Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-08-04
LYNCH LAW FEVER.

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lynching if 300 men armed with shot
guns and pistols who are in three
separate posses succeed in catctsng
Fletcher Hollis, a desperate negro Of
SMYRNA aged % years, who last night
shot and fatally wounded Constable
James D. Wright at Clayton, one mile
from Smyrna, while resisting arrest.
The bullet struck Wright just below the
heart, but by first hitting button its
course was DETECTED. The doctors be-
lieye it went downward and lodged in
the Dit of his stomach. Drs. Harmon
son and Grier, who attended the victim,
say they fear an internal hemorrhage,
in which event death will speedily en-
sue. The town was so excited over the
tragedy that the negro managed to es-
cape after holding several pnrsuers at
bay with his smoking pistol. As he is
we'll known his capture is looked fOr
hourly. Constable Jones and Con-
stable Wright, of Clayton, were CO.
operating in an effort to arrest Hollis
on the double charge OF shooting at a
man in Dover last Saturday night and
creating a disturbance at the Friendship
colored camp-meeting, four miles from
SMYRNA, Sunday evening. Neither
constable was armed. When they saw
the negro in front of the Hotel StOckle
in Clayton at 7 o'clock yesterday even
ing Wright approached and said to him :;
ri want you" mo, you don't want
me-" was the reply. ooh, yes, do
and will take YOU" Wright rejoiDed.
At this juncture the negro quickly drew
a big pistol and, aiming it at Wrights
head, shouted: ''You won't take me-"
Wright. who up to this time had not
been assisted by Constable Jones, be-
cause of the latter's failure to have a
pistol, suddenly seized the negro and
wheeled him around. He hoped that
by doing so he would have the pistol
pointed away from him. Before he
could accomplish this Hollis pulled the
trigger and the bullet entered Wrights
body. Wright, who is so years old, did
not fall, but succeeded in walking to the
hotel steps, where be collapsed and was
carried into the hotel and physicians
summoned. Constable Jones started in
pursuit of the fleeing murderer after
bystander bad gotten pistol for him.
AS soon as he had fred the negro ran
down the road toward Smyrna, pointing
bis smoking weapon backward as he ran
and warning the pursuers. He soon en-
tered nearby cornfeld and started
across the country.
Heavily manacled and in the custody
of Sheriff NJ. NJ. Berry, of Hancock
county, Georgia, John Dixon, a negro
charged with having feloniOusly assault
ed Mrs. McLeon, a prominent white
lady of Sparta, arrived in Macon at
noon yesterday after barely escaping
death at the hands of an infuriated mob.
On Sunday night Mrs. McLeon had oc-
casion to enter the backyard 10 quiet
viciors dog aud was justreturning to The
house when she was set upon by the ne
gro. She screamed Justify for help, and
made heroic efforts to defend herself. a
woman neighbor, hearing the cries for
help, rushed 20 the assistance of the
struggling woman, and af er fighting the
frantic woman for a short time the negro
| fed. Word was sent Immediately to
Mr.. McLeon, who was attending to some
business in Sparta, and he started ou
hunt for his wife's assaia0t. Yester-
day morning, with Sheriff Berry, Nc
Leon found Dixon and made desperate
efforts TO shoot him, but was prevented.
A mob quickly gathered 20 deal out
swift Justice to MS. McLeon's assaila0,.
1t was race to the depot be ween
Sheri6 Berry and the mob, and the
Hancock county officer won by small
malgin. He had just placed his pris-
oper on the train when the leaders Of the
mob appeared at the depot, but before
any ac,ioa could be taken the cOnduc'or
gave orders for the engineer to go ahead.
George Hearshey, 19 years old, while
hunting squirrels on his fathers farm
near Hartford City, Ind, yesterday, was
approached by two prowling negroes
They seized the boy, searched his cloth
ing for money and, finding none, tore
his clothing from him andmutilated hin
with a knife. The boy succeeded in
reaching his home. He told his story,
and his father gave the alarm, mounted
a horse aud called for volunteers tc
wreak vengeance on the negroes. Two
hundred men and boys joined in the
chase. Neighboring farms and towns
were warned by telephone and the coun-
try was secured. No trace of the negroes
was found The hunt proceeded unit
nightfall. Sheriff Morigal, with de-
tachment of deputies and police, follow
ed the mob to prevent a lynching, i
possible.
Eat ALI You Want.
Persons troubled with indigestion or Dyspep
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