The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-11
CHILD KNEW NOT FATHER
But Mothers Love at Last Re-
 called Memory.
An Exciting Day at Wetumpka. Alleged Abettor of Baptist Me Call Captured and Lodged
 in the County Jail.
Dy VIII T. sheehan, sta6 Core
 spoudeut,

spondent.
 Wetumpka. June l0.--A day of unusual interest, If not of excitement was yes tefday to the people of Wetumpka. The day heralded two events Of import 10 the residents not only of the town but of Elmore county as we'll George How ard, John Strength and Martin Fuller. convicted lynchers returned to their fami- lies and friends after serving nine months Of the sentences imposed upon them, and 5Wfilis Harris. charged with being an abetter and protector of Spencer Mccall, rapist and outlaw. was incarcerated3in the county jail of Elmore.
 The day was. indeed. an exciting one 10 the little town. but in neither event important part and the city itself was the scene of these incidents only because 1t was the county seat.
 Eclectic, 12 miles from Wetumpka, fur nished the crowd that gave joyous well come to the pardoned lynchers, and Coo sada was the scene of the exciting events that led to the arrest of Willis Harris.
 Around Coosada. the citizens are dis turbed and disquieted and persistent hunt Is continued fors Spencer Mccall. who assaulted 12-year-old negro girl . week ago and whose name Is signed to the infamous notes that were left at the .gafe and at the window of Mitchell Mer- 'riwether. prominent white citizen of Coosada.
 But through 1t all wetumpka wore only . quiescent attitude. content with stand ing by and looking on. There was no disposition on the part of its citizens to mingle their congratulations with those of the people of Eclectic, nor to add vo.- tune to the indignant mutterings that emanated from those who came from , C0osada.
 Eclectic Came in Force.
 Previous to the arrival of the pardoned lynchers message was sent to the friends and relatives at Electic of the three white men who have been wearing stripes for the part they had in the 1ynching of Robin White twelve months ago that the pardon for which prominent citizens of the County had labored since their conviction had been granted. Word was sent that the unfortunates would arrive in wetumpka Monday. A caval- cade of their friends accompanied the families or the drive to Wetumpka, ar irving early in the morning.
 Tn the procession that drove over the twelve miles of country roads to well come them were the young wife and two children of Martin Fuller, the youngest of the trio; and the parents of both How ard and Strength and their children. Brothers, sisters. cousins and friends crowded the wagons and buggies that came from the peaceful neighborhood of Eclectic. where, since the law has been avenged, the lynching of Robin White has become Q memorable tragedy.
 The Eclectic neighbors of Howard Strength and Fuller were joined by citi- zens from other portions of the County and many of the residents of Wetumpka waited with them at the depot. but their part was merely that of witnesses to the unusual reunion between sons and par ents. husbands and wives, fathers and children.
 As the train pulled into the station the three men. bronzed and hardened by their convict experience, were at the door of the passenger car. eager for the wei come that awaited them at the station They were the first of the passengers tc touSs the ground.
 A cry of joy, cry so unrestrainet that 1t was almost shriek. arose upoi the air as George Howard and Johr Strength alighted to the platform. l came from the loving wives and the de voted parents. the ones who had waited so long and anxiously. hoping where hop' seemed not. for that moment of reunion And now that it had come its realization seemed to overwhelm them.
 About the men whose actions hat brought them so much unhappiness dur ing the past twelve months. ,unhappines intensified by the acute bangs of long j ing and fearful praying, were thrown thu arms of the loved ones. and the misery O the convict camp faded before the joy O restoration. The welcome touched Howar, and Strength to the deep and their eye were dimmed by the tears they could no restrain. Nor were theirs the only eye