Evening star., 1901-06-08
PLUCKY GEORGIA SHERIFF..
Drives OF a Mob Trying 10 Lynch a
BriaOner.

Sheriff Joseph Merrill of Carrollton, Ga.
upheld the law OF the state and saved the
life of a negro from a mob yesterday. 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 ayerted threat
ened trouble last night and at o'clock a
special train bearing the negro. whose
crime was the murder of little white boy
whom he found fishing alone, and his
guard was speeding toward Atlanta. The
man killed in attacking the Jail was George
Bennett Of Carrollton, and the wounded
men are Thomas 8. Word, father of the
murdered boy. and an unknown man. pre-
sumably a farmer.
Williams. the negro, was tried and
found guilty of numbering Otis Word Jsnu-
ary this year and sentenced to be hanged
today. being refused a new trial by Judge
Harris this morning. His attorneys. Reese,
Smith & Boykins. filed a bill of exceptions
and carried the case to the supreme court.
A large crowd Of people went to Carroll
ton to witness the hanging. and when it
was learned that an appeal had been taken
to the supreme court, delaying execution,
there was much talk, which crystallized
soon after in the formation OF mob.
At noon the mob made an assault on the
jail. They battered down the outside iron
door. despite the warning of the sheriff.
and entered the building. They made
demand on the sheriff for the key to the
negro'S cell, but were refused. With the
refusal they began their advance upon 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 fired
on, but the order was not obeyed.
AS they advanced down the corridor to-
ward the sheriff the order was given to
fire.
Bennett fell, dying almost instantly.
Thomas Word. father Of Williams victim.
who was in the front OF the mob, was
badly shot. as was also an unknown coun-
trvman.
his posse frightened the mob and they re-
treated outside 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 to 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 Villa Rica and Temple, and made
an appeal for more men to effect the cap
ture of the negro. This was communicated
also to Governor Gambler, and the governor
soon wired proclamation to the people OF
the county. II was read from the steps OF
the court house at o'clock by the mayor.
The governor commanded the people to dis
perse and said the entire military and civil
forces of the state would be used to en-
force order IL necessary. The reading of
the proclamation apparently had good
effect, as many people were seen to mount
their horses and leave the town.
Much apprehension was felt for the night,
and the sheriff and city and county offi-
clals, after consultation, decided to take
the prisoner out Of the county TOR safe
keeping The Atlanta militia, under COM
mand of Major Barker. arrived about
O'Clock, and one hour later escorted the
negro and sheriff to the train. which was
soon speeding southwark for Atlanta.