The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-11
|PATHOS MARKS HOME COMING
 OF PARDONED ELMORE MEN

wet Many a strong man, wno would blush at the mention of tear. brushed the moisture from his cheek nor minded the fact that his neighbor was doing likewise.
 When their friends and acquafntances in the crowd-all the citizens of Eimore County knew the two men-had shaken hands everyone repaired to the Riverside Inn where a dinner had been spread to mark the homecoming of the men who had erred and suffered. In the crowd that gathered about the beard there was no tone of rejoicing or triumph. but ell were plainly moved by feeling or quiet happiness No scenes were made. The congratulations were conveyed in rev words and firm handshakes.
 Child Knew Not Its Father.
 Martin Fuller joined his family late Tn the evening. He was detained In Mont gomery on business but his parents, ms wife and his children waited as patiently as they could until the coming of the evening train There was pathos in this meeting that had not marked the others. Two children awaited the fathers coming. who had never under stood his absence.
 One of these. not yet years old. and nine months separation had enaced all memory of his father. Fuller raised the boy in his arms but the boy looked upon his as a stranger He could not under stand the hot kisses raincd upon his cheek. The young mother hovered over the pair crying: Don't you know papa That's papa dear" and open-eyed the child looked into the once familiar face that had grown strange and shook his head
 The child realized gradually who it was that held him SO closely and until his eyes were closed in sleep he was never out of his fathers arms. bounteous supper had been spread for Fuller ana his family at the Riverside lnn--a meal that will ever be memorable tn the fami- ly. At the head of the table sat Fuller. who is yet a young man. his race thoughtful as of one who has learned bitter lesson of life. and wearing traces of the sufferIngs of the past twelve months. At the other end was his wife. young and happy and between them sat | the bothers, sisters and cousins. ana to | the happy gathering the hour giided swiftly.
 The Capture of Harris. | Coincident with he return of the men who had been convicted of taking part Tn | a lynching a report was circulated Tn | Montgomery that Mccall, the alleged | rapist. had been captured. The rumor I
 sensation created by the return of How | ard. Strength and Fuller there was no 1 excitement and no accused rapist was l lodged in jail. Willis Harris, negro resident of Coosada, was brought over | to the county jail by Sheriff ". o. Rob- l bins and Deputy Sheriff Tom Williams, | but his arrest was attended by no deAhon- | strations.
 I Harris was arrested on suspicion of be- | f..-~ .Krtt, of which were signed the name of Spencer Mccall, | who is wanted for rape. It will be re- | called that Mccall assaulted a small ne- | gro girl week ago and made ms es- | cape. He has been vigorously hunted since by the white people and some of | the negroes. While the hunt for Mccall was in progress, three noteN have been
 left at the home of Mitchell Merriwether, | the white boss of the sand pit at Coo sada. The notes were couched in vile l terms and purported to come from Me- l Call Two of them were thrown into | Merriwethers yard and the third was | slipped under window to his house. l The notes threatened dire vengeance on Merriwcthcr unless he stopped his hunt for Mccall. One left at the door of MT. | Mitchell's home Saturday night was | signed Jordan Harris
 Harris is a negro of more or less educa-
 tion. and he was suspected of being the
 author of the notes He is Sunday
 school superintendent and prominent
 among the negroes at Coosada. Harris sI 1t is understood, was absent from his
 home at the time the notes were left al
 Mir. Merriwether's home and 1t Is charg.
 ed that the writing is similar to his He
 was arrested yesterday morning, and Deputy Sheriff Tom Williams was tee' graphed for. He was turned over to tho
 deputy sheriff and Sheriff Robbins al
 Fillmore.
 "I do not believe that there is any dan
 ger whatever of violence in Fillmore Coun
 ty," said Sheriff Robbins at his home las
 night. Around Coosada the people ar'
 disquieted on account of the crime o
 Spencer Mccall and energetic efforts ar'
 being made to capture him. If he Il
 caught I am satisfied that he will b'
 safely landed in jail. Many of the ne
 groes are anxious to see him punished
 while there are others, I believe. wh'
 would try to conceal him and help hin
 make his escape. I do not apprehend an,
 violence at Coosada, the only place in th'
 country where there is any excitemen
 at all."