Richmond planet., 1903-02-14
nd to hesitation. Action was at hand.
NEGROES PLEAD EoR MERCY

Inc TWO Negroes were made to walk
over co a tree. They were chained to
1t. Then they realized that tbev yvaro
looking death in the eyes. Up to that
time they had not believed that tbey
were IN any real danger, aud had re-
NAMED sullenly quiet Now their
tongues were loosened. Perhaps thev
thought from the preparations they
were TO be burned. They pleaded with
their captors with rendinp nrotasto-
tions OF innocence of any criminal de-
sign. They called on God % witness
that they had done no wrong.
"Line up, menr' was the command
that rang out in response.
An old man with a military turn was
acting as captain of the execution
squad. He bore himself with an air of
authority His command was respond
eG TO by a score of men who took their
places as ne directed. The others hung
pack amid Jeers. The taunt of "cow.
au aru caused number TO take place in
tne ranks Some left the grounds, de
clar'ng they would neither witness nor
have anything to do with IL Otbors
dropped in a ditch in the old teld aud
screened themselves from the view
he bore himself with an air of antbor.
lty. His command was responded 10 nv
score OF men who took their places as
NJ directed. The others hung back.
amld Jeers. The tannt of Coward y
caused number 90 take a place in the
ranks. Some left the grounds. declar.
Ing they would neither witness nor
nave anything to do with it, Others
dropped IN ditch In the old field and
screened themselves from the view.
Inc guns focused on the two men
VINO stood against the trunk of the
tree. The order was given and tbe
volley rang out. The men sank down
put were partly upheld by the chains
around their limbs. Without more ado
she crowd rode away, and at dust the
irigntened Negro women came TO take
the dead home for burial.
INDICTMENT OF THE LyNcHERs.
Unfortunately the incident gained an
undue publicity. Several citizens in tha
nelghborhood were indignant, and com
munlcated their indignation TO others
Inc circle widened until the lynchers of
the two negroes finally found them
selves generally condemned.
The grand jury, which sat in Septem-
per, little more than month after the
kllhng, received strong charge from
circuit Judge Stevens, who was indig-
nant that the record of his district
should be sullied by such a crime. To
the surprise of those implicated in the
analr, as well as good many other
people, indictments were returned
against twenty eight citizens of the
'Cross Roads" neighborhood.
1t was the first time in the history of
mississippi that any number of white
men had been indicted for participating
In a iynching. These indictments. SO
at variance with all precedent, filed the
guilty ones with alarm. They was duly
advised that they had been fourd.
ihere was a stampede for the tall TIM
Der, participated in by principals, wit
nesses and number who had not been
indicted, but who found themselves
suddenly uneasy.
Sheriff Love waited for them to oset-
tie after being flushed. Eleven came
Dack and were arrested and lodged in the
kosclusko jail. One man was caught at
Wlnona,. whittier he had fed, and
brought back. The others are in hiding
at home and abroad.