Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1902-01-01
Deliberate MURDER.
An InOilensiye Man Shot TO Death
on a Train.
FOUR MEN ARRESTED


Memphis. Dec. 3l.-The four white
men who killed j. NJ. Rhea. an inoifen-
sive passenger on train OF the YaEoo
and Mississippi Valley branch Of the
Illinois Central railroad Monday near
Leland. Miss. have been placed In Jail.
The deed committed was outrageous
and the result OF drink.
The four men are; Ashley Cooke. a
prominent business man Of Cleveland.
A. NJ Phipps. postmaster at Shelby.
Thomas Lauderdale. said 10 be a rela-
tive Of Phipps. and man named
Blackman. residence unknown
The men went from Shelby 10 Leland
early Sunday night. At Leland IL Is
said they spent several hours drinking
and oarousing AZ m the men
boarded the northbound train to re-
turn TO Shelby j. NJ. Rhea. an en-
gineer. was on bis way 20 Tutwiler un-
der orders TO take out a locomotive
there. lie was sleeping on a seat In
the smoker when the passenger train
pulled out from Leland. At that point
Cooke and his friends boarded the car.
Cooke had a revolver. and Lauderdale
and Blackman had Winchesters.
Phipps was not armed
Walking up the aisle. Phlpps was In
advance OF the party when he came in
contact with Rheas legs. which were
extended out into the aisle as he slept
Rhea was awakened and inquired what
was the matter The members OF the
party stood there and discussed the
situation angrily for while. and then
the quartette went to the end OF the
car aud out on the platform. Very
soon they returned and going up 20
Rhea told him that they could not all
stay in the same car; that he would
have 20 go out OF the car.
Rhea remarked that In order 10 pre-
vent trouble he would have TO do as
they told him Thereupon he started
out OF the car. lie had just reached
the door when. II is claimed. the men
fired upon him. lie fell where he
stood
Conductor George Mclaughlin or
tered the train back 10 Leland. there
90 leave the corpse As soon as Le-
land was reached the conductor sent
for the sheriff and peace officers.
In the meantime the quartette had
not been idle. They had driven every
body out of the smoker and the ada
cent car during the run back 10 Le-
land and when they arrived az that
place they went % the engine. aboard
OF which was Engineer Delaney. They
covered him with guns and told him
II he aid not obey their commands
they would XIII him. He was com
PEELED 90 uncOuple his engine. and
when the men mounted into the cab.
he was ordered 10 open the throttle
and send the engine down the track
toward Shelby.
In the excitement OF the moment
Phlpps became separated from his
companions and did not get away from
Leland, and was arrested by the sher-
IN. The others were carried on 20
Shelby. Arriving there they made no
EFFORT 10 conceal themselves. but still
carrying their weapons they waited
for the next train. on which they tray-
eled 10 Cleveland. where they were
arrested without trouble
Cooke, the man who seemed % be
the leader OF the quartette. has. IL Is
said killed a number OF men. He Is
charged with the killing OF negro
last Friday night In Shelby. There Is
much excitement and indignation
among the people OF Leland and
Shelby neighborhoods over the trag.
edy. but no violence Is anticipated.