Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-27
MILITIA CAME
AFTER THE
LYNCHING
MOB AT TAlLAP00SA AvENGES
CRIME WHILE TROOPS WERE
BEING HURRIED TO NEGR0'S
RESCUE.

sturdy NarmerS-e&AltAAaAcA - - 1N-~-S
rushed through the streets Of Tallapoosa
last night battered down the Jail door
and dragged out n trembling negro. VINO
was hurried over dusty roads 70 the scene
OF his crime and lynched-
The mob raced In its work with the en-
gfneer OF a Southern train. who had MS
throttle wide open and his wheels last
flying in order TO get the state militia militia
70 the scene before the lynching took
place.
After six hours OF intense excitement,
during which the mob was held az bay
BY cooler heads. passion broke loose ana
scores OF countrymen. driven 70 despera-
ton by the report late in the afternoon
that the negro's victim was dying, made a
dash on the faithful few who guarded the
prisoner. covered them with their revolt
vers and shotguns and stOrmed the jail.
Not a shot was fred No blow was
given by opposing parties and the negro.
trembling and pleading for mercy MADE
no show OF resistance
The troops. fifty strong from Atlanta.
arrived more than an hour after the ne
gro's crime had been avenged
The town Is perfectly quiet this morn
fnn and the tragedy OF the night is deep
" deplored by the majority OF citizens OF
Six Strenuous Hours.
II was Just noon yesterday when John
w Bentley, the county tax assessor, ana
!. q. GRAY. a prominent citizen. came in
70 town With q negro In their custody.
tightly bound with ropes. The prisoner
was sixteen years old. ginger-cake coiored
and OF small statue. He said he was a
tramp from Butts county and was guilty
OF an attempted criminal assault. he said
his name was Ben Brown
Scarcely had the negro been lodged IN
the calaboose. q room in the basement
OF the courthouse. before armed bodies OF
men began 70 reach town. swearing the
prisoner would be lynched-
This was the first that Tallapoosa had
known OF a hendish crime committed yes
terday morning at 10 O'Clock. three miles
from the town.
The countrymen were determined to
make their threat Of lynching good, but
Mayor Hutcflins begged them 70 let the
law take its course. He wired the judge
OF the circuit asking for special term
OF court This was promised and the court
was called for next Monday morning.
Seeing the mob would not disperse.
Mavor Hurchens wired Governor Gambler.
asking for troops on the hrst train
II was the promised military assistance
that hastened the negrO's death Soon af-
ter the fact had been known that the
soldiers were coming the mob became
more restless
At O'Clock a messenger reached town,
declaring that Mrs. Henry Does, the vic
tim OF the ngro. was dying.
This report added fame 10 the FIRE and
a great cry went up IN the dark streets
OF the town The shout was a call TO the
farmers 10 gather az the 5ai-
From many streets went men on a dead
run. In an instant the space about the
jail was crowded. Some say go men
were there others are positive 100 were
on hand.
Only six men guarded the entrance to
the 3afl They were as chan in the cy-
clone OF the mob.
70 resistance was offered. The lead
ers OF the mob. with pistols drawn and
shortRuns levelled. rushed pen nell over
the guard. burst through the door with
sledge hammers and in a moment had
the negro in their possession
Raced With Soldiers.
The mob left town twenty minues ahead
OF the arrival OF the train from Atlanta
he negro was put into a wagon, the
horses whipped into run and the mob
followed on horseback. IN buggies and
on foot IL was four miles to the scene
OF the crime. but the distance was COW
cred quickly
Of his victim. who was believed at that
tine 70 be in dying condition She was
positive in her Identification He, too,
admitted his guilt and told the mob that
he was the mar
The prisoner was then carried to the
iron bridge that spans the Tallapoosa
river. about % yards from Mrs Dees'
residence, where he was hanged
The mob drew his body back from the
bridge, and IL into a jungle OF bushes
on the river bank and filled IL fun OF bull
lets
At O'Clock. two hours after the mob
left town with the prisoner, the seconds
arrived this train
was Captain Burton Smith. 50 picked men
with Captain Pomeroy in command.
A large crowd was at the station when
the train pulled in
TOO later cried the men. as the sol
diers poked their heads out OF the car
windows
1--WE got him first" they continued.
Mayor Hutchens and Sheriff Shellnutt
boarded the train and had a hurried con-
suItation with Captain Smith. 1t was
decided that the troops would continue on
the train 70 the river. get on and march
through TO the scene OF the crime. as IL
was believed the mob might have delayed
the Iynching for some reason
IL was a race 70 overtake the mob. The
train made the four mile run in less than
four minutes.
Soldiers leaped from the steps into inlxy
bIackness and swiftly moved up the coun-
Try road. guided by the sheriff.
Not a friendly star was shining. Not
even the ground upon which they walked
could the soldiers see. On the left,
great shadow rose high into the clouds.
IL was the mountain On the right a deep
ravine yawned. through which the Tai
lapoosa river bounded over rocks and high
falls.
At the house. which Is situated on the
very bank OF the Tallapoosa river, an old,
gray headed man opened the door, hold
ing in his hand a lamp lighted
ssGentlemen. he said 70 the officers,
with what appeared 20 be sincere salts
faction. you are too late. The ne
gro has been lynched-"
He led the officers 70 the river bridge
and pointed 70 dark shadow lying near
the stream.
That's the niger"
The body. tightly bound. hand and foot.
--s.r : piece OF rope around its neck, lay
an he ground. blood still flowing from
many bullet wounds In the body and face.
II was a weird scene. The old man bend
ing over the dead body. The hickering
liant made strange. ghOstly shadows in
Tire water and uD above the scene stood
hftv soldiers. the tips OF their bayonets
uafnted silver by the lamps gleam- In
the background Ime mountain doomed high
ana dark At our feet the river splashed
ana foamed over the rocks.
The white head OF the old man was
r,otfouiess. His trembling hands became
s.andv as he looked long and well into the
-