the prisoners and guards reached 1t and the negroes were at once turned over to the jailer.
 Prophet" Smith sank down upon the floor of his cell and fell asleep before the guards could count three. McLand laid beside him and was soon asleep. The women alone remained awake and kept watch.
 The search for Edwards continued today, but no progress was made. A report was circulated that the negro was seen in the vicinity O. Keachie. and a posse went to that place. The report was found to be erroneous. AL most every foot of ground in Caddo and Bossier Parishes has been gone over, but not the slightest trace of Edwards has been found. Many now believe Smiths, story about the ne- gro's departure for New Orleans is norpaPf