The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-02
Letters to The Editor.
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Card from MT. Bellamy.

Scale, Ala, Jan 1, 1902 Editor The Advertisers:
 On account of newspaper reports sent out relative to the situation at Crawford while Uriah Porter was at large, nave been criticised and censured by people who did not know the real situation nor what was doing to relieve 1t. When I rode into Crawford Friday morning at 10:30 O clock, 1 was stopped by the father of Porter and some other prominent citizens of the town, who stated that Porter was crazy and was liable to shoot anybody who undertook to arrest him. and that to arrest him 1t would probably be necessary to shoot him, and that they did not want to see him killed; that if allowed to do so, they would undertake to have him submit to arrest, without resistance, and thought they would be able to persuade him to do so. I thereupon agreed to allow them a reasonable time, within which to carry out their undertaking l stated that l would go to the house of MT. w. T. Rut- ledge and remain there until l heard from them.
 In a short time thereafter I had with me three deputies, and l proceeded to furnish protection to those whom Porter had threatened to Kill, ana awaited reply from his friends.
  | friends. at each of which they expressed l hope of being able to deliver him to me, | but who said each time that he still re- | fused to be taken alive.
 In the meantime I was organizing a posse, with which to take him, at any | cost, if necessary. In organizing the posse and in getting information, I as- l certained that he had friends who would resist an effort to kill him, which then sec med inevitable.
 l then asked for the military, as a pro- lection to my posse. to those whom Por- i ter had threatened to kill. and to prevent riot, which would have followed the killing of Porter by my posse, as well as mob violence had Porter been arrested by me.
 The presence of the military had the | desired effect. It furnished protection to the citizens of the community, while my posse pursued Porter. At first we were only armed with pistols, while Porter had | so terrorized the whole community that | 1t was impossible to get guns there. Por- | ter was armed with shot gun and a | Winchester rife, and was constantly on | the move. It became necessary to send 1 fifteen miles to Scale for men, guns and | ammunition. In this manner l secured | seven more men and supply of suitable | arms and ammunition. which arrived late | SaturdaS alterhoon, followed Dy the mlll-
 tary, which arrived at Crawford late
 Saturday night, or early Sunday morn- | ing.
 We then proceeded to surround and | search POrter's house. as well as every other place, where We had information
 that he frequented. On Sunday after [ noon my posse at one time saw him at a 1 distance of half a mile, while he was
 fleeing at fast as his horse could carry
 him. in company with a negro, who had
 notified him of the posses approach. | They pursued him and made 1t so warm
 for him that he left the county and went l to Opelika, where he surrendered to the | sheriff.
 never did see Porter. nor did any of | my posse, except on Sunday afternoon,
 and then at distance of half a mile. l l never received any message from