The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1903-12-05
MURDERED BY A NEGRO
PROMINENT YOUNG PLANTER
KILLED IN TuNicA COUNTY.
ARMED MEN AFTER THE FUGITIVE
Clifton ls Shot to Death With.
out Provoeatlon by Negro, Who
Then Made His Escape-pe-
serlption Of the Murderer
People In Pursuit.

Roblnsonville. Miss. Nov. 2a.--
Bodies of armed and infuriated men
from nearly every hamlet in Tunica
and DeSoto counties arc securing the
country tonight in search Of George
Jenkins. fiendish negro, who ruth
lessly shot To death Herbert Clifton,
prominent young planter. at Banks,
station on the Yazoo g. Mississippi
Valley railroad thirty miles south OF
Memphis and four miles west OF this
towh, shortly after o'clock this even-
Ing. The murderer, II caught, un-
doubtedly will be summarily put TO
death. Tonight posse of forty men,
heavily armed and with bloodhounds.
left Tunlca. the county seat, for the
hill lands OF DeSoto county. In which
direction jenkins made his flight from
Banks. A large crowd OF armed men
left Rohinsonvillo tonight. and from
other villages to which the news OF
the awful murder has reached men.
have joined In the mad pursuit OF the
murderer.
unprovoked Murder.
The killing of Clifton occurred near
the depot at Banks. shortly after the
accommodation passed, which was
about G o'clock, and was one of the
worst murders ever committed In Tu-
MICA county. Clifton Is sub-agent Of
large plantation near Banks and the
negro Jenkins was employed as one
of the laborers. The two met near
tho depot about o'clock this evening.
Clifton stopping the negro TO talk over
a land matter. Suddenly. and without
tho slightest provocation. Jenkins be-
ss.4f attt - AL
when Clifton told him To desist he
stepped back n few feet, drew n re-
yolver and fired twice at Clifton, both
balls taking effect, tho first entering
tho leg and the second burying Itself
deep in the breast. Clifton was un-
armed. and SO suddenly did Jenkins
bring his deadly weapon into play the
former hardly had time TO realize that
he was facing death. Clifton walked
10 store near the depot and fell to
the floor, dying thirty minutes later.
Jenkins fled Immediately after the
shooting. going in the direction Of tho
hills OF DeSoto county, which joins
Tunlca county, near Banks Station.
Description Of Negro.
George jenkins. the murderer, Is de-
scribed as being about 30 or 81 years
OF age, tall, black and bears a con-
spicuons scar on the back of his head.
He has lived In this section a long
time, and his reputation Is very bad.
He has always been considered des-
perate mar. with prediction for us
Ing deadly weapons. II Is thought he
Will be caught, for every foot Of terri
tory Of the surrounding country will
be searched by the pursuing posses.
Herbert Clifton. the murdered man.
lived at Arkabutla, Tate county. and
was temporarily residing In Tunica
county. where he had accepted q re-
sponslble position on the Banks plan
tation. His father is John Clifton,
postmaster at Senatobia. Clifton mar
ried several years ago, and leaves
wife and one child. lie was of a kind
nature, not the least disposed to be
quarrelsome, and stood high both In
his native and adopted homes. He
never had and previous trouble with
the negro jenkins, and at the time or
of the tragedy was unarmed.
II jenkins is not caught tonight
more men will Join the chase and
bloodhounds from other points viii be
brought here and put on the trail.
The officers OF adjoining counties have
been aotlfied and furnished with a
good description of the murderer
whose capture is believed 10 be only
short time off That Jenkins will be
lynched there IL no doubt.