Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1902-09-11
.BAtDY TAYLOR DIED.
In Jail While Mob Was Gathering
to Lynch Him.
Report of the Murderer's Death Was at
First Discredited-One of His Vic
Tins Dead and Another In
PrecarIous ConditIon.

Precarious Conditioa.
Osceola. Ark, Sept Sat about s
o'clock this afternoon "Baldy Taylor.
the desperate negro who shot three
white men on the train between this.
place and Luxora Sunday. died In the
county jail from the effects of the pis-
tol ball wound he received in the me-
lee
His death was most opportune and
propitious. Doubtless the jail would
have been stormed tonight and the ne
gro lynched if death had not removed
him beyond the reach of the mob.
E. r. Hughes, one of the men shot
by Taylor. died early this morning.
His death was expected but when it
was announced the white populace be-
came more firm in their determination
to carry out the doctrine of an eye
for an eye and tooth for tooth.
1t is hardly probable that any force
Sheriff Bowen might have placed at
The Jail could have restrained them.
Ii is, therefore, counted fortunate
circumstance that Taylor died from
The wound which Hughes inflicted on
lin. after the negro had mortally
wounded him.
Indignation Gathered Force.
Mr.. Hughes death was reported
early today. The indignation of the
white people gathered force as each
hour passed. One man came all the
way from Missouri to participate in
the grim festivities of lynching.
Hughes was popular man and widely
known The people were in the mood
of rising up as one body and wreak-
ing vengeance. They were pouring
into the city all day. Their determi
nation to have revenge was not con-
cealed They were bent on one pur-
pose.
Sheriff Bowen kept a strong guard
at the Jail. Personally he went among
the people and counseled them to be
orderly and tranquil. He told them
the negros condition was serious, but
they received the statement with
grain OF salt They thought the sher-
iff was trying to cheat them out of
their prey. They did not believe the
negro was seriously injured. The sher-
if told them that the physicians ex-
pressed little hope for his recovery.
Came From Every Direction.
Towards the sunset hour the city
was alive with people from the coun-
try surrounding Osceola. Some men
rode into town with their shotguns.
No act of violence or disorder was re-
ported, however In fact, the men who
came are of the law-abiding class, but
they were ready to administer the law
themselves and have the thing done
with in short order if the situation
demanded such a course.
DR.. Harris Collier attended the
wounded negro. He said early this
morning that the path of the buiist
MADE the wound a dangerous one md
the negro was making but slow prog
ress By noon he saw that the wound
was probably fatal. When the sheriff
aI,:cunced the death of the man 1T was
oiscredited at first, and Sheriff Bowel
opened the doors of the prison aed let
them see with their own eyes. Sever
al hundred people viewed the lifeiess
Uody of the desperate negro.
Was Memphis Negro.
He made it business of gong to
saw mills on pay days and winning III
he could from the hands after tity
were paid off He had about $40 on
his person when he was arrested.
Taylor came from Memphis. II, once
ran poker and crap game at Beale
street resort.
tiaher's condition tonight is e9or;-
Cd as critical. 1t is said that he has
bul slim chance of surviving his
wound Schudy is only slightly wouhd-
ed and will recover.
Taylor was aware that if he ii7ed
urtil night he would be lynche |. lie
had nothing to say about the te.r..le
f,te which hung over him. Tns city
Is quiet tonight.