The leader., 1902-12-31
ANYI,WHITECAP MEETING.
The Law-Abiding Citizens of
Lincoln County Assemble
And Speak Their
Sentiments.
The Whitecap Bands Must be
Broken up and Order
Restored.
LAW BREAKERS, WHITE OR
BLAcR WILL NOT BE
TOLERATED..
All Good Citizens Pledged to Stand
by the Officials in Bringing
Criminals to Justice.

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Brookhaven, Dec. ,27, 1902
Pursuant to previous call, large
gathering of law-abiding citizens
representing the several portions
of Lincoln County, assembled in
mass meeting at the court house
at II O'Clock today, to express
their sentiments regarding the re-
cent acts of lawlessness in por-
tions of the county, and the neces-
sity of decisive action on the part
of the officers of the law and all
good citizens in stamping out
same.
The meeting was called to order
by Rev. R. j. Boone, who said
that in all lawful and righteous
undertakings, it was meet and
proper that we should first look
to the Supreme Ruler of the Uni
verse for wisdom and guidance,
and ask his blessings, and reques-
ted Rev. S. H Pune to lead the
meeting in prayer, which he did
in an earnest invocation to the
Throne of Grace.
Bro. Boone then announced
that the election of a permanent
chairman was the next thing in
order, and on motion of Jas. E.
Adams, j. S. Burns was unan-
imously elected. On further mo-
ton, B. 7. Hobbs was chosen
Secretary.
On taking charge of the meet
ing, Chairman Burns returned
thanks for the honor done him,
read the call which brought those
present together, emphasized it
with some we'll chosen remarks,
and declared the meeting open for
business
On motion of A. G. McNair
the chairman was authorized to ap-
point a committee of five on res
olutions; whereupon the chairman
named the following persons: j.
G. Sessions, j. K. Smith, M. D.
McGrath, John Beason and L.
H. Bowen.
While the committee was out
considering their report, the
meeting was addressed briefly by
A. G. McNair, Chairman Burns,
g. G. Lyell, H. Cassidy, Chas.
Chrisman and VIM. Price,
On returning, the committee on
resolutions submitted their report
which was read by the Secretary,
and, after one slight amendment,
was unanimously adopted as fol
lows:
Whereas, in government of
the people, for the people and by
the people, such as ours, every
citizen is guaranteed certain inal-
ienable rights, among which are
life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness; and whereas, certain
lawless people have, within the
past thirty days, taken upon them
selves the task of regulating parts
of this county according to their
own ideas; and, whereas, the con-
duct of these people is highly rep
rehensible and evinces a reckless
disregard of the laws of this state
and the United States, and has
spread terror and CONSERVATION
among the law abiding negroes
and uneasiness and apprehension
among the law-abiding whites;
aad, whereas, SUCH conduct i; un-
called for unreasonable, unjusti
fable and in violation of the laws
of the land; calculated to bring
upon the people Of the county the
condemnation and contempt of
other sections Of the country, re-
tard the growth and development
of this part of the state and de-
crease the value Of property,
threaten its destruction and entail
untold loss and damage upon the
whole county; and, whereas, the
example of such lawless men is
calculated to lay down the gaps
for all criminals and threatens to
bring about carnival of crime in
which not only property will be
endangered, but human life i'm
Iperilized; and, whereas, such law
lessness should be stamped out by
lresort to the criminal courts and
the violators of the law brought
to just punishment; and, whereas,
lit is the duty of all law abiding
Icitizens, who have the welfare and
interest of the country at heart
to assist the constituted author
titles of the county and state in the
enforcement Of the laws; and,
whereas, it is the sense Of this
meeting, tint while the perpe.