The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-06-19
Proclamation by the Governor
$4OO REWARD.
State of North Carolina,

Executive department
Whereas, official information has been
received at this department that Harri-
son and James Gillespie were Iynched at
Salisbury about June 10, 1902, by parties
unknown. ~
And whereas, it appears that the said
parties unknown have fled the State or
SO concealed themselves that the ordi-
nary process of law cannot be served
upon them;
Now, therefore, I, Charles B. Aycock,
Governor of the State of North Caro-
lima, by virtue of authority in me vested
by law, do issue this my proclamation, Of
fering reward of four hundred dollars
each for the apprehension and delivery of
the said parties unknown or any of them
to the sheriff of Rowan county at the
court house in Salisbury with evidence
sufficient to convict and conviction,
and / do enjoin all officers of the State
and all good citizens to assist in bring
ing said criminals to justice.
Done at our City of Raleigh, the 18th
day of June, in the year of our Lord
one thousand nine hundred and two, and
in the one hundred and twenty-sixth year
of our American independence.
CHARLES B. AYCOCK.
BY the Governor:
p NJ PEARSALL, Private Secretary.
AS It has been estimated that there
were seventy-five persons in the mob, the
total reward offered amounts to 100000.
This is an entirely unprecedented sum
for the chief executive to offer, and it
looks as If he were determined to do
everything to the uttermost to arrest
those who fiagrantly disregarded law
and order. This will lead to important
disclosures, if anything will.
The issuing of this proclamation was
about the first thing the Governor did
upon his return from Cooleemee yes
terday morning Col. p. NJ Pearsall,
the Governors Secretary, drew up the
paper. and the Governor signed it.
Solicitor Hammer is now in Salisbury
and is at work on this case. He thinks
that he has the names of several who
took part in the lynching, and when
further evidence against them is collect
ed arrests will follow. He expects to
go to the very bottom of this indefen-
sible lynching.
Governor Aycock has been very much
worried about the matter. The boys
charged with the murder we're under ar
rest and in JAIL with the certainty of a
speedy trial, and the crime for which
they were lynched was not the crime
for which lynching is ordinarily the
penalty in the South, and sometimes in
other parts of the country. How far
lynching will 60 and for what crimes it
will be practised cannot be determined
1t IS form of lawlessness which grows
and nothing can stop it but an enlight-
ened public sentiment. The Governor
appeals to all thoughtful and law
abiding people in the State to uphold
his hands in suppressng it.
gentleman from Salisbury yesterday
said that there was very grave doubt as
TO the guilt of the younger of the two
negroes recently lynched at Salisbury
He says that the parents of the two
boys affirmed all the time that the
younger boy was at home at the moment
of the commission of the crime, while
they readily agreed that the elder one
was from home. He states that the
younger boy died protesting his inno-
cence and singing, Il want to go to
Heaven when | die" The Gentleman
making this statement is a man we'll
known in the State and has held respon-
sible positions. He says moreover that
there was only one track at the scene
OF the murder and this track correspond
ed with the track of the elder. and not
of the younger. If these rtStements
turn out to be true the lynching becomes
all the more horrible. 1t is high time