The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-22
One White Man and Several
Negroes Are Wounded
THREE ARE REPORTED KILLED
White Man Attempts to Force Door to
House Where Negroes Are Bar
Plcaded and VolIey of
Shots Fell Him.

Tupelo. Miss, August n.--(speciaL)-A
Telegram was received here early this
morning by Sheriff Long from Deputy
Sheriff Sem Young from Shannon, asking
that the sheriff come Immediately to that
place as a race riot was in progress. A
report was current here that three me-
sroes had been killed and that Jim Ran
dolph, one Of the best citizens of the
county. who had assisted in the arrest
of the negroes. has been shot through
the head nnd shoulder. This report caused
considerable excitement. and fears were
entertained that further troupfe might
follow. Later in the day it was ascer-
tanned that Mr. Randolph had been shot
seriously, and that one negro had also
been shot, but 1t was not known now Sc
riously.
The origin of the difficulty grew out Of
the stealing Of some corn out of the field
of the Eubanks family three miles west
of Shannon, by negro named Daven-
port, who was caught in the act and
made to pour the corn out of the sack.
The following night Eubanks went down
TO the field to look out for thieves and
on returning, as they ncared the house
of Jim Eubanks, they were nred on by
squad of about forty negroes, who were
lined up alongside tho road. None Of the
shots took effect.
White Men Deputlzed.
Randolph. Rogers and Barnete, three
white men, were deputized to arrest
those implicated in the shooting and fol-
lowed the Davenport negroes into Chick
asaw county. The negroes barricaded
themselves in a barn. armed with shot
guns. When they refused to open the
door or come out the door was broken
in and Jim Randolph struck a match,
when the negroes Immediately opened
fire on him, wounding him in the head
and shoulders. The negroes ran out and
one of them was struck by the shots
fired at them In the darkness. 1t is re-
ported by persons who came here this
afternoon from the vicinity that three
negroes have been killed. Reports are
conflicting and it is impossible to ascer-
tain the facts. Deputies brought to the
Tupelo jail eight negroes whom they ar
rested. These negroes are: JEFF Rogers
Hubbard Rogers, Steven Rogers, Joseph
White, Walter Kelly, Will Brown Ma
rion Morris and Ed Middlebrooks Sheriff
Long has just returned from Shannon
and reports everything quiet.
For some months negroes at Shannon
and Nettleton have been giving consid-
erable trouble, secret societies being
formed under the guidance of an ex-
school teacher or preacher. or other bad
characters. These organizations are said
to be for the purpose of resisting the
whites and protecting negroes In deeds
of lawlessness.
Negro Preacher the InstIgator.
The alleged instigator of the serious
outbreaks of the last few hours is ne
gro preacher named jeff Rogers. He
had been held under suspicion by the
whites for some time as a bad character.
In days gone by he has been made to
leave more than one peaceful community.
He is a negro of some education and has
considerable influence In his church.
The first serious trouble broke out
some time ago when negro named Giles
Jackson assaulted the Lauderdales In
corn field, seriously wounding them.
About a month ago this negro died in
the county jail from wounds infiict ed
while resisting arrest. A few days ago
q negro was seen taking corn from
field belonging to Mr. Eubanks who
lives close to Shannon and when spoken
to about 1t, he became insolent and de-
fiant and warrant was sworn out for
his arrest This led up to the trouble
of the past few days.