The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-31
FROM DEATH'SJAWS
CONDEMNED nIURDERERs WE'RE
SPIRITED AWAY IN TIME. :,
BACK NOW IN CHATHAM JAIL.
BROUGHT FROM sYLvANTA BY
SHERIFF AND GUARDS.

Report Was That the screven Coun-
ty Jail Was to Have Been Stormed
Last NighS-Removai of the Pris-
oners at Dead of Night by Special
Train to Rocky Ford Showed In
censed Citizens Yesterday Morning
That Their Prey Had Been Snatch
ed From Them-Leaders of Pros
pective Mob Thought Military
Would Re withdrawn Yesterday.
The five negroes about whom so much
excitement has been created in Sylvania,
Screven county. were brought back to
Savannah yesterday morning and lodged
in Chatham county jail. They left here
with legal halter about their necks
that gave excellent promise Of being
frightened day before yesterday at Sylvia
MIA. Process of law, however, loosened
the legal moose, and there was imminent
danger of its being replaced with one
having no connection with law and order.
Very narrowly, the five men-Andrew
Davis, Arnold Augustus, William Hudson,
Samuel Bolden and Richard Sanders
escaped execution at the hands of the
sheriff of Screven county, and they had
hands of incensed citizens of the county
who had sworn to wreak vengeance upon
they for the murder of Constable Mears
and Special Constable Harrington, who
sought, last August, to arrest them, and
were shot down from ambush. The story
of the crime has been given by the Morn
ing News, and it is now commonly
known.
The application for a new trial acted as
a stay upon the legal hanging of the ne
groes, which was to have occurred day
before yesterday and for which they were
taken last Thursday from the Chatham
county Jail to Sylvania. Trouble from
lynchers was feared. particularly when
it became known inv Screven county that
stay in the execution had been directed.
Mai. w l.. Grayson of Savannah was
dispatched to the scene, and the Screven
Guards, Capt A. NJ Chapman, were or
dered out. Upon his arrival Thursday
night, Maj. Grayson assumed control of
the situation, having been SO directed by
the Governor.
All day Friday Sylvania was quiet and
peaceful. 1t is said that the peace and
quiet however, were but stimulated, and
that they were only the calm to precede
storm that was to have burst tonight.
The mob was to have risen tonight pro-
Vided the military had been discharged
from duty about the jail and the negroes
were still confined within it, Arrange.
ments had been made by the mob lead
ers to storm the stronghold and secure
the prisoners. They were then to be CIV
en- short shrift and long rope.
Action of the authorities disarmed the
prospective lynchers. special train was
provided by the Sylvania Railroad early
yesterday morning. Sentinels were thrown
out 10 guard against surprise, a strong de-
tachment of the Guards entered the Jail,
brought out the prisoners hurried them
to the train, put them aboard and, at
2:S0 O'clock, with the five negroes in
charge of Maj. Grayson. Sheriff w. B.
Thompson and forty members of the
Screven Guards, the train sped away for
Rocky Ford, where it made connection
with the Central Railroad passenger
train.
At Rocky Ford, all save Privates
Thompson and Overstreet of the company
were sent back TO Sylvania, upon the ar
rival of the Central train. The negroes
were transferred to the latter train, and,
under charge of Maj Grayson, Sheriff
Thompson and the two soldiers were
brought to Savannah. At Meldrim, a mes
sage was sent to the police department to
have the patrol wagon in waiting at the
depot, and in this the prisoners were
transferred to the jail Sheriff Thompson
recommitting them to the custody of the
Jatler until their disposition may be de-
termined by the Supreme Court, to which
an appeal has been made from the order
of the Superior Court, denying a new
trial for the murderers
Mai. Grayson was seen upon his re-
turn. He said he had found things quiet
in Sylvania, and soon saw that the Screw
en- Guards were fully able to cope with
the situation. Had there been need for
more troops, he would have notified Col
T. s. Wylly, commanding the First In
fantry, Immediately. Though but new
ly organized, the Screven Guards showed
the proper military spirit, and desire
10 discharge their sworn duty. They
would have resisted any attack upon the
Jail to the last Maj. Grayson felt con-
fdent, and he was assured of his ground
Not the slightest feeling against him was
displayed, Mai. Grayson said even the
brothers of the victims of the negroes
showing him every courtesy.