The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-30
Troops Stood in Line
While Mob Passed.
REPORTER TESTIFIES
Private PerceII Declares That the Sher
if Said: Stand Aside Men and Let
the Mob Take the Prisoners"
At Statesboro
tuesday.
(By the Associated Press.)


Savannah, Ga. Aug. 27.-The mill
tary court of inquiry, appointed by
the governor to investigate the con-
duct of the State troops n connec-
ton with the recent burning of two
negro prisoners at Statesboro. held IT'D
third session today.
The feature of the hearing was the
who went to Statesboro and reported
the tragedy. He testified that the mob
dragged the prisoners along the roac
to the stake within 80 yards of the
military camp. There were fifty of
the military drawn up il.
line. There was no movement
by any officer or soldier SO far as he
saw when the crowd passed, to rescue
the prisoners. He did not know Whal
officer was in command of the men at
the time. The mob in charge of the
prisoners amounted to about two hun
dreJ.
They were in shirt-sleeves and only
n few We're armed. The rest of the
crowd, about 200 men. were spectators
and stragglers. Neither prisoner was
carried in a vehicle to the place of the
lynching. He said Private Falligant
told him that some one had reported
the mobs intent to lynch the rlen al
ter conviction and that Falligant said
he reported the fact to the camp OIL
GERS and was laughed at.
Private II. L. Miller. of the militia
stated that he was among the men
on duty at the rear stairway. Hall
dozen men took his gun away. private
Mcclure saw him and came to his u.s.
sistance. A very large men that ne
recognized as bailiff of the cour'
house, rushed up to MCGUIRE and
helped to take his gun away. He was
in the court room when the mob canld
into the room. He saw. he said, thd
sheriff rs he opened the door of the
prisoners room. He was there when
the men tried to get the steps and
was at the foot of the steps disarmed.
He had orders from Captain Hitch,
on the train, he said. not to fire untli
he gave orders and then nfe according
10 specific orders.
Private Russell testified that he was
sent in the room to guard the pris-
oners The mob was two feet behind
the sheriff and the sheriff ordered the
soldier to stand aside. The sheriff
said:
stand aside. men. and let the mob
take the prisoners: we cannot resist
the mob any longer"
Il
off duty on account of sore erni. he
was told by men in a store that the
mob would get the men when con
yicted He reported the matter to
Sergeant Eastman and he said:
1--WE have heard that dozen times.
He thought that trouble was brew
ing. Soldiers guns, he said were belng
taken across the street during the
morning. and he counted seven o.
eight and got Disguised and quit re-
porting it, because no one would ac-
cept his information.
81 yelled to the sentinel on the
post that the mob was passing. AllldaS
shouted that the mob was coming
with some of our men. but it was the
negro There were % or 30 men IL
uniform in line. There were
TWENTY-FIVE or thirty men in uni
form in line. l saw commissioner
officer and called to him. The mot
was then not over a block away ano
coming toward us. Six or eight men
broke away and started to come to me
but were ordered back
The court will re-assemble in States
boro Tuesday morning at 10 O'Clock