The age-herald., 1901-08-26
He Wrote an Improper Note
 to a White Woman
.LIvEOAT THOMPSOKS SPRING
InsuIted Mrs. Cutliff Who Had Pat ronized Him-Shots Fired Into Burning Structure But Ne
 gro Was Not Inside.

A small store-room and dwelling at Thompson's Springs on the Bessemer dummy line, occupied by Miles Brooks, negro, was burned by mob early yester- day morning.
 Brooks conducted a limited grocery business and is said to have written an improper letter to white woman who had occasionally patronized him. Proba- by twenty shots were fired into the build ing as it burned. No one was injured, as Brooks and his wife had left the house several hours before the party attacked it.
 According to the statements of residents of that neighborhood the alleged insult ing letter was written to Mrs. Daniel Cutliff, who lived near the store and had frequently purchased small articles from the negro. She received the message Fri day afternoon and notified her husband as soon as he returned from Bessemer, where he Is employed at the pipe works.
 Negro Could Not be Found.
 MT. Cutliff went out at once to find the negro, but the store was closed. Brooks was not seen Saturday morning. and the store remained closed during the after noon and night News of the affair spread throughout the neighborhood in the meantime, arousing great indigna- tion.
 1t is said by some that a light was seen in the building during the early part of Saturday night, but if there was a light it was soon extinguished. The mob, which af nhah persons gathered some time between and o'clock. Several men had been watching all night for the return of Brooks
 Some one suggested that a torch be applied to the building and if the negro was in hiding the flames would run him out. The house was set on fire and the mob fired through the windows and door. One stray shot went crashing through the window of house occupied by Dan Carson, a negro, and knocked the stove pipe down. Several members of the mob fired at the blazing framework as they were leaving.
 By many 1t was expected that the bodies of Brooks and his wife would be found In the building yesterday morning, but neighbor stated that he had seen the negro leave the store Saturday after noon about o'clock. t-s,. .s,
 MT and Mrs. Cutliff were not at home yesterday afternoon A neighbor gave the following account of the affair:
 Neighbor Tells Story.
 ''Miles Brooks had a store with a stock of about $50 worth of general merchant disc and the residents of the neighbor- hood occasionally bought small articles from him. He was about thirty years of age and married. I am told that Friday afternoon he wrote an improper note to Mrs. Cutliff. Her husband was away at the pipe works at Bessemer, where he Is employed. When told of the note he began a hunt for the negro but was una ble to find him, am told.
 Yesterday I saw the negro leave the place with a bundle under his arm. His wife also disappeared. Thinking the ne- gro had left the country I went to bed early last night. This morning about 1:30 o'clock I was awakened by pistol shots. I opened the door and saw the store on fire. From near the road several rounds of shots were fired toward the building, but could not tell by whom. Then from further up the<road other shots were fired. After that all was quiet. The building burned completely to the ground. did not see the note which was written by the negro, for MT. and Mrs. Cutliff have both been away from home today"
 The affair created considerable excite ] ment throughout the neighborhood sur rounding Thompson's Springs. and during the day many persons visited the place. One report was brought to the city to the effect that the two negroes had been shot and another burned.