The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-09-02
Governor McMillin of Tennessee
Proceeding Vigorously Against
Members of the Mob.
PEOPLE TALKED OF A RESCUE.
Prisoners Had to Be Removed
From County Jail to Nash
ville-Warrants Out
for Others.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Nashville. Tenn, Sept. The Davidson
County jail. located In this city. Is the
temporary home Of six men held on charge
OF participating in the lynching OF Charles
Davis at Smithville about month ago
Davis was arrested on the charge OF GRIM
inally assaulting 14-year-old Katie Hughes
daughter of Milton Hughes. respectable
farmer Of the Smithvi;le community.
1t will be remembered that the prisoner
was having his preliminary hearing when
a band Of about thirty determined men en-
tered the courtroom. overpowered the court
and officers. rescu!ng the prisoner The mob
carried the prisoner about a quarter OF
mile from the courthouse. hanging him to q
tree in broad daylight.
After the lynching Governor McMifiin
offered n heavy reward for the arrest and
conviction of the lynchers. Other rewards
were offered aggregating over $500. No ar
rests were made at the time. but after the
excitement had subsided. one afternoon a
posse of officers caused CONSERVATION IN
the little village. They rode into town
heavily armed. and made a raid with a
view Of arrestin9 u number OF the lynchers
They arrested the following men: John
Given. grandfather Of the outraged girl:
Aaron Hughes, grandfather of tho girl;
John Givens. cousin Of the girl; Lon Givens.
cousin OF the girl: Thomas Givens. another
cousin. and Edgar Clark, a friend OF the
family. These men were brought to Nash
willie by Sheriff Odum Of De Kalb County
and q posse of eight officers
After the arrest Of the prisoners af Smith
Vile and their Incarceration excitement ran
high. and It was necessary for the sherin
OF Do Kalb County to place forcs OK
deputies. armed with Winchester rifles. to
prevent the people from breaking down the
Jail and releasing the prisoners.
Excitement reached a higher pitch than
ever known in the county. The officers had
been taken by surprise when Davis was
taken from them and Sheriff Odum made
up his mind there should be no repetition
of the incident He ordered the officers to
stay on guard day and night, with instruc-
tions to shoot In event violence was at
tempted.
Rumors Of . Rescue.
Rumors Of nobs filled the air at all times.
There was talk on the part Of the lynchsrs
friends that they should be released. while
on the other hand there was an element
equally as determined that the iynchers
should be taken from jail and with q view
OF dealing to them the same punishment
that had been meted out to Davis.
In view Of these facts. 1t was deemed
best to bring the men to Nashville for safe
keeping. and they have just landed In the
Davidson County Jail. Additional warrants
have been issued for the arrest Of more Al
legged lynchers. Warrants have been issued
for q half dozen or more men.
There has been a great deal Of gossip
about the crime. The girl claimed the out
rage was committed In the woods while
Davis was driving her to church in q bug
gy. 1t 10 said the girl went to church with
Davis after the offense Is alleged to have
been committed. This. however, il denied
by her relatives.
Aaron Hughes and John Givens. 6r..
grandfathers of the girl, are the oldest OF
the prisoners. They are veterans Of the
Civil War and over 90 years Of age.
The mother Of Davis will enter suit against
DeKalb County for S25000 damages for the
death of her son.